A Guide to Finding Something Worthwhile Doing
Hey everyone and I hope you are all doing well in this period. So back to where we left off in the previous post, let us continue with what we left off from the other day. The concept that I will be introducing to all of you today is Ikigai.
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai is basically translated to "reason for being" (source). Based on my reading on the concept it is about finding something that you love and are good at. This something has to be something that brings value to the world and something that you can be paid for. Now, nothing beats a diagram, so here's one below:
That's great, so how does it apply to me?
A great deal actually, if you are one of my students reading this today, you may think that your future has already been set for you. You may assume that you are going to complete your course and graduate. Upon graduation, you will be guaranteed a job, right? Well... Yes, for now. But what if, just what if, you don't get offered a job?
This is where the concept of Ikigai comes in. No matter if you are offered a job or not, you need to be excellent at that one thing that the world needs. Something that you love, are good at and that you can be paid for. With the lockdown period being extended due to the corona virus, now is a good time to look into building your skillset. Such skill set can be based on teaching or something that can be used to complement your teaching skills. To do so, here are a few questions to consider:
i) What does the world need with my skill set?
ii) How can I _______________ (name here) make a difference with that skill?
iii) How can I love doing it and not starve to death doing what I love?
When I first started teaching, my immediate concern was money. I had a wedding coming up and I needed cash to pay for it. So one of the things I did was to take up teaching night classes at a local university. To be honest, I had no idea what I was teaching but over time, learning on the job did help. The point is, getting good at something takes time and searching, so now's the time to start!
But What if I am not only Interested in Teaching?
One of the biggest problems that past students in my course face is a problem of wants vs needs. For example, a lot of students don't want to be teachers, but needed to take up the offer because they had no choice. Some may want to pursue other areas of interest but need to finish the large load of assignments prescribed to them.
I know in such situations it is exteremely cliche to say that "if you have no time, make time". Such a statement can bring resentment because it sounds as if you can just conjure time out of nowhere. Also, it implies that you are not using your time well. However, let me offer up a different perspective.
Making time in this case can refer to a few methods. You could cut down on unproductive activities. I cut down on RPG games, those take up too much time. As much as it was painful, it helps. You could also streamline your workflow. This involves focusing on the easier tasks first and completing the tougher ones later. It can also include building a team with your friends to help each other brainstorm on ideas.
Conclusion
So now, the ball is in your park. In the comments section below, do ask a question pertaining to the post. It can be about my personal experiences or any disagreements you have with what I've mentioned. Also, what topics would like to know more of in the future? Do comment down below. Till the next time!
I've read the book about ikigai sir. Sir I would like to ask if you ever had an experience dealing with assignments and think that you cant do it. If you have one, is there any advise or any tips from you on how to face the situation? i would like to know topics about how to deal with stress and panic.
There is actually, my biggest one yet is my PhD , but i think that's a bit too far off. I had a few in uni and when I could not do them or I get stressed... I stop doing it. I leave, I go for a walk, I play games and then I come back to it. While I'm away, I'm still actively thinking about it because sometimes what is lacking is just a different perspective.
I think there are many good books (outside of education ) like thinking in systems by Donella Meadows. But for me, the best way to learn is to ask. If you find that you are not able to do the assignment, it means you have hit a limit in your capacity. Just like climbing a mountain, when you can't climb anymore, what do you do? You either pause for a break or you ask someone to pull you up.
So, ask your lecturer for help and if you can't get the help you need, ask me. If it still does not work, take a step back, evaluate your feedback so far and pick the best possible route forward. After all, if you do nothing, you're guaranteed to fail but if you do something, who knows? You might even hit it big !