Are you living on purpose?
“Do what makes you feel alive every day until you master it, then show the world what you can do with total confidence.”
Do you know what happiness is? Some might think it comes from money, a big house, a great job, or even spending time with friends. But what if these were taken away? Would you still be happy?
Ikigai is a concept that has gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. It is a Japanese word that means “a reason for being.” It’s a concept that aims to give you true happiness and fulfillment in your life, regardless of most external factors. It does this by helping us narrow down to a deeper level of self-understanding, allowing happiness to come from within.
In a world where we’re constantly bombarded by messages telling us what to do and how to be, IKIGAI is a reminder that living is an act of self-expression. It’s about finding the things that make you happy and permitting yourself to do those things — and then finding new things to make you happy, too.
To find your Ikigai, try asking yourself these questions: What energizes me? What makes my heart sing? What gives me joy? Take some time to reflect on these questions — you might be surprised by what comes up. Then take this list and categorize the items according to the diagram pictured below.
We reached out to artist Sarkis Delimelkon (@_sarkism on IG), a man who lives out his purpose on a daily basis. When asked about Ikigai he said, “Do what makes you feel alive every day until you master it, then show the world what you can do with total confidence.”
Ikigai is not only about doing what you love — it’s about finding the intersection of what you’re good at, what you enjoy doing, and what is valuable to society so that it becomes something that gives your life a sense of purpose.
Finding a way to synthesize your talents, interests, and passions into one unified vision for yourself is a worthy endeavor.
