Educated Inbox
Gareth B. Davieson Ken Mogi1 Jun 20243 min read
The one big idea from Ken Mogi's book: life's deepest fulfilment comes not from grand achievements, but from fully embracing and finding joy in life's smallest moments.
Ikigai resides in the realm of small things. The morning air, a cup of coffee, a ray of sunshine: these are the things that make our lives worth living.Ken Mogi
This challenges our modern obsession with grand accomplishments, and reminds us that real purpose usually lives in the ordinary moments we would otherwise overlook.
Ikigai is not something you find through achievement alone. It is something you cultivate daily, through mindful engagement with simple pleasures and steady dedication to the pursuits you choose.
Jiro Ono, the sushi master who once served Barack Obama in his tiny restaurant, is the clearest example. Despite international acclaim and three Michelin stars, his fulfilment comes from the daily practice of his craft, not the recognition. Shift your focus from achievement to engagement, and even brewing a morning coffee becomes a ritual that sets the tone for the day.
The proof
Mogi backs this with:
- The Osaki study at Tohoku University, tracking over 50,000 people, which found that a strong sense of ikigai predicted better physical and mental health.
- Okinawa's "blue zone", where centenarians credit their long lives to simple activities aligned with their ikigai.
- Studio Ghibli's animators, who choose demanding, relatively low-paid work out of devotion to the craft, showing that ikigai transcends conventional success.
Apply this today
- Start your morning by deliberately engaging with something you enjoy, priming your brain for good experiences through the day.
- Practise kodawari, a commitment to excellence, in one specific task. Focus on the process, not the outcome.
- Build moments of flow into your day, where the joy of the work matters more than any external reward.
- Follow your own interests outside of work, the way Murakami pairs professional excellence with personal passions.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Confusing ikigai with conventional success or outside validation.
- Neglecting small daily practices in favour of grand goals.
- Assuming ikigai has to come from your job, when it can live in any part of life.
- Waiting for perfect conditions instead of finding joy in the present.
What changed for me
My own results after 30 days:
Before
Constantly chasing external markers of success, and feeling unfulfilled despite my achievements.
After
Deep satisfaction in daily rituals, better mental well-being from mindful engagement with simple tasks, and a sense of purpose that no longer depends on outside recognition.
Save this for when you need
- A reminder that meaning often lives in small moments.
- Inspiration to find purpose beyond conventional success.
- Guidance on cultivating flow in your daily activities.
- A way to balance professional excellence with personal passions.
Try it this week
- Pick one morning ritual that brings you joy, and practise it mindfully.
- Choose a regular task and approach it with kodawari, aiming for excellence for its own sake.
- Make space for an activity that puts you in flow, whatever its practical value.
Your turn: what small moment in your daily routine could become a source of ikigai? What activity already brings you joy that you could approach with more mindfulness?
Want the whole argument? Read Awakening Your Ikigai by Ken Mogi.