Ikigai is a Japanese word that is loosely translated as “a reason for being.” Psychologists and other experts have suggested that finding your ikigai can help you live a life of purpose and alignment.
Finding my ikigai always sounded very elusive to me, like a big mystery that I would find one day when, awoken from a deep sleep, I would have this big epiphany and finally find “IT“.
I found it!
Thankfully, it’s not quite as dramatic as that.
If you have any kind of life experience, you probably already know (perhaps subconsciously) what it is you love. That part is relatively straightforward. The challenge often lies in aligning what you love with what you can be paid for, and even more so, understanding what you can give the world. How do you determine what the world needs and wants from you?
How to find your ikigai
On my journey of discovery, I came across a video by Elohor Eva Alordiah where she talks about how she found her ikigai. She shares the challenges she faced due to her many interests and talents (a situation many can relate to). The beauty of finding your focus is that it allows you to direct all your energy and resources into the thing that brings you the most value.
Finding your ikigai involves exploring four key areas:
- What you love (your passion)
- What you are good at (your vocation)
- What the world needs (your mission)
- What you can be paid for (your profession)
Elohor Eva Alordiah’s simple exercise to finding your ikigai
Through a simple exercise, Eva guides her viewers to write down 4 things for each of 16 categories, then find the themes that are similar throughout each of those things, for example,
- “write 4 things that bring you the most joy”
- “write 4 things you can give to the world”
After writing them all down, she directs us to only pick those things that appear more than once. This simple exercise took about an hour, and it was easy to see my passion, mission, vocation and profession coming together.
It was so much easier than I thought, mainly because it was nothing new! It’s really what I have always loved to do, and where my career has been taking me over the years.
Why Does Ikigai Matter?
Living a life of purpose has significant benefits. According to a study published in the journal Psychological Science, having a sense of purpose is associated with numerous positive outcomes, including better physical health and increased longevity. Purposeful living encourages a more active and engaged lifestyle, which can contribute to overall well-being.
The Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals who have a clear sense of purpose tend to be more resilient, capable of overcoming adversity, and maintaining a positive outlook on life . This resilience is crucial in navigating life’s inevitable challenges.
Since I narrowed down and found what it is I want to focus on, my life truly has more meaning and purpose. Waking up with a strong sense of “why”, excited to face the day and explore all the different things I can do with what I have is very fulfilling.
So what’s next for me?
Being intentional
It’s one thing to know what my ikigai is, but I do have to live it. I am excited to continue doing more purposeful things using my God-given talents and abilities and contributing to the world. No one can do what you can do exactly the way you can, we are all unique. Those are words I live by!
Being open to change
Even if my passions change and shift over the years, it doesn’t really change my purpose. At the end of the day, my responsibility is to do what I can, give what I have and make the world a better place in my own way. If I always have that as my focus, I can’t go wrong with that!
Contributing to the world
The journey to finding my ikigai has shown me how I contribute to the world. Does the world need what I have? Does the world need what you have? Yes, the world does. When we think about the different people that contributed to where we are now, the teachers who taught us, the employers who believed in us, the clients who gave us a chance to build something for them, and all the others in between, it’s easy to see that what we have is of value to others, too.
Ready to find yours?
Finding your purpose is a dynamic process that requires reflection and sometimes, a bit of trial and error. By aligning these elements, you can live a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.
If you do try the exercise, let me know how it was for you in the comments!