Ikigai
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is your reason for being? What fuels your passion and gives your life a sense of purpose? Consider these questions deeply:
What do you love? What ignites a passionate fire within you?
What talents and skills do you possess that are uniquely yours?
What does the world need right now?
Can you get paid for doing these things?
When you find the intersection of these answers, you may uncover your reason for being—your Ikigai. Ikigai is the reason you wake up each morning, a compass that guides you toward a life of fulfillment and purpose.
This Japanese concept encourages you to align your passions with your skills, find where they meet the world’s needs, and explore ways to sustain yourself through them. It’s not just about a career; it’s about purpose. It’s about living with intention, where every step you take brings you closer to the harmony of doing what you love, what you’re good at, and what serves a greater good.
Discovering your Ikigai will take time, reflection, and adjustment, but if you uncover it, your life can become clearer and more fulfilling.
