“Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Theodore Roosevelt
Ikigai is the Japanese concept of “reason to live” and is the intersection of four things:
- What you love.
- What you are good at.
- What the world needs.
- What you can be paid for.
Doing meaningful work that positively impacts the world be it scientific research or writing or teaching is a key component and numerous psychological studies have shown those that see purpose in their work tend to put more of themselves into it. They tend to be happier, take less sick time, and work longer and harder than their peers that lack the emotional commitment.
Find something worth doing and do it for all your worth and you will win a prize that none can take from you.