Heard of Ikigai? Here’s How to Find Your Passion
I recently stumbled across a Japanese concept called Ikigai and, given the current climate, couldn’t wait to share it with you. It’s a concept that rings so true to me, and one that I have unknowingly been searching for my entire life.
Ikigai is a Japanese term that translates loosely to ‘reason for being’. It is about finding fulfilment, happiness and satisfaction throughout your daily life. The covid pandemic has made so many people re-evaluate their lives, careers and what is important to them, and I feel like determining your Ikigai is the perfect place to start. It can be all too easy to fall into the trap of the rat race, or even to believe that our work life is separate to that of our family life and our pursuits of enjoyment. However, the fundamental truth of life, and indeed a central tenet of Ikigai, is that nothing is separate; everything is connected.
Ikigai is seen as the convergence of four primary elements:
What you love (your passion)
What the world needs (your mission)
What you are good at (your vocation)
What you can get paid for (your profession)
To sum it up, Ikigai is about pursuing the kind of life that finds a balance between the spiritual and the practical. So where does this happen? Your Ikigai is found at the intersection of what you are good at, and what you love doing.
To find your Ikigai, you must first do a little soul searching. It’s not too hard; just have a think about the things you are most passionate about. Basically, what we are trying to find are the reasons you get out of bed each morning. After that, you can look at the ways you can express these passions. Draw out a Venn diagram like the one above and start jotting down some ideas. If you’re feeling stuck in life, this is the perfect place to start – it will really get you thinking and will hopefully leave you feeling inspired and excited.
It’s also important to keep in mind that our desires and passions are fluid and will change over time. Take me for example. Being a musician and performer is the perfect convergence of my love for people, music, entertainment and creativity, and makes the most of my talents too. Yet what I want within that has changed over time. When I started out, I was incredibly passionate about becoming a successful artist, and that was the primary motivation that drove my Ikigai. Now, I’m much more passionate about leading a life with greater balance - for me that looks like a lot less travel, a lot more intentional time with my family, and only pursuing projects that light me up. Your Ikigai will do the same – it won’t stay concrete for the rest of your life, and that’s a good thing. Change is growth, and growth is fulfilment. If this concept tweaks your curiosity, I would 100% recommend delving deeper. We are barely scratching the surface here! A good place to start is of course a google search, and also with the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia.
And lastly, remember to follow your curiosity – you never know where it might lead you!