Page 16 - Seniors Today
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and challenges are not just for companies; refers to a person’s vocation or career path
they are as much true for us as players in as the true purpose of life. The commonly
the game who keep the economy churning used French word ‘raison d’etre’ is about
and turning. At any point in time and at your reason for existence and what gives
any stage in life, getting a job is a relief, meaning to your life. Other countries too
retaining it is tougher and only true grit can have their own similar philosophies; the
help you sow and reap in the field of life. world was indeed a village long before it
Many would be aware of Ikigai, the was envisioned as one by technological
Japanese concept to a long and happy life. advances and development.
Simply put it is about finding your reason
to live and get out of bed every day. It is
about what you love, what you are good
at, what the world needs from you and
what it is willing to pay you for. It’s about
finding your purpose, letting your passion
and skills lead you, staying strong in the
face of stress and hardships and a whole
lot of other factors of life which can lead
to well-being and happiness. Ikigai is no Come to think of it. In the hoary past, there
different from tenets in other cultures and was no system of structured holidays that
countries. In our own backyard, which has become de-rigueur now. There was
most youngsters or for that matter elders no Sunday or a second or fourth Saturday
too do not take the trouble to understand, holidays. One worked all days. One
we have the concept of ‘swadharma’, celebrated important days and religious
encapsulating dharma, karma, seva and festivals. One prayed or visited temples
bhakti, as a guiding principle to lead a as and when they felt like. One went on
fulfilling life. The German word ‘berufung’ family holidays. The armies or the legions
were on constant standby to protect turf
and face wars. Purpose was paramount,
everything else was secondary. The call for
less working hours and more holidays has
taken a precedence at the cost of meaningful
conversations on productivity and the
larger good of the society and the country.
Rights have sidelined duties. Its all about I,
me and myself.
If our larger purpose, as a society, is
happiness and well-being in life, it is all
about collectively living by the principles of
ikigai and swadharma, regardless of the age
or stage of life. I don’t have a clock on my
desk, but I do keep a watch on my purpose
which keeps me occupied 24 hours a day.
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