In this video, Nick Kemp shares his perspective on the life-changing impact of moving to another country. From personal growth to new friendships, he breaks down how the eight ikigai needs—like freedom, purpose, and life-satisfaction—are fulfilled in the expat journey.
Transformative power of living in a different country
Nick: I think it highlights the importance of living abroad, and what an opportunity it is and how life changing it can be. And I think the eight needs, you experienced them all when you go and live overseas: you change and grow, you anticipate a bright future maybe perhaps before you go in or once you get there and you settle in, you experience resonance as you make new friendships, you have this freedom, you're not tied to your old life, you're not restricted, perhaps to what you had to do for family and friends.
You self-actualize, you're learning a new language, you're growing independent. And then, of course, you'd get contemplative, you'd reflect on your new life and you'd find this new meaning and value. You'd also have this sense of purpose in a new lifestyle, and whatever you're doing in that new country, and then you'd have this life satisfaction throughout that experience.
And you'd also have these challenges which sort of hints at existential positive psychology, and you've got to get through these challenges--the frustration of not being able to fully communicate and not understanding and having to make your own decisions when you're dealing with a lot of uncertainty and you perhaps can't rely on people all the time, you've got to take risks.
So I think the expat life is a good life. It's something I think all three of us would recommend. Living in Japan obviously changed my life, and look, here I am interviewing you guys. So that certainly made my life very worth living.