My Ikigai - What gets me up in the mornings

The Japanese word Ikigai (pronounced ee-ki-guy) is used to describe “why I get up in the morning” .  Finding your Ikigai can mean a deep and often lengthy search of self.  However, when I attended a MindSetGo workshop I was invited to find my Ikigai in 5 minutes and use only 6 words to describe it.  I think I spent the first couple of minutes thinking this is impossible but then it just came to me. My Ikigai is to:

 Create, Inspire, Share, Care and Be

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Since the workshop I have pondered my Ikigai many times and each time I do this, it gives me another gift as another layer of meaning is uncovered. Therefore in preparation for the next Creativity for Well-Being workshop,which will focus on values, I decided to further explore  my Ikigai.  I used a small file folder gluebook  inspired by Gretchen Miller over at 6 Degrees of Creativity 2. If you want to make you own file folder journal Gretchen has instructions on her blog Creativity in Motion.

I firstly covered my file folder with various coloured tissue paper, I then stuck collage images and more tissue onto the pages.  Finally I used different inks to finish the pages. I made one page for each word of my Ikigai, exploring what the words mean to me and how by living in congruence with the multi layers of meaning, I find meaning and purpose in my life.

Each of the pages in the file folder booklet has a pocket, so to add another layer I made an ATC to insert in each of these.  I used water based inks as a back ground, stencilled words and used collage including some dictionary definitions and then gel metallic and glitter pens to add the words.  I love the simple dictionary definitions for BE – “to exist, or live”.

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