Ikigai (16/07/20)

-




"ikigai"

 

This week as we welcome our new students, I'm thinking about the Japanese concept of ikigai and how as educators, we have a role in helping our students to find their purpose in life. ikigai means 'a reason for being' and is seen as the convergence of four elements:

 

What you love (your passion)

What the world needs (your mission)

What you are good at (your vocation)

What you can get paid for (your profession)

 

University is an opportunity to foster all of these things in our students. We want them to find their purpose in life at Salford and provide a nurturing environment for them to achieve their goals. Discovering your own ikigai is said to bring fulfilment, happiness and make you live longer - Japan has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, so there must be something in it! 

 

If you want to find your ikigai, ask yourself the following questions: 

1) What do I love? 

2) What am I good at? 

3) What can I be paid for now or in the future? 

4) What does the world need?

 

You can find out more about ikigai here and here. Also check out the book "Ikagai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Hector Garcier.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

That's a wrap! (14/04/21)

-
Image
That's a wrap! For the past year, I have been writing this wellness blog for staff and students. It started as an idea to support Social Policy students during lockdown and ended up going out to the whole School. A number of staff have contributed along the way and a huge thanks to those who have. As lockdown restrictions start to lift, it seems like a good time to bring Wellness Wednesday to a close, so this will be my last email. My last post is based on an article I read in the  Guardian  a couple of weeks ago, about the need to take it slowly as we reintegrate into society. The author writes that it is normal to be anxious about beginning to socialise and interact with old environments and that the  're-entry syndrome'  that some people might experience is part of a healthy readjustment to post-lockdown life. I spent last week off with my kids, meeting up with various friends and family outdoors most days and I can honestly say I feel frazzled this week. It has been a w
Read more

Tips for working/studying from home (10/02/21)

-
Image
Wellness Wednesday Happy Wednesday all! One positive thing I am focusing on this week is that January is officially over and Spring is on its way 🌤 🌿 🌸 This week I am sharing this fabulous poster with some great tips for maintaining wellbeing when working from home. The poster was designed by Occupational Therapy students Chantelle Buchanan, Rebecca Richardson and Sabah Bedekar from the University of Salford.
Read more

Using your breath to find calm (03/06/20)

-
Image
This week I am going to share some breathing techniques that can help with relaxation and help you to feel calm. In yoga, control of the breath is called pranayama - this is the practice of cultivating and focusing on the vital 'energy of life' within you. Breathing techniques can be used to find calmness and focus in meditation and you can also use them to bring about a state of relaxation and control when you are experien cing stress and anxiety. When we are stressed or anxious, our sympathetic nervous system is activated. Our body is in fight or flight mode and our breathing is sharp and shallow. By practicing breathing exercises, slowing down and controlling our breath, we can stimulate our parasympathetic nervous system which helps us to feel relaxed and calm. Breathing exercises are also a form of mindfulness practice, as our awareness is focussed on our breath, directing attention away from unruly thoughts and towards the present moment. Here are two of my favourite sim
Read more