5 Steps to Finding Your Life’s Purpose

The Japanese Formula for Happiness

Ikigai Book Cover

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Have you ever asked yourself “what is my life’s purpose”, “what am I meant to be doing?”, “why does it seem like others know what they want while I struggle to find my passion?”. If you have, don’t worry, because you are not alone. Many are trying to figure out their life purpose or Ikigai.

Ikigai (Ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept, referring to having a reason or purpose in life. Essentially, Ikigai = a reason for being. I came across this term while reading a book called Ikigai: the Japanese secret to a long and happy life by authors Héctor García and Francesc Miralles. Drawing on lessons learned from the world’s longest-living people, the residents of the Japanese island Okinawa, Garcia, and Miralles help the reader find their own Ikigai and teach how to apply the Japanese concept to our own lives.

The Japanese Formula for Happiness

A formula for happiness?! Yes, you read that right, the Japanese have developed a formula that can help you achieve happiness. This formula has been around for hundreds and hundreds of years, and it all starts with the concept of Ikigai. There are four components to Ikigai that you need to consider before you can achieve true happiness. Let’s take a look at the Venn diagram below.

The Five Components of Ikigai

1. What you love

• We all have things that make us happy. Things that we can lose ourselves in for hours on end without even realizing how much time has passed. These activities that keep us focused on that present moment, bring us joy and excitement.
• “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
• Some examples include reading, writing, drawing, singing, coding, running, etc.

2. What you are good at

• This does not mean that you have to be naturally good at something in order to achieve happiness. This simply means that you should be able to put in the time and effort in order to improve your target skill(s).
• Being dedicated to your craft and putting in the necessary work to better yourself is what makes you good at something. With the right amount of commitment and diligence, you will be able to overcome any obstacles placed before you.
• “Obstacles are put in your way to see if what you want is really worth fighting for.” ~ Anonymous

3. What the world needs

• “What’s the point of my work?” This is a question that I have heard many people ask themselves, myself included. We all want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and know that we are making a difference in this world. That is why it is important to find something that the world needs, ask yourself, “what is something that I can do that will create a positive impact on those around me?”.
• Always remember that the ‘why’ of work matters. Why are you doing what you are doing? What is keeping you going?

4. What you can be paid for

• Now, I know some of you may be thinking that money can not buy true happiness, and I agree, however, in today’s society money plays a very important role in our lives. If we wish to live comfortably we need to make enough money that will keep us financially stable.
• Having financial stability reduces our financial stress and worries which in turn allows us to live a more liberated and abundant life.

5. Finding the middle ground

• Once you’ve established your answers to the first four components, you need to find your middle ground.
• Find the commonality within all four components.
• In case there’s no commonality initially, you can keep adding elements to your four circles.
• Your Ikigai just may emerge from the shared area at the intersection of these four components.

Feeling Stuck?

With this Japanese formula, you can figure out where you are in life and what you still need to work on by looking at the components you have thus far.

1. Passion

• If you know what you love and you are good at it then you fall into the category of passion. This means that you have an intense interest and enthusiasm towards something, however you are not getting paid enough, or at all, for the thing that you love.
• If you find yourself in this category focus on marketing yourself and your skill(s) so you can begin making money from the thing(s) that you love.

2. Profession

• If you are good at something and you are getting paid for it you have what they call a profession. Most of us fall into this category, a profession is that occupation that pays the bills. If you are in this category then what you are lacking is the love and passion for what you do. Often times you may find yourself asking, “how is my work going to make a difference in this world?”
• If you find yourself in this category then you have to expand your horizons. Don’t be afraid to try new things. By doing so you will open up more opportunities and find what it is that you truly love doing.

3. Mission

• If you have something that you love and you know it is something that this world needs then you have a mission. People who have a mission are people who want to create a positive change in this world but they lack the resources and skills to do so.
• If you fall into this category then you have to focus on how you can better yourself and your target skill(s).

4. Vocation

• Lastly, if you are someone who gets paid for something that you know can make a positive impact on the world then you have a vocation. A vocation is an occupation for which a person is especially suited or qualified for. The problem here is that people who are in this category often become stagnant and struggle to find room for growth.
• If you find yourself in this category then your focus should be on constantly finding things that challenge you.
• “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” ~ Fred DeVito

“Our Ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning. When we spend our days feeling connected to what is meaningful to us, we live more fully; when we lose the connection, we feel despair.”~ Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

In closing, I would like to remind you that the path to finding your purpose in life is different for everyone, so don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Stay patient and trust the journey, you will end up where you need to be.

• “Once you discover your Ikigai, pursuing it and nurturing it every day will bring meaning to your life.” ~ Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

I am wishing you all a long, happy, and purposeful life.

xoxo, Briana

Article originally published on my blog.