Inspired by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles
Ikigai is a meaningful concept that encourages people to find purpose in life. In simple words, it asks us to think about why we wake up each morning and what gives value to our daily work. For an academic, this idea is very useful because academic life is not only about degrees, publications, lectures, or research projects. It is also about purpose, contribution, curiosity, and personal growth.
Many academics spend years studying, teaching, writing, and researching. Sometimes this journey can feel stressful, competitive, or unclear. There may be pressure to publish, complete postgraduate studies, receive grants, teach students, attend conferences, and build a professional identity. In this situation, Ikigai can become a helpful guide. It reminds academics to connect their intellectual work with personal meaning and social value.
A common way to understand Ikigai is through four pillars:
- What you love
2. What you are good at
3. What the world needs
4. What you can be paid for
For an academic, these four areas can help create a balanced and meaningful career path.
The first pillar of Ikigai asks: What do I truly love?
In academic life, this can mean identifying the subjects, questions, or issues that naturally attract your attention.
For example, one academic may love studying literature, another may enjoy exploring public health, while another may be passionate about technology, education, psychology, or environmental studies. Academic passion often begins with curiosity. It is the inner interest that makes a researcher ask questions such as, “Why does this happen?” or “How can this problem be solved?”
As an academic, it is important to choose research topics that genuinely interest you. When you love your area of study, you are more likely to remain motivated during difficult times. Research can be slow, writing can be challenging, and academic criticism can sometimes feel discouraging. However, love for your subject gives you strength to continue.
This does not mean that every academic task will be exciting. There will always be administrative work, deadlines, revisions, and responsibilities. But when your main academic direction is connected to what you love, your work becomes more meaningful.
The second pillar asks: What am I good at?
Academics need to understand their strengths clearly. Some academics are strong writers. Some are excellent teachers. Some are skilled researchers, data analysts, public speakers, mentors, or project leaders.
Knowing your strengths helps you build confidence and direction. For example, if you are good at explaining complex ideas simply, teaching may become an important part of your academic identity. If you are good at critical thinking and analysis, research may become your strongest area. If you are good at communication, academic leadership, public scholarship, or community engagement may suit you well.
At the same time, academics should not ignore their weaknesses. Ikigai does not mean only doing what is easy. Instead, it encourages self-awareness. Once you know your strengths and limitations, you can improve with purpose. You may attend workshops, collaborate with others, seek mentorship, or develop new academic skills.
In this sense, Ikigai helps academics become lifelong learners. It teaches that personal growth is part of professional development.
The third pillar asks: What does the world need?
This is especially important in academic life because knowledge should not exist only inside classrooms, journals, or universities. Academic work becomes more valuable when it responds to real human, social, cultural, scientific, or environmental needs.
For example, a researcher in education may ask how students can learn better. A scholar in health sciences may study how communities can live healthier lives. A social scientist may examine inequality, migration, gender, or policy issues. A technology researcher may explore ethical innovation. A humanities scholar may help society understand culture, identity, history, and meaning.
When academics connect their work with the needs of the world, their research becomes more purposeful. It is no longer only about publishing papers or gaining recognition. It becomes a form of contribution.
This does not mean every academic study must have immediate practical use. Some theoretical research also has long-term value. However, academics can still ask: How does my work add understanding, improve thinking, or support society? This question can make academic life more meaningful and responsible.
The fourth pillar asks: What can I be paid for?
For academics, this can include teaching, research positions, consultancy, academic writing, supervision, project work, grants, training programs, and professional expertise.
This pillar is important because passion alone is not always enough. Academics also need financial and professional stability. A meaningful career should also be sustainable. If an academic loves a subject but cannot find opportunities to continue working in that field, it may become difficult to grow professionally.
Using Ikigai, academics can think carefully about how their knowledge and skills can create career opportunities. For example, a postgraduate student may ask:
Can my research area lead to teaching opportunities?
Can I contribute to policy, industry, or community development?
Can my expertise support future projects, publications, or professional work?
This does not mean academics should choose only profitable topics. Rather, it means they should understand how their passion, skills, and contribution can also support a stable academic life.
Ikigai should not be seen only as a big life decision. It can also be practiced in small daily academic habits.
An academic can use Ikigai by starting the day with purpose, choosing meaningful reading, writing regularly, supporting students, asking better research questions, and reflecting on progress. Even small actions such as preparing a thoughtful lecture, giving useful feedback, or writing one paragraph of a research paper can become meaningful when connected to a larger purpose.
Academic success is often measured by visible achievements such as publications, degrees, citations, promotions, or awards. These are important, but they are not the whole story. Ikigai reminds academics to also measure success through meaning, growth, service, and inner satisfaction.
Using Ikigai as an academic means creating a career that is not only successful but also meaningful. It helps academics understand what they love, what they are good at, what society needs, and how they can build a sustainable professional life.
In a world where academic life can become stressful and competitive, Ikigai offers a calm and thoughtful framework. It encourages academics to work with purpose, learn continuously, contribute to society, and remain connected to their personal values.
For an academic, Ikigai is not just about finding a job or completing research. It is about finding a meaningful reason to teach, study, write, question, and contribute.
Reference:
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- Diener, E. and Seligman, M.E.P. (2004) ‘Beyond money: Toward an economy of well-being’, Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5(1), pp. 1–31. doi: 10.1111/j.0963-7214.2004.00501001.x.
- García, H. and Miralles, F. (2017) Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life. New York: Penguin Life.
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- Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L. (2000) ‘Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being’, American Psychologist, 55(1), pp. 68–78. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.68.
- Sone, T., Nakaya, N., Ohmori, K., Shimazu, T., Higashiguchi, M., Kakizaki, M., Kikuchi, N., Kuriyama, S. and Tsuji, I. (2008) ‘Sense of life worth living (Ikigai) and mortality in Japan: Ohsaki Study’, Psychosomatic Medicine, 70(6), pp. 709–715. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0b013e31817e7e64.
- Winn, M. (2014) ‘What is your Ikigai?’, The View Inside Me, 14 May. Available at: https://theviewinside.me/what-is-your-ikigai/
- Winn, M. (2017) ‘Meme seeding’, The View Inside Me, 25 October. Available at: https://theviewinside.me/meme-seeding/
Figures in this article were created by the author using Canva with AI-assisted design support. All concepts and final edits are the author’s own.
