Ikigai, Lecture 07.10.2026

Today we got introduced to the topic of Ikigai. I knew it before only from some stories from Japan, but nothing more in particular.

Ikigai is a Japanese word. It means something like “a reason to get up in the morning”. The idea is simple: you look at four questions – What do I love? What am I good at? What does the world need? What can I get paid for? The place where all four meet is your Ikigai.

My reflection: To be honest, I don’t have a strong connection to Ikigai yet. It looks like a nice picture, but real life is often not so clear. What I really liked was the online test we did in class. It was quick and fun, and it made me look at myself in a new way. Some results fit me well, for example that I like to make my own decisions and that I stay calm under stress. Other results surprised me, like “television editor” as a job idea.

How you can use it in everyday life: You don’t have to find your perfect Ikigai today. I think you can use it in small steps:

– When you have to make a decision, for example about a job or a project, ask yourself the four questions.

– Notice which tasks give you energy and which ones make you tired.

– Ask friends what they think you are good at. Others often see things that you don’t.

– Try new things – like this semester in Barcelona – to find out what you really like.

My takeaway: For me, Ikigai is not one big answer for life, but a simple tool to check from time to time if I am still on the right way.