What does Ikigai mean?
Pronounced ick-ee-guy.
I first came across the word Ikigai after hearing Ross Edgley speak about it.
It’s a Japanese word meaning ‘a reason for being.’
Ikigai is that sweet spot between the following four things:
– what you love
– what you’re good at
– what the world needs
– what you get paid for
Check out this wonderful picture I stole from the internet to give you a better understanding:
In the past, my Ikigai was to take care of people in my beauty salon – I’d painted their nails and shape their eyebrows to perfection.
As I’ve gotten older my career plans and personality have changed, but I’ve always kept that ‘looking after others’ and creative vibe.
After closing my beauty salon it took me 5 years to find my Ikigai. Every time I thought I’d found it, I then realised it wasn’t right for me. One or more of the four sections were missing.
Then one day I found it and I knew it was right.
How to find your Ikigai
Clients and friends ask me ‘how do I find my Ikigai?’
My recommendations are:
The List
– Write a list of the things you love – include small things and big things
– Write a list of the things you are good at – ones that come naturally to you
– Include things you are curious to try
The Actions
– Be confident and curious to try new things – start a new hobby between work, mix with new groups of people
– When you get a feeling to try something, go with it
The most important thing to know is, it can take years to find your Ikigai. It’s like kissing frogs to find a prince or princess – you have to kiss many to get the one you’re looking for.
I can’t tell you how many things I tried in the 5 years between closing my beauty salon and where I am now. There aren’t enough pages on the internet to write that list 😉
I’ve been a Fitness Instructor, Personal Assistant, Events Manager, Personal Trainer, Professional De-Clutterer (yes, that is a thing) to name a few – each time thinking I’d found my ‘thing’ only to get disappointed a few months later.
So here’s the million dollar question…..
What’s the thing you wake up for each morning?
What’s the thing you think about all the time?
What’s the thing you’ve had a burning desire to do for ages?
Get started with these questions, take some steps in the right direction and each day you will be one day closer to finding your Ikigai.
Opportunity doesn’t come to find you. You have to go looking for it.
I really enjoyed writing this blog. I hope you enjoyed it too.
Have you found your Ikiagi or are you still looking?
Come and find me on social media and let me know what you think of this wonderful Japanese word.