IKIGAI: Find the Reason for Your Being

Every day was the same. Get up, get ready, go to work, feel exhausted, come back home, eat, watch TV or something on OTT, and then tire themselves so much that they sleep. On holidays and vacations, I would go out somewhere to relax for a couple of days and then return to the same monotonous routine. Maybe that is what life is all about. But I wasn't actually satisfied with what I was doing and that is when I started to search for the reason for my being.

I came across a book called 'IKIGAI'. This concept changed my life a little bit. Although there is a lot more to work on, this was a good starting point for me.

What is IKIGAI? 

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to "reason for being." It refers to the belief that everyone has a unique purpose or reason for living, and that finding and fulfilling that purpose can bring a sense of fulfillment and contentment. The concept of Ikigai involves balancing four elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. It is often used as a framework for people to think about how to find their purpose or passion in life.

Components Of Ikigai

The components of Ikigai are often represented as overlapping circles, with four main categories:

1. What you love: This refers to the things that you are deeply interested in and that bring you joy and pleasure.

2. What you are good at : This refers to the things that you are naturally talented at and have developed skills in.

3. What the world needs: This refers to the ways in which your passions and skills can be used to help others or make a positive impact on the world.

4. What you can be paid for: This refers to the ways in which you can financially sustain yourself by using your passions, skills, and mission to create value for others.

The intersection between things you love and things you are good at is your passion. The intersection between what you are good at and what you can be paid for is your profession. The section where what you love meets what the world needs, it becomes a mission. The section for the intersection of what you can be paid for and what the world needs is a vocation. 

Ikigai is that small overlapping intersection where very rarely you can find all these four circles meeting each other. 

Many of us may never be able to find our Ikigai in our entire life if we do not actively search for it.

Finding the intersection between these 4 elements leads to a true sense of fulfillment and satisfaction, which is what Ikigai is about.

How To Find Your Ikigai?

Finding your Ikigai can be a process of self-discovery and exploration. Here are a few steps you can take to help you find your purpose and passion:

1. Reflect on your passions and interests: Most of us spend our entire life just taking care of our day-to-day needs and fulfilling the bare essentials of life.  We completely forget about our interests and our passion. Take some time to think about the things that you love to do, the hobbies you enjoy, and the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

2. Identify your skills and strengths: Consider the things you are naturally good at and the skills you have developed over time. Think about the areas where you excel and the feedback you have received from others.

3. Consider the needs of the world: Reflect on the problems and challenges in the world and think about how your passions and skills can be used to make a positive impact. There is no end to what the world wants and searching for everything can be extremely impractical. Search for something the world needs and that falls in the intersection of your passion.

4. Evaluate your current situation and what you can be paid for: Take a look at your current job or career, and think about the ways in which it aligns with your passions, skills, and mission. Consider how you can use your talents and skills to create value for others and be financially sustainable. Many times, you would find that your passion or the mission that you find appropriate for your life is not something you can be paid for. That may not be true. In that situation, I would suggest you balance a little. Continue your work to be financially stable and indulge in your passion and mission for some time (maybe 1 day a week)

5. Experiment: If you keep doing what you have always been doing, you will get the same results that you have always been getting. Don't be afraid to experiment with different things, whether it be a new hobby or a new career path, try different things and see what resonates with you. Don't be afraid of failing in your experiments too. Failure is not absolute, learn your lessons and move forward.

It's important to keep in mind that finding your Ikigai is an ongoing process, and it may change and evolve over time. Also, it may take some time and effort, but ultimately, the sense of fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from living your purpose can be worth it.