In Search Of Ikigai

In a post-pandemic world, we find ourselves prioritising “a reason for being” over career and work.

- Sandhya Mahadevan

Ask someone what gives them a sense of fulfilment, and more often than not, they will relate their career goals and outline where they hope to be financially before retirement.

“An average person spends 90,000 hours in their lifetime working – the career domain is where they actively invest their energy, time and effort,” explains Stephen Lew, positive psychology coach and founder of The School of Positive Psychology. “In return, they are recognised by their peers and organisations based on their performance and achievements, which impacts their self-perception or ‘sense of self’. Hence, self-worth is often correlated with their occupations.”

This rings truer in Singapore than other parts of the world, says Dr Jade Kua, an emergency medical specialist turned professional life coach. The #HerWorldTribe member recalls the significance of the 5Cs – car, condo, credit card, country club membership and cash – in the country during her adolescent years. They make for light-hearted slogans on touristy T-shirts, yet Dr Kua feels that the hankering after materialism continues even in the younger generation of today, although few might admit to it.

“Cash is practical, so there’s certainly nothing wrong with setting your sights on being financially independent, but being obsessed with money can cloud your judgment,” she says.