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Everyday Better with Leah Smart

Finding Your Purpose Through Ikigai With Tim Tamashiro

Aug 27, 2024
Tim Tamashiro, a jazz singer and author of 'How to Ikigai', dives into the ancient Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, which emphasizes finding one's true purpose in life. He shares his personal journey to uncover his Ikigai and guides Leah in her own exploration. They discuss the importance of trying new experiences to discover passions, the impact of stillness on achieving happiness, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment beyond traditional education. Tim also highlights how small doses of joy contribute to meaningful life.
49:33

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The concept of Ikigai emphasizes that true happiness and purpose come from aligning passions, skills, and contributions to the world.
  • Engaging in diverse new activities is essential for self-exploration and discovering hidden interests that lead to finding one's Ikigai.

Deep dives

Understanding Ikigai

Ikigai is an ancient concept from Okinawa that suggests a fulfilling life is achieved by aligning what you love, what you are skilled at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for. This intersection can lead to a deeper sense of meaning, and it has historical ties to the long lives of centenarians in Okinawa. Initially known as 'ikikai' or 'life shell,' the term evolved to represent life's worth as people began to recognize that personal joy can come through sharing one's gifts with others. The essence of Ikigai lies in self-exploration and understanding how one's passions and skills can contribute to a greater good.

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