A Simple Shift in Perspective
Imagine standing on a breathtaking mountaintop, eager to take in the scenery. You raise a pair of binoculars to your eyes, expecting a crystal-clear view, only to realize everything looks small, distant, and distorted. You check the binoculars, but they seem fine. Then, it hits you: You’ve been looking through the wrong end.
With a simple flip, the details come into focus. The once-blurry landscape transforms into a vibrant, immersive experience full of depth, color, and meaning.
This is exactly what has happened with ikigai.
For many in the West, ikigai is seen through the wrong end of the binoculars and is distant, distorted, and misunderstood. Instead of embracing its authentic Japanese meaning, Western interpretations have packaged it into a rigid, career- focused framework: “Find your passion, turn it into a profession, and you’ll live a life of purpose.”
But the true essence of Japanese ikigai isn’t about landing the perfect job or reaching some grand, singular goal. It’s about seeing and embracing the small, meaningful moments that make life fulfilling. By flipping our perspective and looking through the right end of the binoculars, we can finally see the authentic Japanese concept of ikigai clearly.
The Western Misinterpretation: Why the Big Lenses Distort Ikigai
Over the last decade, ikigai has gained widespread attention in the West, often represented as a four-circle Venn diagram linking:
- What you love
- What you are good at
- What the world needs
- What you can be paid for
This version, while well-intentioned, turns ikigai into a career blueprint, a formula for finding the ultimate dream job that aligns with passion, mission, vocation, and profession. On the surface, this sounds compelling. Who wouldn’t want a fulfilling, meaningful career that also pays well?
But this interpretation is fundamentally flawed for three key reasons:
1. It Makes Ikigai Too Grand and Unattainable
By defining ikigai as the perfect balance of passion and profession, it unintentionally excludes those who don’t have or don’t desire a career-driven purpose. Retirees, stay-at-home parents, and people in unglamorous yet essential jobs may struggle to see how they fit into this framework.
A factory worker who takes pride in craftsmanship, a grandmother who finds joy in gardening, or a teacher who loves mentoring students may not see their lives reflected in the Western model of ikigai. This creates unnecessary anxiety.
If they don’t have a high-paying, passion-fueled career, does that mean they lack ikigai? Answer: Heck no!
2. It Overemphasizes Financial Success
One of the four circles in the Western diagram asks, “What can you be paid for?” This suggests that if something isn’t monetizable, it isn’t part of your ikigai. But in Japan, many people's ikigai has nothing to do with money. A fisherman might wake up at 4 AM, not for wealth, but for the peace and rhythm of the sea.
A calligraphy master may practice strokes daily, not to sell art but for the personal satisfaction of perfecting the craft. A retired man might find meaning in volunteering at a local shrine, expecting nothing in return.
The pursuit of ikigai in Japan isn’t tied to a paycheck but intrinsic fulfillment.
3. It Ignores the Power of the Small
Perhaps the biggest issue with the Western interpretation is its obsession with the big picture. It assumes ikigai is something you must “find” as a singular, lifelong mission. This leads many people to feel lost. They search endlessly for their “one true purpose” but never quite find it, always remaining just out of reach.
The truth? Ikigai isn’t one thing. It’s many small things.
You don’t have to quit your job and start a nonprofit to have ikigai. It might already be in the tiny details of your daily life:
- A morning cup of coffee in quiet solitude
- A conversation with an old friend
- A walk through a familiar neighborhood or in a forest
- The satisfaction of learning something new
- Time spent with your child/children
But if you’re looking through the wrong end of the binoculars, you’ll never see these things for what they are.
The Authentic Japanese View: Flipping the Binoculars Around
In Japan, ikigai isn’t something you find. It’s something you experience. It’s woven into the fabric of daily life, deeply personal, and often unnoticed. Rather than a grand goal, ikigai is a lived experience. And unlike the Western idea of “finding your passion,” the Japanese view acknowledges that ikigai can change over time. What gives life meaning at 25 may be different at 45 or 75.
Ken Mogi, a Japanese neuroscientist and author of The Little Book of Ikigai, identifies five pillars of ikigai that illustrate this more nuanced approach:
1. Starting small – Focusing on the little joys of daily life
2. Releasing yourself – Letting go of ego and embracing the process
3. Harmony and sustainability – Finding balance with the world around you
4. The joy of little things – Appreciating simple pleasures
5. Being in the here and now – Fully engaging with the present moment
These five pillars emphasize that ikigai isn’t about chasing a dream job but about finding fulfillment in everyday moments.
How to Shift Your Perspective and See Ikigai Clearly
If you’ve been looking at ikigai through the wrong end of the binoculars, it’s time to flip them around. Here are a few ways to shift your perspective and embrace the authentic Japanese meaning of ikigai:
1. Stop Searching, Start Noticing
Instead of hunting for a “big purpose,” start paying attention to the small things that bring you joy. Keep a daily ikigai journal and write down moments that made you smile, feel accomplished, or gave you a sense of peace.
2. Separate Passion from Profession
Your job does not have to be your ikigai. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Perhaps there’s one small aspect of your job that you enjoy, excel at, and it gives you a sense of true satisfaction. Your ikigai might be playing guitar, gardening, mentoring others, or simply being present for your loved ones.
3. Embrace Impermanence
Ikigai evolves. What gives you meaning today may change in five years and that’s okay. Instead of seeking a fixed purpose, allow your ikigai to shift with life’s seasons.
4. Savor the Process, Not Just the Outcome
A Western mindset often values the result more than the journey. Ikigai is the opposite. It’s about immersing yourself in what you love, whether or not it leads to success, money, or recognition.
5. Find Meaning in the Ordinary
Ikigai isn’t just about “following your dreams.” It’s also about being present in daily routines such as enjoying a warm meal, feeling the wind on your face, or finding pride in a well-done job.
Conclusion: Adjust Your Focus, See the Beauty
Ikigai isn’t something distant and hard to grasp. It’s already around you. If you’re looking through the wrong end of the binoculars, it will always feel too small, too far away, or too complicated to find.
But the moment you flip your perspective, clarity emerges. Life becomes richer, more meaningful, and full of moments worth savoring.
So, stop searching for ikigai as if it’s a destination. Instead, adjust your focus and start seeing the beauty that has been right in front of you all along.