Find Your Ikigai At The Career Crossroads
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to, “your reason for being“ Or, “the thing you live for“ Or, “why you wake up in the morning“.
It sits at the intersection of your answers to 4 questions:
What do you love?
What are you good at?
What can you be paid for?
What does the world need?
Finding your Ikigai is one way to move through the crossroads onto your next career.
Here’s how.
Step 1:
WHAT DO YOU LOVE DOING?
Write down everything you enjoy doing-in your personal and professional life.
It can be something small or big. Include activities you enjoyed doing as a child.
Feel into your heart: what are you drawn to? What do you love to read? What makes you lean forward?
Don’t overthink or sensor.
Fill up at least a page with ideas.
Step 2:
WHAT ARE YOU SKILLED AT?
What do people ask for your advice on?
What comes easily to you that others struggle with?
What do patients and colleagues compliment you for?
What awards have you won?
If you need help identifying your skills, read this article.
Step 3:
WHAT CAN BRING YOU THE INCOME YOU NEED?
First go through your answers in steps 1 and 2 and circle the responses that appear on both lists.
Then cross off those things that won’t bring the income you need.
STEP 4:
WHAT DOES THE WORLD NEED?
Now review your list and circle the things you enjoy doing, that align with your skills, that you can earn enough money doing, AND would be good for the world.
Look at what’s left.
This is your Ikigai!
Note: If you really enjoy something, can be paid for it, and it’s good for the world, but you’re not skilled at YET, consider acquiring the skills.
What did you uncover?
“You should have regrets. There’s no life you can live without regrets. We don’t allow ourselves to feel regret fully.
Regret puts you into a proper relationship with the world.”
David Whyte, Everything is an invitation