A message from our founder
"Having Japanese origin, I understand the nuances of Ikigai, the energy source that gives us the power to live on. It is a beautiful word with an attractive meaning that is difficult to translate directly.
The Venn diagram of purpose portrays that to have Ikigai, you need to be in a career that fulfils your legacy and your passion. This is an enormous amount of pressure to carry, which can often lead to a sense of anxiety. For some, their job may be their Ikigai, their reason for being. But not for all.
Your role in society does not define Ikigai. Ikigai is a feeling you experience in a flow state. People experience this state when they are at one with an experience that makes them feel alive."
Tunteeya Yamaoka
Psychologist and Founder of Ikigai Psychology Clinic
Ikigai
Ikigai in Japanese means “life’s values” or “reason to live”. When you have Ikigai, you make decisions based on what gives you meaning and purpose. Discovering your Ikigai is the process of commitment that you make to yourself to become more in touch with your values. Finding your Ikigai is the simple steps you take to feel “alive”. That may include finding balance in order and chaos and living spontaneously while maintaining healthy routines.
Our psychologists are here to provide you with a warm, nonjudgmental space, support you in navigating your mental health challenge, and help you move forward towards the life that you want to live.
At Ikigai Psychology Clinic, our purpose is to:
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Support you with decision-making through difficult life transitions
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Help you explore and express your needs, fears and desires
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Problem solve and find strategies to cope with your thoughts and emotions
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Find creative ways to navigate challenging situations
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Listen without judgment and accept who you are regardless of where you came from
Purpose
Dr Mieko Kamiya, the Mother of Ikigai in Japan, was a Psychiatrist who treated Leprosy patients at Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium. Kamiya was fluent in several languages, including English, French and German. She was not only a psychiatrist who dealt with existential questions, she also translated the original of Marcus Aureliu's meditations and some of Micheal Foucault's books. She was a doctor, teacher and advocate for vulnerable populations in society, loved by many.
Patients with Leprosy in the 1950s were outcasted from Japanese society. Since this disease caused visible deformities and was not well understood, many patients were isolated from their communities in hopes of stopping the spread of the disease.
Under the 1953 leprosy prevention law, Leprosy patients were forced to live in sanatoriums located in mountains or on remote islands. Leprosy patients were forced to have abortions and were sterilised to prevent them from having children. These patients often lived in harsh, overcrowded facilities, and many patients tried to take their own lives.
Dr Mieko Kamiya studied Leprosy patients to find out what gave them a sense of meaning and purpose despite the harsh and lonely environment they lived in. In a sense, she studied trauma and recovery and devised the seven following needs for Ikigai.
7 IKIGAI NEEDS
Japanese Psychiatrist Dr Mieko Kamiya proposes that there are seven needs for Ikigai:
1. Life Satisfaction
2. Change and Growth
3. A Bright Future (Hope)
4. Community and Connection
5. Freedom of Choice
6. Self-Actualisation
7. Meaning and Value
Dr Kamiya's study on the 7 Needs of Ikigai shows there are a variety of needs to fulfil to live a meaningful life. Compared to the Spanish Venn Diagram of Purposeful, the 7 Needs of Ikigai provides a more holistic look at our well-being and purpose in life.
Brief History of Ikigai
1966
Dr Mieko Kamiya (1914-1979) was a Japanese Psychiatrist who treated Leprosy patients at Nagashima Aiseien Sanatorium. She was known for translating books on philosophy and wrote 生きがいについて "What Makes Our Life Worth Living".
2006
Yuzo Ota publishes "A Women With Demons- The Life of Kamiya Mieko" An Autobiography on Dr Kamiya's life. Ota wrote about how Kamiya was a complex individual at times struggling with her own purpose and grief.
2013
The term “blue zones” was first coined by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Explorer and Fellow and journalist, during an exploratory project he led in 2004. After an expedition to Okinawa, Japan, in 2000 to investigate the longevity there, he explored other regions with reportedly high longevity. He gave a TED Talk on the Blue Zones, five areas around the world where he found many people living beyond the ages of one hundred. Dan proposed that centenarians living in Okinawa were doing so because they had Ikigai, "A reason for Which You Get Up In the Morning", and "Moai", long-standing friendships and community.
2017
Spanish Author Hector Garcia released "Ikigai: A Secret to a Long and Happy Life". He discussed the Venn Diagram of Purpose: the intercept between your passion, mission, profession and vocation. This Venn diagram was translated from Spanish to English, and the word "Ikigai" was inserted into the middle and replaced the star representing purpose. Hector discussed how having Ikigai can support you with your well-being.
Following Hector Garcia's book, Neuro Scientist Dr Ken Moji released "The Little Book of IKIGAI: The Essential Japanese Way to Finding Your Purpose in Life". Dr Moji refers to his Five Pillar Framework, offering the reader guidance and the foundation to explore their own Ikigai.
The Five Pillars include:
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Pillar 1: Starting small
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Pillar 2: Releasing yourself
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Pillar 3: Harmony and sustainability
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Pillar 4: The joy of little things
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Pillar 5: Being in the here and now
2019
Tunteeya Yamaoka opened Ikigai Psychology Clinic in Brisbane to support the community in response to the growing mental health crisis. Tunteeya's mission and purpose is to spread the true meaning of Ikigai to the world.
Learn More About Therapy
We vary in our needs, personalities, and the issues we face.
Different therapies address this diversity and provide practical approaches for each individual's unique situation.
Depending on your conditions and concerns, some therapies may be more suitable for you than others.