But ignoring that, I really like this. You can still pursue an ikagai journey within more limited means. I especially love the idea of ikigai that involves helping others. That doesn’t have to cost anything yet allows you to make a real difference to your own life and to that of others.

I recently started doing some evening voluntary work of the therapeutic variety. So fulfilling and real food for the mind to dwell on.

For me, it’s a Zen slant that combines Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

For him to do all the neat things he did like go to Okinawa, he has to have sufficient means which puts him pretty far up Maslow’s pyramid. To acquire those means, it sounds like he’s already a pretty effective person.

For some people, it may help them organize themselves for the better but for the non-TED Talk crowd, ikigai comes across as a luxury.

Life just isn’t that simple.