The Path to Ikigai

For many people, the pressure to "find one's purpose" is extremely stressful. We're often left wondering if we have a purpose at all. Well, the Japanese believe everyone has meaning and purpose. Everyone has ikigai.

Ikigai is a centuries-old Japanese concept that means "reason to live." And in reality, it's not one thing but a lifestyle. It's your unique reason for getting out of bed each day, the "collection" of your unique beliefs, values, and the things you hold dear and bring you joy in life.

Benefits of Ikigai

The act of following your passions and enjoying that which brings you joy provides happiness and excitement, as well as motivation. Let's say one of your greatest joys is a monthly Friday night dinner with friends. When you wake up that Friday morning, you might first think of the long workday ahead, but the excitement sets in when you look forward to your evening. That's your motivation for the day and that's what's going to make you look back at your day and smile. Now imagine what your week would feel like if you experience more of what brings you joy every day.

Ikigai is also what gets you through the tough times in life. It brings you back to center when everything feels off balance, or provides peace in the midst of chaos.

Research is also showing a correlation between longevity and ikigai. The people of Japan live into their 80s on average, which is the second oldest in the world. In Okinawa, women live into their 100s! While diet and society play a large part, it is believed that ikigai is the difference. They truly LIVE their lives.

Finding your Ikigai

The beauty of the true concept of ikigai is there are no set rules, boundaries, or formulas. It's fluid and can change as your life changes. However, there are some approaches to finding your ikigai.

The Ikigai Venn Diagram

If you've heard of ikigai before, then you've probably seen the ikigai Venn diagram that helps you find your "sweet spot." This approach is mainly used for uncovering your ideal career, but I believe it's helpful to identify each category to develop your way of life.

Many will say this isn't true ikigai - you don't need to have all of this to have ikigai. So, I consider this to be based on the ikigai concept of combining enjoyment and purpose.

1. What you love: Identify all the things you love doing. Reading, running, cooking, public speaking, teaching. Consider activities where you find flow. Consider activities that rejuvenate you. Don't worry about whether or not you're good at it, there's a need or purpose for it, or if you can get paid for it. I can do jigsaw puzzles on my iPad for hours! I don't expect to get paid for it though.

2. What you are good at: Identify your skills and talents. Some of these things might overlap with things you love, but don't worry about if you love them or not. Just think of the things you know you're good at or others have told you so. Maybe you're a good cook, you keep things organized, or you can learn quickly. Again, this list is independent of how you feel about the skill or task, if it's needed or if you can get paid for it. I'm really good at breaking cardboard boxes down flat for easy disposal. Don't think that's of value to anyone else, hahahaha.

3. What the world needs: "World" is a loose term here. Basically, people need what you're doing. So list the things you do that are of value to others. Volunteering, mentoring, coaching, training. Consider the things you do for other people. I spend about an hour a week reading to kids to help them learn to read.

4. What you can get paid for: This is similar to what the world needs, but in this case, someone is willing to pay for it. So think of things you can do that has monetary value. Making products to sell, providing social media services, or maybe offering tutoring services. Even better, consider things you can make a living from. Again, these don't have to be things that you love, are really good at, or the world needs.

Once you've identified these four areas, see which activities overlap. The sweet spot is when you can find something you love, you're good at, the world needs and you can get paid for. Luckily, I've found that through coaching.

A More Practical Approach

In true ikigai, it doesn't really matter if you're good at the activity, the world will benefit from the activity or you get paid to do it. If you find absolute pleasure going dancing but you're not very good, nobody needs it and they're surely not paying you, who cares? You're doing it for the love of it!

Researchers have identified some more practical ways to ikigai.

In Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Héctor García and Francesc Miralles outline the following rules for finding ikigai:

• Don't "retire." Stay active.

• Slow down.

• Eat well and only until full.

• Spend time with friends and family.

• Exercise.

• Be cheerful.

• Enjoy nature.

• Practice gratitude.

• Live in the present.

• Follow your passions.

Neuroscientist Ken Mogi presents five pillars to finding ikigai in his book, The Little Book of Ikigai: The Secret Japanese Way to Live a Happy and Long Life.

• Starting small: focus on the details

• Releasing yourself: accept who you are

• Harmony and sustainability: think beyond yourself

• The joy of the little things: incorporate rewarding things daily

• Being in the here and now: find your flow

At the end of the day, ikigai tells us that we all have a purpose and that's to live each day on purpose, with purpose doing things we love, with people we love. I hope this has inspired you to find your ikigai! Schedule a free coaching session to walk through the exercise together.