🎙️ Little IKIGAI Podcast
Welcome to Little IKIGAI Podcast, a quiet space for reflections on midlife, wellbeing, purpose and the experience of being human.
I'm Mayumi Kojima, a naturopath with a deep curiosity about IKIGAI, culture, the mind–body connection and the many ways we find meaning through different seasons of life.
Through personal reflections, ideas I've encountered through my work and learning, and conversations about ageing, menopause, identity and change, Little IKIGAI explores what it might mean to live with greater curiosity and connection to ourselves and the world around us.
There are no perfect answers here, just a little space to pause, wonder, and perhaps discover something meaningful along the way.
Episode 4: When the Old Self Softens — Midlife, Culture & Curiosity
Episode 4: When the Old Self Softens — Midlife, Culture & Curiosity
What does it mean to soften into midlife rather than constantly trying to resist ageing?
In this episode of Little IKIGAI Podcast, I reflect on ageing, menopause, identity and the changing sense of self that can come with midlife.
Inspired by my recent article, When the Old Self Softens: IKIGAI in Midlife, and something unexpected I learned while studying cultural diversity through TAFE, I found myself thinking about the ways our culture and experiences shape what we believe is “normal.”
And I kept returning to one simple idea: curiosity.
Perhaps midlife doesn't require us to have everything figured out. Instead, it may invite us to become a little more curious about who we are now, what matters to us, and the experiences of people whose lives may look very different from our own.
A quiet reflection on ageing, IKIGAI, menopause, culture and learning to meet ourselves — and each other — with a little more openness.
Listen to the full episode →