What is your 'ikigai'?

Note: 2nd video mentions AI well before its time...

Update: see a Perplexity AI detailed definition at bottom.

 Ikigai (生き甲斐, "a reason for being") is a Japanese concept referring to having a direction or purpose in life, providing a sense of fulfillment and towards which they the person may take actions, giving them satisfaction and a sense of meaning. en.wikipedia.org

It is often depicted as an intersection of these circles:

Here is mine, a geologist of 40 yrs. turned to GIS 30 yrs. ago and community 5 yrs. ago:

What brought this up you might ask? First an e-friend posted this:

May 2026: no direct compare, but I reached 1M hits also.

Then came this excellent podcast on Geodesign:

Note: at 2:40 first I heard of AI well before it became "a thing"  

Voilà! A common question among #gischat is "what do we do &/or call ourselves?" Canada where I started out coined "geomatics", but "geomatician" sounds awkward unless spoofed as "geomagician" :-)  So this brief exposé says why I sign as geo-enabler, starting with my latest venture Local Community Engagement. 

May 2026 Update

Perplexity AI definition:

The 4 rules of ikigai

These rules describe what your ikigai should connect to your daily life:

Do what you love

→ What you love to do (passion, pleasure, what makes you want to get up in the morning).

Do what you are good at

→ What you are good at (your talents, skills, natural strengths).

Do what the world needs

→ What the world needs (what you can usefully contribute to others or to society).

Do what you can be paid for

→ What can generate income (an economically viable activity, professional or entrepreneurial).

Your ikigai lies at the intersection of these four rules.

The 3 actions of ikigai

1. Kaizen (改善) – continuous improvement

Kaizen literally means "improvement" or "change for the better."

 In practice, this is a philosophy of continuous improvement through small steps, applied to work, processes, and also personal life.

In short:

View each situation as improvable.

Act through regular micro-improvements rather than abrupt transformations.

2. Shoshin (初心) – Beginner's Mind

Shoshin translates as "beginner's mind"; sho = beginning, shin = mind/attitude.

It is a Zen and martial concept that describes an open, humble, curious attitude, free from judgment and certainty, even for experienced individuals.

In practice:

Let go of preconceptions and remain receptive to new ideas.

Approach each situation as a discovery, not as a repetition.

 3. Hara hachi bu (腹八分目) – Eat to 80%

Hara hachi bu (or hara hachi bun me) literally means "80% full": eat until you are 80% satisfied, not completely stuffed.

This is a Japanese dietary principle associated with Okinawa and longevity: it encourages moderate eating for health and disease prevention.

In practice:

Slow down while eating, listen to your body's signals of fullness, and stop before you feel overly full.

Adopt a more mindful relationship with food rather than a strict diet.