Natalie Saunders

Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living. Japanese have basically a word for any concept that in other languages require lots of words (except German, obviously). The term compounds two Japanese words: iki [生き, meaning 'life; alive'] and kai (甲斐, meaning '(an) effect; (a) result; (a) fruit; (a) worth; (a) use; (a) benefit]. Interestingly, Ikigai has been the subject of many interdisciplnary studies. According to a study by Michiko Kumano, feeling ikigai usually means the feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment that follows when people pursue their passions. National Geographic reporter Dan Buettner suggested ikigai may be one of the reasons for the longevity of the people of Okinawa. Studies have even shown that people who do not feel ikigai are more likely to experience cardiovascular diseases. [📈 dreamstime]