Let’s take a moment here to be completely honest: Life is tough.
When morning comes, some days, it’s difficult to drag ourselves out of bed. We might wonder, “What’s the point?” In turn, this can create resistance in our lives and even lead us to spiral into a pit of despair.
If this sounds familiar, know you aren’t alone.
- But how do others do it?
- What causes one person to go about their life with such joy (no matter what task or endeavor they meet)?
Well, it might come down to a Japanese concept known as “ikigai.”
What is Ikigai?
“Ikigai” refers to a sense of purpose or reason for living.
It’s that motivating force that fuels people (especially the ones where everyone wonders, “How do they do it?!”). But here’s a twist: This sense of purpose is very individualized to your life and desires.
The word, ikigai, actually translates into life value or worth.
And interestingly, the west has somewhat manipulated this concept and mish-mashed it with, “finding your purpose.”
It combines these areas to fuel your drive:
- passion
- mission
- vocation
- and profession
So, let’s dig into this a little more and learn how it can help you expand your personal growth and horizons.
Applying Ikigai to Your Life
Struggling with purpose is all too real and common.
Seeking it externally will actually deter your efforts to figure this out. This purpose has to come from the depths of your internal workings. Again, it’s specific to each person, meaning looking outward often won’t help you find the answers you crave and that fulfill this requirement.
What are the 4 Components of Ikigai?
When it comes to using ikigai to determine your purpose, you can use the four components to guide you.
Ask yourself:
- What is something I love?
- What is something the world needs?
- What is something I’m good at?
- What is something I can be paid for?
The intersection of all of these qualities leads to your true ikigai or purpose. And yes, this may require some serious deep thought and brainstorming. It may even need you to think outside the box or even consult with others regarding their thoughts on what you might be good at or what the world needs.
How Do I Find My Ikigai?
Finding your ikigai probably won’t happen overnight, meaning it does require a journey that propels your personal growth forward.
Surprisingly, it might not require huge changes in your life either. More so, it’s about framing your life’s purpose in a way that resonates with you and that drives you to live your life to the fullest.
For example, ikigai can be found in the smallest of tasks or activities.
Examine your life and the roles you play in it.
- What’s important to you?
- Why?
Another thing to note: Your ikigai may change during different phases of life. Inevitably, we change throughout our lives, so this makes sense.
For instance, when raising your kids, your ikigai might involve providing the best environment and most positive atmosphere for your kids to grow up in so they can be successful and happy adults. This may mean your job is important to you to provide for your family or that cooking each day is important to keep your loved ones well-nourished.
On the other hand, once your kids are grown, maybe your ikigai changes to providing positive help to the community you live in, which can be achieved in numerous ways.
In many ways, ikigai offers a way to mentally reframe things in our lives. It makes things feel less like a drag and more like an intentional choice we are making with a strong “why” behind it.
When answering the questions involved in the four components of ikigai, you may even want to make a Venn diagram showing where they intersect. From there, you can create hobbies, rituals, habits, and more around your “purpose,” which might just make getting out of bed in the morning that much easier.
Find Your Ikigai & Fuel Your Life
Sometimes, we just need to add some fuel to the fire. Yes, bad things happen in the world. But we can only control our own world (and only to a certain extent). At the same time, we can harness what we can control and what we’re good at to do good and spread good, providing purpose to our life and adding a bit of joy to every step.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Apr 27, 2023 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Photo by SHVETS production
