Okay, so I was scrolling through my feed the other day, and I stumbled upon this concept called “Ikigai.” It’s a Japanese word, and it kinda blew my mind. I mean, who doesn’t want to find their “reason for being,” right?
So, I dove into this rabbit hole. I started by just Googling “Ikigai,” and oh boy, there’s a ton of stuff out there. I read articles, watched some videos, and even found some cool diagrams. Apparently, Ikigai is all about finding that sweet spot where your passion, mission, vocation, and profession all overlap. Sounds simple enough, but it’s actually pretty deep.
I decided I needed to make this more tangible. I grabbed a notebook and started brainstorming. I listed out things I love to do, things I’m good at, things the world needs, and things I could potentially get paid for. It was messy, and I had to rewrite things a bunch of times, but it was a good start.
My Ikigai Circles
- What I love: Writing, learning new things, helping people, being creative, listening to music.
- What I’m good at: Writing, researching, communicating ideas, problem-solving, coming up with stories.
- What the world needs: More empathy, better communication, creative solutions to problems, more understanding.
- What I can get paid for: Content writing, copywriting, teaching, consulting, maybe something related to helping others find their own ikigai.
Then, I tried to find where these things intersected. It wasn’t easy, and I’m still figuring it out. But I realized that writing and helping people are two big themes for me. I also love the idea of using my skills to make a positive impact on the world. So that is the key element I think.
But I didn’t stop there. I wanted to see if I could make this whole Ikigai thing rhyme. You know, just for fun. I’m no poet, but I gave it a shot. I started with something simple, like:
“Find what you love, and do it with glee,
That’s the first step to your Ikigai, you see.”
Then I added more lines, playing around with words and trying to capture the essence of each of the four elements. It was a bit cheesy, but it was actually kind of fun. Here is what I ended up with:
“Find what you love, and do it with glee,
That’s the first step to your Ikigai, you see.
What’s your talent, what are you good at?
Use it wisely, don’t just wear a hat.
What does the world need, what’s the demand?
Lend a hand, make a stand, take a command.
And lastly, what can you get paid to do?
Find your value, and make it true.”
It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And it helped me understand Ikigai on a whole new level. It’s not just about finding a job you love; it’s about finding a way to live a life that’s meaningful and fulfilling. It is about finding value in what you do every day.
I’m still on this journey, and I know it’s going to take time. But I’m excited to see where it leads. I encourage you to explore your own Ikigai, too. It might just change your life. And hey, if you feel like it, try to make it rhyme. You might surprise yourself!
