Existential Frustration
- devabritow
- Jun 29
- 7 min read
"Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose." Viktor Frankl.
I read Héctor García and Francesc Miralles' book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life in under two days. This isn't a flex, nor is it a massive accomplishment, because it's not the longest book in the world. However, it packs a terrific punch, and each time I put the book down, I looked forward to picking it up again. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life is simultaneously everything I thought it would be and nothing like I imagined. The book is another one of those serendipitous discoveries I have made over the last year or so. I saw the word pop up on social media several times, either on pages with the word in their name, or on sponsored ads from people offering to help find your purpose (at a cost, of course). A couple of weeks ago, while writing The Willingness of the Mind, which centred around Jeff Karp's LIT Life Ignition Tools, I did a deep dive into some of the research around the book and discovered Ikigai.
Where possible, I prefer to use actual images of the books I cover in this blog, and by that, I mean pictures I have taken of the physical book. I often butcher the photos, though, and while looking for a different image on the Wix site, I happened on this one, which is the version of the book I read. Serendipity in action once again.
The Japanese concept of ikigai roughly translates as "the happiness of always being busy", but it is often translated as one's raison d'être - that which gives life purpose and meaning. Ikigai can be found at the point where what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for meet. Sounds simple enough, right? Then, why do so many people spend their entire lives searching for it? Sometimes to no avail?
A lot of Héctor García and Francesc Miralles' book is centred on the longevity of Okinawans in Japan. Renowned as a "Blue Zone" due to its remarkably high longevity rates and a significant number of centenarians, ikigai is just one of the lifestyle and cultural practices that Okinawans have adopted. They're also known for eating until one is only 80% full ("Hara Hachi Bu"), fostering strong social and communal ties and engaging in daily physical activity. My aim in life is not to become a centenarian (not that I have a say in the matter), but I do want to live as happy and healthy a life as I can. That said, I found considerable value in reading the book, particularly in its emphasis on changing one's lifestyle and diet. Reading Ikigai sent me straight down the rabbit hole again, and by Page 12 of the book, I'd bought three new ones - all focused on the Blue Zone.
"He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how". Friedrich Nietzsche
I bought Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning in 2016, during a particularly rough period. I don't remember this from reading the book, but Frankl cites the Nietzsche quote above, and it appears in Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. The quote highlights the core concept of ikigai - of having a compelling purpose in life that enables individuals to withstand difficulties and draw inspiration from life's obstacles. The psychologist, neurologist, philosopher, author and Holocaust survivor features prominently in Ikigai, particularly in reference to logotherapy, a form of psychotherapy developed by Viktor Frankl that focuses on helping individuals find meaning in their lives. Purpose is, of course, the central theme in Man's Search for Meaning, which details Frankl's experiences in Nazi concentration camps. His logotherapy posits that the fundamental human motivation is the search for meaning, rather than the pursuit of pleasure (as suggested by Freud) or the pursuit of power (as proposed by Adler).
After experiencing immense suffering, Frankl understood that his purpose was to help others uncover meaning in their lives. He believed that even in the direst situations, people have the freedom to choose their attitude and discover meaning. While in the camps, Frankl held onto the hope of reuniting with his wife and finishing his incomplete manuscript on logotherapy. These aspirations provided him with a tangible sense of purpose, which he believed played a crucial role in his survival. Frankl held the view that suffering can carry meaning, especially if it contributes to personal development or fulfils a higher purpose. His personal experiences with suffering formed the basis of a philosophy that has benefited millions.
"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Viktor Frankl
Two weeks into launching My Self Help Journey, I wrote a blog post titled Creating A New Me and referenced the above quote from Man's Search for Meaning. Choosing one's approach and adjusting one's attitude has been a common thread through my blog posts, and while seemingly simple, both Martha Beck and Mel Robbins have said that it is not easy. Dr Joe Dispenza says, "The hardest part about change is not making the same choices you did before. The moment you decide to make a different choice, get ready because it's going to feel uncomfortable, it's going to feel unfamiliar.". These same people, all of whom are leaders in the field of mindfulness and self-help, also speak and write extensively on finding one's purpose and creating a meaningful life. The key is to find that purpose and then launch headfirst into achieving it with the right approach and attitude. I think I'm still searching for purpose, and this self-help journey I'm on will help me find it.
"Existential frustration arises when our life is without purpose, or when that purpose is skewed. In Frankl's view, however, there is no need to see this frustration as an anomaly or a symptom of neurosis; instead, it can be a positive thing - a catalyst for change."
The Flow State & Wabi Sabi
In Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, flow is characterised as a mental state where one experiences deep focus, enjoyment, and complete immersion in an activity, to the extent that time and self-awareness seem to disappear. You're in the 'now', so entirely absorbed in what you're doing that you're not thinking about yourself or your problems (real or imagined). This idea, initially introduced by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, is fundamental to the book's message on discovering joy and purpose in everyday life. You're not chasing money or adulation because the activity is its own reward.
That's what writing this blog is for me. It's rewarding in and of itself. It's immersive in the sense that I am drawn into the book, and then I get to write about them while also framing some of the work with my own life experience. Admittedly, some weeks are tough in terms of writing. There are instances where I haven't connected with the book as well as some others, or the post doesn't flow as well as I'd like it to. Irrespective of that, I feel the enjoyment, the deep focus and for a time, it's just me and words. Warts and all, there aren't many things I enjoy more.
"Wabi-sabi is a Japanese concept that shows us the beauty of the fleeting, changeable, and imperfect nature of the world around us. Instead of searching for beauty in perfection, we should look for it in things that are flawed, incomplete."
I hadn't heard of the concept of wabi-sabi before reading Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. However, it made me think of the traditional Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired using a lacquer blended with either silver, gold or platinum.
Instead of concealing cracks, it emphasises and honours them, enhancing the object's beauty and significance due to its history. Kintsugi, similar to wabi-sabi, promotes acceptance, authenticity, and transformation through adversity—fundamental principles also reflected in the idea of ikigai.
"Art, in all its forms, is an ikigai that can bring happiness and purpose to our days. Enjoying or creating beauty is free, and something all human beings have access to."
Trauma, stress, or mental illness can lead to a disconnect between the brain's hemispheres. For instance, emotions may overpower logic, or excessive thinking might suppress emotions. I recently went through a six-week counselling session, and the therapist I saw encouraged me to engage in more artistic pursuits that would balance out the left and right brain. In one session, she sat in front of me holding a sheet of paper and had me scribble whatever I wanted using both hands at the same time, with two different colours. Every so often, she'd tell me to switch to clockwise or counterclockwise. I love it. She also advised me to steer clear of colouring books because the restriction of colouring within the lines spikes anxiety. Who would have guessed that?
Harmonising the left and right brain through art is a fundamental concept in art therapy and creative practices designed to enhance emotional well-being, cognitive integration, and personal development. I have never considered myself to be artistic in any way, nor do I consider my writing to be art. However, I love the idea that any art, including art with flaws, is still art. The MGM logo has said it for years: Ars Gratia Artis - Art for Art's Sake. So, yes - I have been venturing out, trying my hand at different things. Your ikigai is personal and unique. Discovering it involves self-reflection, experimentation, and living in alignment with your values. It doesn't have to be grand — even small daily joys can be your ikigai. The punch-needle embroidery above is an example of my attempts to venture out of my comfort zone and do more things that will create balance between my left and right brain. It's flawed, it's not kintsugi, but it's me, warts and all.
Coming Up Next Week
It's long overdue, so I'll cover Dr. Joe Dispenza's You Are the Placebo next week. I've read three-quarters of it, so I should be able to write comfortably enough for next week's post.
#anxiety #depression #mindfulness #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #youarenotalone #thereisnostigma #selfhel #selfcare #wellness
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