What is Ikigai?
Ikigai is a Japanese term that translates to "a reason for being." It represents the intersection of various elements that contribute to a fulfilling and meaningful life. The concept is often depicted through a Venn diagram with four key components:
What You Love: This element focuses on your passions and what brings you joy. It encompasses activities and pursuits that you genuinely enjoy and feel enthusiastic about.
What You Are Good At: This aspect relates to your skills and talents. It includes the abilities you possess that allow you to excel in certain areas and contribute value.
What the World Needs: This component emphasizes the external impact of your actions. It addresses the needs and demands of society and how you can contribute to making a difference.
What You Can Be Paid For: This element involves the economic aspect of your pursuits. It considers what you can do that has market value and can provide you with a sustainable income.
The intersection of these four components leads to finding your Ikigai, which is where you can achieve personal fulfilment, professional success, and a sense of purpose. It encourages individuals to reflect on their lives and seek a balance that aligns their passions, skills, societal contributions, and financial needs.
Diagram: Career Ikigai
Why Pursue CareerIkigai?
Why does this even matter? Because when you find your Ikigai, you experience greater motivation, clarity, and alignment in your career. Many professionals reach a point where they feel stuck, uninspired, or disconnected from their work.
Pursuing Ikigai helps you:
• Gain a deeper understanding of what drives you
• Make intentional career moves based on what truly matters to you
• Reduce stress and increase overall well-being
• Find work that feels both meaningful and financially sustainable
For experienced professionals considering a career shift, Ikigai offers a structured way to evaluate potential paths and ensure your next move aligns with both your inner values and external realities.
How to Find Your Career Ikigai?
If this is your first time hearing of the concept, here are five simple ways to start integrating Ikigai into your career:
1. Follow the Clues: Pay attention to what excites and energises you in your daily work and life. What tasks make you lose track of time? What do people often praise you for? What has excited you recently?
2. Take Stock of What Brings You Joy: Reflect on activities, projects, and moments that have made you feel fulfilled in the past. What common themes emerge?
3. Do Something Differently: Small changes can lead to big insights. Experiment with new responsibilities, side projects, learn something new, or network with people in different industries to see what sparks your curiosity.
4. Engage in an Act of Kindness for Others: When you focus on how your skills or time can make a difference for someone else, it shifts your perspective and provides clarity on how your work serves a greater purpose. Helping others can open unexpected doors, creating opportunities and relationships that often come full circle.
5. Seek Professional Guidance: If you’re struggling to piece everything together, working with a career coach can provide clarity and actionable steps tailored to your unique situation.
Conclusion
In essence, Ikigai is more than just a concept—it’s a powerful tool for creating a fulfilling and sustainable career. When you align your passions, talents, societal contributions, and financial needs, you don’t just find a job—you find work that feels meaningful and rewarding.
A career rooted in Ikigai fosters long-term satisfaction, resilience, and a deeper sense of purpose.
For many professionals, however, discovering their Ikigai isn’t always straightforward. It requires deep reflection, strategic planning, and often, guidance from someone who can help connect the dots.
That’s where career coaching comes in. If you’re feeling stuck or looking to make a career change that aligns with your values and aspirations, I’d love to help. Work with me for career coaching and take the next step toward a career that excites and fulfils you.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward a fulfilling and purpose-driven career, book a free 30-minute discovery call and let’s explore how career coaching can help you achieve your goals.
Learn more about Ikigai
For further exploration, listen to 'How to Ikigai' by Tim Tamashiro on Audible.
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