EP185  Unlock Your IKIGAI – Your Unique Reason for Being

Learn about Ikigai (生きがい), the beautiful Japanese philosophy for finding your reason to be. #AdvancedQualityPrograms #TheQualityGuy #Ikigai #JapanesPhilosophy #LifePurpose

Ikigai is a Japanese idea that means “your reason for being.” It’s like a thread that connects what you do for work and what you enjoy personally, creating a sense of harmony and balance in your life.

Your ikigai is found where four things meet: what you love, what the world needs, what you are good at, and what you can get paid for. Finding this can take many years because it involves bringing together your passions, skills, how you can help the world, and your ability to earn money. It’s not easy to find this perfect balance, but earning a living by doing what you love is the ideal situation.

Ask yourself these questions: What do I enjoy? What am I naturally good at? And what needs does the world have that people are willing to pay for? If you find this, the money will likely follow. For example, I realized over time that my ikigai is in “Improvement processes.” Your search for ikigai continues as you live your life, so always consider your skills, passions, how you can make a difference, and how you can earn a living.

If you want to discover your ikigai, or what you might have thought of as your life’s meaning and purpose, here are three ideas to guide you:

Accept That It Might Appear Later: You may not find your ikigai immediately. It could show up later in your life, or sometimes it might feel hard to grasp.

Be Honest About Your Skills: Ask friends for their opinions and make a detailed list of all the things you are capable of doing.

Dedicate Time to Mastery: Becoming truly skilled at something you love takes effort. Don’t just wait for it to happen; actively work on getting better at what you enjoy.

The search takes effort, but every step you take is valuable.

A common mistake when looking for your ikigai is settling for something that is just okay. True ikigai often leads to both a good income and lasting happiness. If you have a passion, aim to become very good at it and look for ways to earn money from it. Think about the tasks you dislike or the things you find missing as clues that can guide you in your active search for what truly feels right for you.

A key step is to understand how your passions, your sense of purpose, your calling, and your job all connect. Thinking about what you currently do and what you like and dislike about it can give you important insights. Loving your job and achieving your dreams are not separate things you do. I discovered this connection later in my life through an unusual path, and with thought and effort, anyone can achieve it.

Consider exploring your interests as possible projects or businesses and find out how much they are worth in the market. Think about what excites you on a global level while also supporting your personal sense of purpose. Ask yourself: “What makes me feel alive? What am I naturally good at?” Thinking deeply about these questions can help you identify your true calling.

Regular self-reflection is important. Check in with how you feel physically every day; it can tell you a lot about your overall well-being. If you feel off balance, it might mean that something in your life isn’t in harmony. Think about your energy levels, your mood, and your general sense of meaning, and make changes to your routine as needed, perhaps by exercising or meditating.

Write down the things that are most important to you and put them where you will see them every day. Remember times when you felt truly in sync so you can understand what creates that feeling. Make it a daily habit to spend even five minutes thinking about whether your actions match your values. This will help you notice when things are not aligned and lead to a more balanced life.

When people give you feedback, remember that they usually see things from their own point of view. Instead of just getting advice, ask others to brainstorm ideas with you. Different perspectives can spark new ideas, whether you’re stuck at work or dealing with a personal problem.

Regularly ask yourself: Why do I work? What are the deeper reasons behind it, beyond just making money? Think back to the beginning of your career and why you chose your profession. Remember your “why” to help you get back in touch with your core motivations.

What drives you to try your best? Look at your values every day to see if they still feel important to you. If you need to make changes, it might be because your values have changed over time. Let these values guide your decisions as you clearly imagine the life you want.

Pay attention to your work environment. Does it reflect what you believe in? Try to live by those values every day and change your surroundings if necessary.

Health is about your whole self: your physical body, your emotions, and your mind. If one area is not doing well, it affects the others. Make your overall well-being a priority; investing in yourself is essential. Even though support might seem expensive or self-care might feel like a luxury, it benefits every part of your life. Explore what resources your workplace offers and don’t hesitate to ask for help; it shows strength. With the right habits, you can create a healthy routine that gives you energy, encourages thankfulness, and helps you feel more aligned in your life.

Feeling grounded means having a strong inner sense of stability and a clear understanding of what’s important to you. Start your day with a ritual, whether it’s praying, breathing deeply, doing yoga, or meditating, to reconnect with yourself. Even a short moment of focusing on the present can bring peace, and over time, this practice will help you have a calmer daily life.

Try to be aware of the present moment in your daily life, as we often go through our days without really noticing things. Pay attention to what’s around you and use everyday activities as reminders to check in with how you are feeling. Writing in a journal can be a helpful way to strengthen your sense of being grounded.

Notice when your values are different from those of the people around you. Feelings of unease, a lack of excitement, or feeling misunderstood are signs that you might need to make some changes. It’s normal to outgrow some relationships; be willing to adjust or even end those that no longer support your growth. While honest conversations can be difficult, they are very important for making your relationships stronger and for your personal development.

Think about all your relationships and consider whether the people in your life share your core values. Keeping your “why” in mind will help you avoid feeling stuck and stay motivated. Consider using a list of goals or a vision board to track your progress.

Set goals that you can measure in different areas of your life: personal, professional, physical, mental, and emotional. Use planning tools to keep track of them. To keep growing, challenge yourself with projects that push you, and remember that there are opportunities to learn and develop at every stage of life.