{"id":53789,"title":"Ikigai (n.) reason for being","description":"Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) is a Japanese concept meaning \u201ca reason for being\u201d or \"a reason to get up in the morning\". It blends life, purpose, and fulfillment into a guiding philosophy.","content":"<p>Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) is a Japanese concept meaning \u201ca reason for being\u201d or \"a reason to get up in the morning\". It blends life, purpose, and fulfillment into a guiding philosophy.<\/p><h2>Understanding Ikigai<\/h2><p>The word ikigai comes from two Japanese roots: iki (\u751f\u304d), meaning \u201clife\u201d or \u201cto live,\u201d and gai (\u7532\u6590), meaning \u201cworth\u201d or \u201cvalue.\u201d Together, they express the idea of finding value in being alive. In essence, ikigai is the intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. This convergence creates a sense of balance and purpose, often described as a personal raison d\u2019\u00eatre.<\/p><h2>Pronunciation<\/h2><p>Phonetically, ikigai is pronounced as ee-kee-guy (\/\u02cci\u02d0ki\u02c8\u0261a\u026a\/). The emphasis is gentle, with each syllable spoken clearly. This pronunciation reflects the simplicity and harmony embedded in the concept itself.<\/p><h2>Meaning in Life<\/h2><p>Ikigai emphasises small joys, daily routines, and meaningful contributions. For example, a gardener may find ikigai in nurturing plants, while a teacher may discover it in guiding students. It is deeply personal, varying from person to person, and evolves over time as passions and circumstances change.<\/p><p>The philosophy suggests that when people live aligned with their ikigai, they experience greater satisfaction, resilience, and longevity. In fact, studies of Okinawa, Japan (home to many centenarians) highlight ikigai as a cultural cornerstone contributing to long, happy lives.<\/p><h2>Why it resonates<\/h2><p>We\u2019re celebrating our second birthday today. And the Japanese philosophy of finding joy, purpose, and meaning in life sums up our celebration perfectly. <\/p><p>For us creating Salty Soul and finding our tribe, has been about aligning:<\/p><ul><li><p>Passion for creativity and the communities we live in<\/p><\/li><li><p>Skill in design and innovation<\/p><\/li><li><p>Need - the planet's need for a clothing revolution, to end waste<\/p><\/li><li><p>Livelihoods - to earn a living through blending passion, skill and need.<\/p><\/li><\/ul><p>Creating a fulfilling existence - Ikigai.<\/p><p><img src=\"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8yknilsw39lsxvodtgnxzmv5ia4x6zffzxcctdyt2h0e2tsb.png.png?w=1140&amp;v=2\" alt=\"8yknilsw39lsxvodtgnxzmv5ia4x6zffzxcctdyt2h0e2tsb.png.png?w=1140&amp;v=2\" \/><\/p>","urlTitle":"ikigai-reason-for-being","url":"\/blog\/ikigai-reason-for-being\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/ikigai-reason-for-being\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/saltysoulclothing.com\/blog\/ikigai-reason-for-being\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1764779743,"updatedAt":1764780392,"publishedAt":1764780391,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":322676,"name":"Salty Soul"},"tags":[{"id":3838,"code":"wordoftheweek","name":"Wordoftheweek","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/wordoftheweek\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/su1jc2drd6qkahcr3imkmowhb2d6byv7pyc0w8fh5g77htw2.png","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/su1jc2drd6qkahcr3imkmowhb2d6byv7pyc0w8fh5g77htw2.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/su1jc2drd6qkahcr3imkmowhb2d6byv7pyc0w8fh5g77htw2.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Ikigai Reason For Being | Salty Soul Clothing","metaDescription":"Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) is a Japanese concept meaning \u201ca reason for being\u201d or \"a reason to get up in the morning\". It blends life, purpose, and fulfillment into a guiding philosophy.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":46560,"title":"Apricity (n.) 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