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EPISODE #50
What is your fantasy when you’re at work? What would you love to make happen? If you could transform your life, what would it look like? What pops into your head when you daydream? And when you do think of what you would love, do you dismiss it as being just fantasy, crazy or just the result of a bad day?
If you find yourself only dreaming like that occasionally, then yes maybe it was just a bad day. But when you start having those fantasy moments more and more often and at the same time you're frustrated, unfulfilled or bored in your job, you should definitely start to sit up and listen. Because that, my friend, is your subconscious screaming at you that you're not on the right path. Maybe you used to be but now there is a misalignment between what you are doing with your life and what you should be doing.
But how can you be sure? Well, it’s time to have a check-in, to really understand what is going on with you. Is this just a blip or is it time to transform your life?
If there is one thing I recommend to people all the time to help them discover what is the next best step for them, it's Ikigai. Because it aligns so perfectly with what I teach in my 1:1 work and courses about finding the passion and purpose that can translate into a life you love as well as paying the bills.
WHAT IS IKIGAI?
Ikigai is an ancient Japanese concept which has been used more and more in the west too. ‘Iki’ in Japanese means ‘life,’ and ‘gai’ describes value or worth. It can also be described simply as “a reason to get up in the morning” or, my favourite “waking up to joy.”
Japanese psychologist Michiko Kumano has said that ikigai is a state of wellbeing that arises from devotion to activities one enjoys, which also brings a sense of fulfilment.
I like to call your Ikigai your gift to the world, because it's that special something that you are good at that solves a problem, or brings joy to others, while also bringing you an income doing something you love.
HOW TO USE THE IKIGAI CONCEPT
- To assess your current situation, like a self-audit - to see if you are being true to your Ikigai
- To find out what else you could potentially do with your life if your Ikigai is not in alignment with your current situation
For both, you need to work through the 4 elements until you find the sweet spot where all these meet.
So let's think about each element in turn:
The first question you have to ask yourself is "What are you good at?" We all have skills and talents that we are naturally good at, so think about what yours are. This is about finding your unique talents and strengths. It's not just about what you *think* you're good at, but what other people have said you are good at.
You are not always the best judge of what you excel at, sometimes something you see as just 'a thing you do' is really valuable and is something others can't do and would love your help with and will pay money for that help! It isn't about being the best in the world at something, it's about what comes easily to you, that you don’t really put much effort into accomplishing. For example, you may find working with numbers comes naturally to you but other people you know just can’t get their head around them, or maybe you are great at DIY and find it no bother to put up a shelf and just can't understand why others can’t do it. Usually, when we are good at things we think everyone else is too, or it is just easy and not even worth mentioning as a skill. To others, it would be something amazing!
The second question is "What do you love doing?" This is about those activities that bring you joy, make you lose track of time, and give you a sense of satisfaction. It might be a hobby or something you're passionate about outside of work. What do you find yourself doing when you have a break at work or in any spare time you have. Sometimes the most ordinary thing could be a potential career move if you enjoy doing it so much!
Then compare what you love and are passionate about with what you are good at. So out of all the things you put down to answer the first question, what brings you the most joy? What could you do day in, day out without getting bored? What do you enjoy that even when you work hard at it, it doesn't feel like work?
The third question to ask yourself is "What does the world need? This one seems a bit harder, but it's actually not as difficult as it sounds. By asking yourself this question, you can perhaps find something that the world wants or needs that you have passion and skills for, and therefore find the fulfilment and meaning you are looking for.
It doesn't have to be a big world problem, it could be something more local to your community or your life. Consider how your skills and passions could be used to make a difference in the world, even if it's on a small scale.
Finally, you need to ask yourself what can I get paid for? This is a very practical question, but it's important to consider as it will help you hone in on which of your passions are most likely to lead to a sustainable career or business. Although I completely believe most passions that tap into your talents and strengths can be monetised in some way, it is not always the case and some are easier to earn money from than others. Even if making a lot of money is not something you really care about, unless you have some kind of trust fund or independent means you will need to earn enough to live off. So think about those things you are passionate about, are good at and that are needed by the world in some way, and then think about if it will be able to sustain the lifestyle you want.
It's so important that you keep a very open mind here, because believe me when you have been in a desk job as an employee for all your working life, you are programmed to think of earning money in a certain way. When actually there are so many ways in which you can earn money from your passions.
Answering these four questions will help you to zero in on your Ikigai and a life path that is both meaningful and fulfilling! If you like the idea of Ikigai but you're not sure where to start, don't worry! There are plenty of resources out there to help. I highly recommend reading the book Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life’ by by Héctor Garcia (Author), Francesca Miralles (Author). I’ll put a link to it in the show notes.
The bottom line is...
Once you've found your Ikigai, you need to act on it. If your current job and life is not aligned with your Ikigai, then you need to take it seriously and look at how you can change it.
Think of it this way, we all have unique gifts and skills we can bring to the world. Whether it is helping solve problems, providing a service, helping others succeed, or bringing people joy with your talent.
If you stay where you are and never let your light shine, you are depriving the world of your greatness and yourself of the fulfilment and happiness that comes from bringing your ikigai into being.
It's time to find your Ikigai, transform your life and change the world in your own special way!
