4 Areas of Your Ikigai

Believe it or not, we all have an ikigai, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It hits us at different levels, for some it is something we look forward to, and helps us get through the day. But for others, when they understand the purpose of having ikigai, it is a motivating force that drives you to accomplish whatever goals you have set out to do, because it is the essence of your being. You HAVE TO do what you do, it is your reason for being. 

 

In Okinawa, when they surveyed the centarians if they knew what their ikigai was, they immediately told them what it was. Some said, “fishing to feed my family”, another said, “carrying forth my martial art”. It has a little more to it than something they just want to do. 

 

Ikigai has its reaches into our life’s purpose in 4 areas:

• What we love to do
• What we are good at doing
• What we can be paid for doing
• What the world needs from what we are doing. 

 

In simpler terms, it fulfills our passion, profession, mission, and vocation. When we are doing things that we are good at and love to doing, plus we get paid for it while making a difference in someone’s life, that is life to the fullest! 

 

There is no limit to ikigai, your reason can be more than one, but most likely they will be able to function together as one. 

 

This weekend, think about what you love doing and how it ranks in the four areas. If you take all your skills and rank them 1-10 in the four areas, you may discover that you most enjoy something you just do every now and then, maybe you should do that more often! It could be your reason for being!