πΈ ikigai ηγη²ζ is a reason for being, your purpose in life - from the Japanese iki ηγ meaning life and gai η²ζ meaning worth πΈ
Trust me to go and get Covid *sighs* I'm feeling really icky, would quite like to cry, and honestly fighting hard to not be a whiny little bitch about it all. It's my birthday week, I'm on leave, and I was supposed to be having fun but instead I got the lurgy and been more than a tad hindered in my plans!
I've been vegetating on my sofa, sniffling and feeling sorry for myself while bingeing YouTube. A journaling prompt from one of my favourite YouTubers, Campbell Walker aka Struthless, made me stop and sit up (metaphorically of course, I'm still too achy for anything energetic);
"How can the worst thing that has ever happened to you be the best thing that has ever happened to you?"
Now, that's a gnarly one, isn't it? It seems impossible at first glance. How could something awful possibly be good? But that's the beauty of it, it sets your brain whirring trying to solve this seemingly unsolvable puzzle.
Struthless, in his brilliantly matter of fact way, talks about how even the darkest experiences in his life (addiction, childhood abuse) have answers to this prompt. For him, a shocking hangover could be the best thing that ever happened if it was the last one he ever had!
It got me thinking about my own life. Of course being ill on my birthday is rubbish, but is it the worst thing? Not by a long shot. So I cast my mind back to something truly painful, losing my Dad.
And you know what? I found an answer.
My Dad's suffering and passing was the push I needed to quit nicotine for good. Harsh but true.
I reckon that's a pretty powerful brightside to an awful awful thing happening. Adding fuel to my fire of purpose and growth.
Why does this matter? Why put ourselves through mental gymnastics of finding a silver lining in our darkest clouds?
As horrible as it is to say, this is how we grow. Also life has a habit amongst the brilliance and beauty to chuck us bullshit too. A practice like this is how we can remember to find a reason for being even in the midst of chaos and pain.
When we reframe our setbacks as setups for comebacks, we're not doing it to put on a brave face. We're actively rewiring our brains, creating new neural pathways that help us become more resilient, more purposeful, more shiny as us.
So, as I lie here in my sickbed, I'm challenging myself. How can this ill-timed illness be the best thing that's happened to me? Maybe it's forcing me to slow down and appreciate that I have a safe warm space to heal, the kindness of friends checking in and the luxury of time to think and write.
Or perhaps it's as simple as a reminder of the importance of health in my journey, and to properly appreciate it when I feel well again. It's tricky to pursue your life's purpose when you're not taking care of your physical wellbeing.
I don't have all the answers but I'm asking the questions.
I donβt think purpose is about having a perfect life, it's about finding meaning and direction in the life I *actually* have, setbacks, and all.
I'm off to jot down some more words in my journal. Who knows? By the time I'm back on my feet, I might just have sparked something beautiful out of this birthday bug.
I wish for you to be healthy and purposeful
Sarah, seeking ikigai xxx
P.S. I'd love to hear your thoughts. What setbacks have you transformed into opportunities? Big or small, recent or long past, how can we turn them into stepping stones on our path to ikigai?
Happy Birthday and sorry you're sick! Rest well β€οΈβπ©Ή