The Secrets of Ikigai
Unlocking your potential to change the world starts with a Japanese philosophy.
What do I love? What am I good at? What does the world need? What can I do to earn a livable income?
These are the questions we ask ourselves at pivotal moments to guide our big life decisions: changing our career path, starting a new job or even choosing a college major. Often, we struggle to find that one thing that answers all four questions — we’re lucky if we get two or three!
In the journey to understand ourselves, these questions often filter into four separate alignments:
What you love and what you’re good at = Your passion.
What you’re good at and what you can be paid for = Your profession.
What you can be paid for and what the world needs =Your vocation.
What the world needs and what you love = Your mission.
Understanding the philosophy
But what happens when you are able to somehow combine these facets — your passion, profession, vocation and mission — into one, cohesive lifestyle; something even grander? Therein lies the secret of the somewhat elusive concept of ikigai, based on a Japanese philosophy. The phrase is made up of two Japanese words: iki, meaning “life” and kai, “a result or fruit that is worthwhile or beneficial.” When combined, ikigai is roughly interpreted to mean “a reason for living,” or “something that makes life worth living.”
Ikigai is found at the intersection of one’s sense of purpose, meaning in life, feeling of joy and well-being.
It’s is the reason we get out of bed in the morning. It’s finding satisfaction in our work. It’s what keeps us going. It encompasses both our lifelong passions and our daily tasks. It’s the purpose of life in both the macro and micro sense.
It’s easy to believe that passion and profession are separate and compartmentalized, but in reality, everything is connected; nothing is separate.
Finding the connection
It’s the interconnected nature of ikigai that makes finding it for yourself, especially for social entrepreneurs, so world-changing. Social entrepreneurs deal with the intersections of their passions and career goals every day! With ikigai, you can find further alignment between your purpose and business vision.
And with everything brought into focus, you have the clarity needed to find innovative solutions to big problems, cast a unified vision for your team, increase your profits and inspire those around you.
Looking for your ikigai?
Learn to apply this concept to your own life in Social Enterprise Alliance’s webinar, Elevating Your Purpose and Profits Using Ikigai on Tuesday, October 30th at 11 a.m. CT.
In partnership with social entrepreneurship magazine Rank & File and led by Creators for Good’s Solène Pignet, this practical workshop is designed for entrepreneurs looking to align their social enterprises with their values for increased purpose and profits.
During the session, Solène will coach you on the Japanese philosophy of ikigai and guide you through how to use the tool to validate your own ikigai. Get tickets here and join us!
