Book Review: Ikigai – Finding Meaning in the Small, Everyday Things
Hello everyone,
A book I have procrastinated for a long time before finally deciding to check it out is Ikigai. It is a book I have been aware of for a while, but I chose not to read it or take any action. It was a couple of years ago when I came across the book, back in 2022. Back then, I said to myself that I was not ready to read it. I do not know if you have experienced something like that, where you say to yourself that you are not ready to read a particular book yet, but probably when the time is right, you will know.
Well, that was what it was for me back then until today, I decided it is high time. Frankly, not entirely s. I was chatting with a friend about life and what it means to find meaning in a world of chaos. It was poetic, I mean, the discussion on how we share our thoughts, and it got him to recommend Ikigai. Once again, my path crossed with the book Ikigai after forgetting about it a couple of years back.
Usually, it takes a simple quote from a book to get me hooked and talking about it, and this time, the quote from Ikigai is:
“Our ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires patience.”
The book is centered on finding our meaning in life from calm process of looking within oneself. It is more like looking inward to what you have lying within you. I take it that it means find what brings your delight when you embark. It is admirable that the book is more concerned with doing it patiently, unlike other self-help books that provoke the need for drastic actions. Ikigai is different in the sense that the authors believe your meaning is within you and can be seen in the small things and everyday things.
I relate to this a lot because, a couple of days back, I wrote about appreciating the simple things in life in this post: • Notes from the Still Hours, and I believe also through these things one can find their purpose and meaning to life. I have been working on life's meaning and coming to the acceptance that I am on a journey of life, learning through the circumstances and finding happiness in even the darkest of times. Dumbledore once said
Light can be found even in the darkest of places if only you remember to turn on the light. So, why don't you appreciate those simple things and look within for your life's meaning if you have not found one?
The thought of the authors I solely agree upon is the understanding that the finding of life's meaning does not have to be a grandiose life call to the altar, or, in my opinion, an answer to the calling. It can be found in the simple things you do that give your life meaning and peace. It could be as simple as spending time with your family, which gives you the sole purpose of wanting to provide for them and making sure they do not lack. It could be that simple. Do not make it that complicated for yourself; the world is there to do that already, so cut yourself some slack.
I am 
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Thanks For Reading!