In this video, Nick Kemp reflects on how ikigai is often seen as a private, deeply personal feeling but notices that some describe it through shared experiences, like enjoying sushi together. He talks about how ikigai can feel different in the body—some describe it as vibrations or a sensation in the chest or belly, and shares his own experience, likening ikigai to an energizing force that makes him feel like he's "about to take flight.”
Let the ikigai energy out
Nick: That answer about sharing sushi was interesting, it almost suggested or hinted that, for her, it's this collective experience. When often, we describe ikigai as something very individualistic and personal. And for some Japanese, private, they might not even want to talk about it.
But yeah, your point that how they describe it, and use different words or ways to say. ‘Oh, it's this vibration,’ or ‘It's eating sushi.’ That is fascinating. So it ties in all these things: feelings, emotions, and the sensations that arise through their bodies. And some said, mune, and I think one said, in her belly and she circled her belly.
Jamila: Yeah, the school teacher. She said that it was like butterflies in her belly. Yeah. You know, it's always associated with some sort of shaking. So sort of like, yeah, it definitely has a quality of movement. That's what ikigai is about; it has this quality of moving from within.
Nick: Yeah, I was actually reflecting on this. And if I had to describe what it feels like in the body, for me it's almost, I mean, my ikigai seems to excite me. I get excited, I have this kind of buildup of energy, and it's almost as if I'm Superman, I'm about to take flight. That's how it kind of feels.
So for me it's quite this lot of energy, and it's very positive. And I have this desire to share it with my my friends and my wife. I think my wife's very sick of me talking about ikigai or these ikigai moments I have. But yeah, it seems to quickly recharge me. And I can seem to feel it everywhere—I want to stand up and let the ikigai energy out.