Personal development and honing your skillset are important, but so is having a sense of ikigai or “purpose in life.”
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that can be roughly translated to “reason for being.”
It’s the thing that gets you out of bed in the morning and motivates you to keep going, even when things get tough.
Everyone’s ikigai is different, but it’s an essential part of a happy and fulfilling life.
Without it, we can quickly become lost and disillusioned, so whatever it is that gives your life purpose, make sure to hold onto it tight; it’s what makes you who you are.
We all have an purpose in life, or a reason for living; for some people, it’s simply to get through each day and take care of their loved ones, others find their ikigai in their personal development or their skillset.
Whatever your ikigai is, it’s important to find balance in your life so that you can enjoy the moment and live each day to the fullest.
Often, the term ‘Ikigai’ is used to refer to the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what you can be paid for however, you don’t necessarily need to be paid to do something to consider it your life purpose.
Ultimately, it is whatever brings joy and meaning to your life.
There are many ways to find your ikigai:
One way is to examine your passions and talents.
What are you naturally drawn to?
What makes you lose track of time?
For some people, their ikigai is in personal development or helping others.
Others find theirs in nature or the arts.
To find your ikigai, ask yourself four questions:
-What are you passionate about?
-What are you good at?
-What does the world need?
-What can you get paid for?
By answering these questions, you can start to narrow down what your personal ikigai might be.
Once you’ve found it, you can start working towards making it a reality.
Keep in mind that your ikigai can change over time, so don’t be afraid to reassess and readjust as needed; the important thing is to keep moving forward on your personal development journey.
The first step to finding your ikigai is to take a personal inventory of your skills and interests. What are you naturally good at?
What do you enjoy doing?
What are you passionate about?
Once you have a better sense of what you have to offer the world, you can begin to look for ways to turn your talents into opportunities; this might mean starting your own business, pursuing a new career, or simply finding ways to incorporate your passions into your current lifestyle.
When you align your talents with your passions and find opportunities to make a difference in the world, you’ll be well on your way to discovering your ikigai.