Living a purposeful and fulfilling life isn’t just a dream—it’s achievable with the right mindset, asking important questions and taking specific actions. By focusing on finding your Ikigai, you can lead a life that feels meaningful and satisfying. Here’s how you can make it happen.
Catch-up Quick
Purpose and ikigai have some things in common, but they’re not exactly the same. Here are the key differences:
Purpose:
- Purpose-driven individuals understand that their work serves a larger vision.
- Having a purpose means having goals, aims and intentions that give your life direction and meaning.
- It’s about having a driving reason for being and doing things.
- Purpose comes from several sources – your career, relationships, spirituality, personal values, etc.
Ikigai:
- Ikigai is a Japanese concept that specifically refers to finding joy, satisfaction and meaning from doing what you love.
- It’s the intersection of your passion, mission, vocation and profession.
- Ikigai emphasizes the convergence of what you are good at, what you love, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for.
- It‘s more holistic than just having a purpose – Ikigai is about crafting a reason for being around activities that suit you naturally and deeply motivate you.
While having a purpose provides meaning, ikigai takes you a step further by aligning your purpose with your inherent talents, deep feelings of satisfaction and value to the world around you. Ikigai is a more nuanced concept that allows your daily actions and work to express your sincere purpose in life. Finding your ikigai could be considered the ultimate way to uncover and live out your true purpose.
Ikigai is not a destination; it's a way of life.
– Japanese Proverb
Ikigai – What’s In It For You?
Ikigai blends two Japanese words: “iki” meaning “to live,” and “gai” meaning “reason,” which translates to “a reason to live” or “reason for being.” It’s a concept that encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy.
Ikigai lies at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Ikigai is purpose on steroids. Discovering your Ikigai, which is a process, has several benefits:
- Enhanced Purpose and Direction – Ikigai helps you identify clear, meaningful goals aligned with your passions and strengths, providing strong motivation to pursue your dreams and overcome challenges.
- Improved Mental and Emotional Well-Being – Engaging in activities you love boosts your overall happiness and satisfaction, while a clear sense of purpose helps reduce stress and anxiety, promoting emotional stability.
- Greater Productivity and Performance – Being passionate about your work helps you stay focused and productive, often leading to higher-quality work and greater professional success.
- Enhanced Personal Growth – Pursuing your Ikigai encourages continuous personal and professional development, fostering a deeper understanding of yourself, your values, and your potential.
- Stronger Relationships – Connecting with others who share similar passions can lead to more meaningful and fulfilling relationships, while living with purpose can inspire those around you, creating a positive ripple effect in your family and community.
- Longer and Healthier Life – Studies suggest that having a strong sense of purpose can lead to better physical health and longevity, enhancing your ability to cope with life’s challenges and contributing to overall well-being.
My Ikigai, A Personal Story
Seeking meaning in my life started at an early age. Like most kids, I was curious and asked questions… a lot of “why” questions. So many in fact, that it drove my mother to become a little frustrated and answer abruptly with “Because I said so!” That led to a promise I made to myself that I’ve kept to this day: I will never answer one of my children’s questions with that response.
In 2009, I watched Simon Sinek deliver his famous Start with why – how great leaders inspire action TED Talk, which launched his career. His description of the Golden Circle inspired me professionally to view communications through a completely different lens and personally to discover my own WHY.
Then in 2013, I participated in a focus group that tested an innovative, highly personalized new AARP approach — Life Reimagined — which was designed to help people learn how to tackle transitioning to a new stage of life. During the process, I worked through a booklet that contained a variety of questions that I captured in a “Possibilities Wheel.” Through that exercise, I gained new and deeper insights into what made me tick.
Most recently, conversations with a mentor led me to articulate my unique talent. The reason I’m sharing my story with you is to emphasize that finding your Ikigai is a process. The journey begins wherever you are and continues to be more refined over the course of several years. It may even evolve over the course of your life; it has for me. So be patient with the process and yourself.
Sounds Great! How Do You Find It?
Finding your Ikigai – that sweet spot where purpose intersects with passion, talents, societal contribution and income potential all align – requires deep self-reflection. The following questions and exercises will guide you through the process of uncovering your life’s true calling.
Take your time with each step, digging deep to identify the activities and pursuits that light you up from the inside out. Your Ikigai awaits!
Set Aside Time for Self-Reflection
Before diving into the core questions, take some time for self-reflection:
- Reflect on Your Passions: List out activities that fill you with joy and enthusiasm.
- Identify Your Strengths: Recognize the skills and talents that come naturally to you. Not sure where to start? Explore Now Discover Your Strengths
- Consider the World’s Needs: Think about problems in society your abilities could help solve.
- Align with Financial Opportunities: Explore ways to potentially generate income from your passions.
Four Questions To Discover Your Ikigai
Once you’ve contemplated these areas, ask yourself the four questions below:
- What do I love?
- What am I good at?
- What does the world need?
- What can I get paid for?
Don’t attempt to keep the answers in your head. Studies show that there’s science behind why writing things down leads to greater success. Capture your answers in whatever format you prefer.
While simple, the questions are profound, and I strongly encourage you to embrace this exercise as a process. In other words, after answering the questions, step away and return to them on another day. It’s not unusual to revise what you’ve written several times.
Dig Deeper: To help you reflect and find better ways to discover your personal Ikigai, download PositivePsychology.com’s Finding Your Ikigai exercise or browse 6 Worksheets & Templates to Find Your Ikigai.
Parting Thoughts
Living a meaningful and fulfilling life hinges on discovering your Ikigai and contributing to the world in a substantial way. By investing the time in yourself to discover and then pursue your Ikigai, you can cultivate a profound sense of purpose, happiness and resilience, making each day richer and more rewarding.
Inspire on!
If you liked this article…
You may find the following interesting: