January | 2026 | Equivalent Exchange

Some say the Japanese notion of Ikigai (生き甲斐, literally “a reason for being“) can be divided into the following four overlapping aspects:

Passion (情熱, jōnetsu)
Mission (目的, mokuteki)
Talent (才能, sainō)
Career (職業, shokugyō)

But others say that it’s more complicated than that.

Regardless, I seem to have arranged my diagram differently from everyone else, like I often do. I base my order by analogy with how I’ve arranged the Four Causes and Structure-Function.

Further Reading:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikigai

Héctor García, Francesc Miralles / Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

https://ikigainotes.com/what-you-know-about-ikigai-is-dead-wrong/

Images of Ikigai being in four overlapping parts…

[*14.126]

The four states of mind to avoid to maintain Heijoshin (平常心), or “calm, steady mind,” are called the Shikai (四戒), or “four sicknesses of the mind”. These are derived from Japanese martial arts and Buddhist philosophy and represent mental distractions that interfere with clear thinking and effective action.

The four things to avoid are:

Kyo (驚) — Surprise: The mental disturbance that occurs when faced with the unexpected. It can lead to a moment of frozen indecision where one is unable to make correct judgments or take relevant measures.
Ku (懼) — Fear: Being afraid of an opponent, an outcome, or a situation. Fear can cause your spirit to freeze and your body to lose the ability to move freely and effectively.
Gi (疑) — Doubt: Questioning your abilities or judging your opponent’s actions, which leads to hesitation and indecisiveness. Doubt erodes confidence and delays decision-making.
Waku (惑) — Confusion: A state of hesitation and bewilderment that prevents you from making quick, clear decisions and acting swiftly. This happens when the mind is clouded by a mix of indecision and doubt.