Ever feel like retirement stole your sense of purpose? Rally’s got a remedy — and it comes all the way from Japan. It’s called Ikigai (pronounced “ee-key-guy”), and research shows that people who’ve found theirs are happier and less likely to develop dementia over time. Tune in to discover what your Ikigai might be, and why it’s never too late to find it.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Rally VO:
Hello, beautiful people!
Rally Preston here—coming to you live from the land of bifocals, joint pain-relief cream, and yeah, early-bird dinner reservations.
Welcome back to The Silver Beast Podcast, where age is just a stupid number—and, who needs an alarm clock when you get a sudden leg cramp that’ll make you jump out of bed so much faster? Yeah, that really happened to me a couple of days ago. Ugh.
But, not throwing that out there for just the sympathy. Although I’ll take it. But no, it’s actually a roundabout segue to today’s topic. Which is one you might want to give some thought to if you haven’t already. So my question to you is simply this: What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Okay, okay—I get the obvious stuff.
But what else? What do have going on inside you that gets your days off to a really good start? In other words, after you finish your first cup of coffee, what’s next, what’s your purpose for tackling life again today?
Well, if you’re a little fuzzy on the purpose part – and I know a lot of people who are — I think this podcast may help point you in the right direction, and, in a fun kind of way.
So tell me if you’ve heard this word before: Ikigai—
[different high voice] Icky what?
Ikigai – it’s spelled I-K-I-G-A-I. It’s a Japanese word that means essentially “a reason for being.”
So Ikigai is all about finding out what makes your life truly meaningful. And Ikigai is not just for the young folks trying to climb the corporate ladder, or get their latest life hack posted on TikTok.
Ikigai can work wonders for us seasoned pros who’ve been on the front lines of life for a long, long time — I believe we still need a purpose, too. Actually, maybe we need it even more. And here’s why…
If you’re like me, and don’t have a 9 to 5 job to show up for anymore, or kids to shuttle around town, it’s easy to stay in couch-potato mode for a little too long these days – just speaking from my experience here. I mean, I find myself binge-watching shows I don’t really like, eating stale cookies, and wondering what day of the week it is. That’s a long way from having a meaningful purpose in life, I’d say.
Alright, so let me break down this whole Ikigai concept for you — and again, that’s what the Japanese call “a reason for being,” and exactly how you can use it to give your life a real purpose. Or, if you feel you’re already dialed in to that, this might help you make it even stronger. Either way, I think you’ll find this fascinating.
So you usually see Ikigai diagrammed as four overlapping circles.
Sorry if I’m giving anyone PTSD from high school geometry class – my apologies, at least it’s not algebra.
Ok, so — four circles, overlapping in the middle — and right there in the center is where you’ll find your Ikigai sweet spot.
So really quick, here’s what’s in each of these four overlapping circles:
First circle: What you love – Y’know, that thing that lights you up inside.
Second circle, What you’re good at – Yes, you are good at things! I know you are, don’t argue with me.
Third circle: What the world needs – Now this doesn’t have to be a global thing – you can narrow it down to your little corner of the world — and think about what it needs most right now? Family, friends, church group, local schools — you get the idea…just focus the world closer to home if you like. Or you can always solve global warming if you like, your choice.
OK, and the last one, the fourth Ikigai circle, what you can get paid for – Now if you’re retired like me, just take that to mean what gives you value. Now value is the key word here. Because, look, your time is always worth something —even if you’re just getting paid with a big smile or a warm thank-you.
So, those four circles, where they overlap – that’s where you’ll find your true Ikigai.
So again, it’s the intersection of What You Love, What You’re Good At, What the World Needs, and, What You Can Get Paid For – or for retirees, what you can offer that’s valuable to other people.
Alright, let’s make this Fat East Ikigai concept a little more concrete for our Western brains. So here are some different examples of how to apply whatever Ikigai is right for you, to your life. Ok, random examples…
Let’s say you love to cook. Maybe start hosting Sunday family dinners, teach your grandkids how to make your signature dish, or even join a community meal program. Your kitchen skills could be your Ikigai.
Are you a great storyteller? Awesome, the world needs your stories! Record them, write a memoir, start a blog, or heck, just entertain the grandkids with tales of “Back in my day…” —which, let’s be honest, were way cooler days anyway, right?.
Let’s pick another one…say you love working with tools. Ok, build birdhouses. Fix a neighbor’s wobbly chair. Restore furniture. Got a post hole digger? Just lend that one out. Those things are brutal!
Then again, maybe your real passion is helping others. Well then volunteer your time! Whether it’s mentoring young folks, reading to kids at the library, or just being the go-to person for wisdom and advice—your experience is incredibly valuable to lots of people.
Or maybe your true love is simply learning. Well take an online class. Join a book club. Or, Learn a new language… Just imagine surprising people in your grocery store’s pasta aisle with your fluent Italian. I can guarantee people will look at you differently.
OK, those are just some random ideas. Give it some thought and come up with your Ikigai that is uniquely you.
And by the way, don’t think Ikigai has to be this big, serious, life-mission kind of thing.
It could be something really, really simple…like…
Being the person who always makes people laugh at the senior center? That’s Ikigai.
Growing the best tomatoes and sharing them in your neighborhood? That counts as Ikigai.
Or how about becoming the go-to person for solving crossword puzzles or winning trivia games. Yep—that’s Ikigai, too.
Now if you think finding your Ikigai, is just some weird, frivolous, waste of time thing…you’ll want to listen up for this. Here’s something I found about Ikigai from a study in The Lancet science journal: People who say they have Ikigai are 31% less likely to develop a disability over time, and 36% who have found their purpose in life are less likely to develop dementia.
So there you go —having Ikigai in your life isn’t just good for the soul—it might do your brain and body good too.
And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Rally, I’m not sure what my purpose is anymore…”
Yep, I get that. It may not be something you’ve thought all that much about.
Ok, in that case, here’s what I suggest try: Grab a cup of tea—or what the heck, a suspiciously early glass of wine—and try this real simple exercise…
First, write down three things you love to do.
Next, write down three things you’re good at.
And finally, think about three ways those things — what you love, what you’re good at — could help someone else.
Somewhere in that list is your Ikigai— or at least a pretty good place to start looking for it.
And don’t worry if your Ikigai changes over time. That’s ok. Life evolves, so can your purpose.
Alright, time to wrap this one up. I know its been a lot.
But here’s the key takeaway from all this: Your purpose doesn’t retire when you do. And, very important here, you are never too old to start something new, or somehow, someway, make a difference in your little corner of the world.
When you find your Ikigai — your purpose in life moving forward — I promise, you’ll be so much more excited about rolling out of bed in the morning. Find it, and you’ll see.
Hey thanks so much for dropping by today Silver Beasties!
And I’ll see you next time on The Silver Beast Podcast.