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Ikigai refers to the people, activities, and goals that give life meaning.

Values provide direction, but personality traits influence follow-through.

Personality change can help align your habits with what matters most.

Greetings from Okinawa, Japan. I’m currently teaching a study-abroad course on the science of happiness. Every year, I take a group of students to a place in the world where the culture supports happy, healthy, long lives. This week, we learned about ikigai.

Loosely translated, ikigai means "a reason to get up in the morning." It’s the parts of your life that give you a sense of meaning and purpose. In recent years, the concept has become incredibly popular in the West. Entire books, workshops, and coaching programs promise to help people discover their ikigai and unlock a more fulfilling life.

And to be fair, they're onto something. Research consistently shows that people with a strong sense of purpose tend to experience greater well-being, resilience, and life........

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