Sakula Costar | 桜 on Instagram: "Let’s decolonize Ikigai 🗣️ If you haven’t heard of Ikigai, it’s a Japanese philosophy which roughly translates to “a reason for being” and is regarded as one of the reasons the Okinawan people have such relatively long lifespans. This philosophy has been around for a long time dating back to Heian period Japan (794-1185) but has risen to recent popularity in the west thanks to books such as “Ikigai: the Japanese secret to a long and happy life”. The problem is, this and many other recent works on Ikigai philosophy features a Venn diagram which has become THE representing image of Ikigai, erasing the original essence and true meaning of the philosophy. The recognisable diagram that we’ve come to know as the “Ikigai framework” shows that your Ikigai is the intersection of 4 main points: 1. That which you love 2. That which you are good at 3. That which can make you money 4. That which the world needs Although a great job search framework, originally created by Spanish author Andrés Zuzunaga, this was never Ikigai. The true meaning of Ikigai is much more nuanced, complex and subjective to the individual. My own understanding of this philosophy has come from realising that the sum of small joys in everyday life results in a more fulfilling life as a whole. Not just in career and financial success, but in our simple day to day that ultimately makes up a significant portion of our lives. To me, the meaning of life is not something to chase and pursue, but to notice and discover. What do you think?"