How to truly find “Purpose” in Life

Okay, we hear it all the time, right? “Find your purpose or follow your dreams”. But how do we actually find it? It does not just drop out of the sky for most of us!

I recently discovered the ikigai and wanted to share what I learned. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that refers to one’s sense of purpose or meaning in life. The word “ikigai” is made up of two parts: “iki,” which means “to live,” and “gai,” which means “the worth of something.” Together, ikigai can be translated to “the worth of living.”

Ikigai is often represented by a Venn diagram with four circles: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The intersection of these four circles is where your ikigai lies. (I made a pretty picture of one below).

Finding your ikigai can be a lifelong journey, but it can bring a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction to your life. It can also lead to a more productive and successful life, as you are working towards something that aligns with your passions, skills, and values. Magical! I’m in…

One way to discover your ikigai is to reflect on what brings you joy and fulfillment. What are the activities or hobbies that you lose track of time while doing? What are the things that you are naturally good at? What are the causes or issues that you are passionate about?

Another way is to look at the world needs and identify the problems that you want to solve. What are the things that you think are missing in the world, and how can you contribute to filling that gap? Or how could you help people?

When you have found your ikigai, it can lead to a more fulfilling life, as well as a more productive and successful one. It can also bring a sense of balance, as you are able to align your work and personal life with your passions, skills, and values.

I think the ikigai is a powerful tool that can help you to find your purpose and live a more meaningful life. It is about discovering what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for and aligning them. Finding your ikigai can bring a sense of fulfillment and happiness to your life. When you find yourself feeling stuck, explore the ikigai and see where you can make changes to better align your life with the things that matter most to you right now.

I challenge you to create your own Ikigai and see how well it aligns with your current situation and where you could make changes to bring more joy and meaning into your life.