Finding Your Ikigai

The thing that makes you get out of bed in the morning with enthusiasm and joy.

The word “ikigai” is a Japanese term that combines two characters: “iki,” meaning life, and “gai,” meaning worth or value. Together, they translate to “the meaning of life” or “your purpose in life.” It represents the thing that makes you get out of bed in the morning with enthusiasm and joy.

Hector Garcia is an expert on this topic, and the co-author of a book called, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. I interviewed him on the Remarkable People podcast as well. Check out his full interview here.

In our quest for personal and professional fulfillment, ikigai offers a compelling framework that, in an ideal world, lies at the sweet spot where passion, talent, and financial viability converge.

But let’s face it: we don’t live in a perfect world. So how do we navigate this journey towards our ikigai? Let’s break it down into actionable strategies.

Chill Out and Play the Field

• Lower Your Expectations: Don’t wait for a lightning bolt of inspiration. Your ikigai isn’t likely to present itself in a “love at first sight” moment. Instead, be open to the possibility that a mere interest could evolve into your life’s purpose over time.

• Plant Many Seeds: Finding your ikigai—or letting it find you—might be a lifelong journey. Experiment widely with different activities and side projects. You never know which seed might sprout into your life’s calling.

Persevere and Grind

• Keep at It: Remember, anything worth becoming your ikigai won’t be mastered overnight. Embrace the challenge—if it was easy, you’re likely get bored quickly.

• Seek Feedback and Adjust: Use external input to refine your understanding of your ikigai. Be prepared for multiple iterations and maintain the humility to adjust your course as needed.

Make the Sacrifice

• Embrace Reality: Accept that your ikigai might not be your bread and butter much less lucrative. This could mean keeping your day job while exploring ways to generate income from your passion through freelancing or moonlighting.

• Take the “Shit Sandwich” Test: As Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fck*, puts it, you’ll know you’ve found your true calling when you enjoy even the unpleasant aspects of it. If you’re willing to eat the “shit sandwich” that comes with your chosen path, you’re on the right track.

  

The Continuous Journey

Discovering your ikigai isn’t a destination—it’s an ongoing journey of self-discovery and adaptation. People may tell you that your ikigai is the intersection of what you love, are good at, and can make money doing.

A more realistic test is the intersection of what you love, what you’re striving to be good at, and what isn’t motivated by money. That’s true love and cause for celebration. In our imperfect world, you might find that what you love doesn’t always pay the bills and involves shit sandwiches.

Your ikigai is uniquely yours. It might not fit neatly into societal expectations or conventional success metrics. But if it brings you joy, challenges you to grow, and gives your life meaning, then you’re on the right path.

Keep exploring, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to embrace the journey, shit sandwiches and all.

Until next time, may your search for your ikigai be as fulfilling as the destination itself.

Latest Podcast Episode

On my latest episode of the Remarkable People Podcast, renowned executive coach Marshall Goldsmith shares how he is using AI to make his transformative leadership guidance accessible to all individuals.

Check out the full episode here.

Mahalo!

Guy