Find Your Ikigai - Your Reason For Being

ZEN-it Team

22 Mar 2024

A woman clothes designer recording a video of her creation.

Ikigai is a Japanese term similar to the French raison d’etre. It roughly translates to a reason for living or being: a purpose in life.

Humans have grappled with philosophical questions like “Who are we?”, “Why are we here?”, and “What is our purpose?” for millennia. Having a purpose is a necessary anchor for most human beings, fundamental to our existence.

Finding one’s Ikigai and channelling it into one’s endeavours can help us resume control over one’s life, steer our lives in the right direction, and feel more content. Determining our Ikigai can also improve our confidence and ability to face hardship.

If you are looking for articles on burnout and workspace stress, we have addressed these here.

How Do We Find Our Ikigai?

A venn diagram that shows 4 overlapping circles - Circle 1 represents What you love, Circle 2 represents What the world needs, Circle 3 What you can be paid for and Circle 4 - What you're good at.

Step One: Self-Reflection

In order to arrive at our Ikigai, we must engage in self-reflection, specifically to understand what the four circles in the picture represent: what you love doing, what the world needs, what you can get paid for, and what you are good at.

The first circle represents what you love doing, things that you love in any sphere of your life. For example, you might love stargazing or gardening.

The second circle represents what the community needs, that you could provide. It could be providing a service or even just helping a specific person in the community, who needs help.

The third circle represents your skills that can generate income. What can you do that you could get paid for?

Finally, the fourth circle represents your skills and talents, where you shine. What are you really good at doing?

Step Two: Finding Overlaps

You may find that some of your responses fit into more than one circle. This could be, for instance, where a skill that you have is both something you excel at, and something you could get paid for.

Those areas of overlap represent your passion, mission, vocation and profession.

Your passion is what you excel at, and also love doing.

Your mission is something that you love doing, and that the world needs or would benefit from.

Your vocation is something that the world needs or would benefit from, and that you could generate some income from.

Your profession is something you could generate income from, and that you excel at.

If you find anything that fits into all four circles, congratulations! You have found your Ikigai. Confusing? Let’s consider an example.

Example: Tara Finds Her Ikigai

A stack of children books, with a sippy cup placed on top.

Tara works in the marketing team of a large social media company. She loves reading and writing, especially children’s stories. She used to edit the literature journal in her university, for a stipend, and also used to freelance as a ghostwriter, being commended for her work by her clients.

Tara has small children and worries about the extent of screen addiction among little children. She thinks that little children need to read more, learn to grow their imaginations more, rather than mindlessly watch videos. She believes that by writing good books for children, she can help children become more engaged with books and reading.

Tara therefore finds that writing children’s books is her Ikigai.

Finding Ikigai Is An Ongoing Process

Finding one’s Ikigai may be a relatively quick exercise or take long. One may have more than one ikigai, depending on the situation. One’s Ikigai may also change over time. It is important to understand that the process of finding and being in touch with one’s Ikigai is as important as the Ikigai itself, as it ensures that we remain aligned with our purpose or purposes of being.

Resources To Help Determine Your Ikigai

There are a number of resources, worksheets and documents available online that can help you determine your Ikigai. ZEN-it offers a writing workshop (a series of guided writing sessions) to help you find your Ikigai, on our app. Download ZEN-it today!

We also offer shorter sessions on finding Ikigai on our Morning Minute by ZEN-it podcast.

Find your Ikigai and open your heart and mind to your true purpose!

FAQs

Can Ikigai change over time, and if so, how can we adapt to these changes in our sense of purpose and direction in life?

Yes, Ikigai can evolve and change over time as we grow, learn, and experience new things. As we go through different life stages, career changes, or personal transformations, our priorities, values, and passions may shift, leading to a reassessment of our Ikigai. To adapt to these changes, we can engage in regular self-reflection, stay open to new opportunities, and be willing to explore different paths that align with our evolving sense of purpose.

Are there cultural differences in the concept of Ikigai?

While the concept of Ikigai originates from Japanese culture, the idea of finding purpose and meaning in life is universal and applicable to each of us across different cultures. However, the specific values, beliefs, and priorities that contribute to one's sense of ikigai may vary depending on cultural context. For example, in some cultures, family and community may play a more significant role in defining one's purpose, while in others, personal fulfilment and self-expression may be emphasised. Regardless of cultural differences, the pursuit of Ikigai involves introspection, self-discovery, and aligning our actions with our sense of purpose.

How can we overcome challenges or obstacles that may arise in our journey to finding our Ikigai?

Overcoming challenges in the pursuit of Ikigai requires resilience, perseverance, and self-awareness. We could address fear of failure or self-doubt by reframing setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning, practising self-compassion, and seeking support from mentors or peers. External pressures, such as societal expectations or financial concerns, may require us to prioritise our values and priorities, set boundaries, and make intentional choices that align with our sense of purpose. Cultivating a growth mindset, staying adaptable, and maintaining a sense of curiosity and openness can help us navigate obstacles on our journey, as we search for our Ikigai.

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