Ikigai (pronounced “ee-key-guy”) is a Japanese concept, which translates as “that which makes life worth living.” Mieko Kamiya (1914-1979), a well-known Japanese psychiatrist and clinician, identified seven basic human needs associated with ikigai:

• the need for a fulfilling existence
• the need for change and growth
• the need for future perspectives
• the need for receiving responses
• the need for freedom
• the need for self-actualization
• the need for significance and value

The desire for ikigai is a universal human experience, and as a society, it is important for us to recognize that all individuals, including those with cognitive disabilities and the elderly, share this desire to find purpose, dignity and fulfillment in life.

The Ikigai newsletter explores holistic topics related to health, such as faith, hope, purpose, relationships, community and support, and examines their significance in the lives of individuals with cognitive disabilities, their families and caregivers.

If you’d like to be added to our mailing list, please fill out your name and e-mail address in the box below and click “Submit.” We hope you enjoy Ikigai; your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

Check out our previous issues:
May 2007
July 2007
September 2007
November 2007
January 2008
March 2008

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