Ikigai-ing your way to find fulfilment at work
Introduction
Most
working adults will dedicate half their waking lives to a job. So, motivation
is necessary to make them continue their job. Moreover, motivation has
increasingly become a priority for organizations looking to maintain an engaged
and eager workforce. Employees are placing a premium on finding fulfillment at
work, and organizations are too. Companies realize this leads to high
engagement, the holy grail of a happy, productive workforce.
Furthermore,
the COVID-19 pandemic has destabilized normal working patterns and added a
large dollop of general anxiety for good measure. Over 90% of job switchers
said they quit because the pandemic made them feel like 'life is too short to
stay in a job they weren't passionate about'. Some workers retired early over fears
of coronavirus; others lost their jobs early on in the pandemic.
Cherie
Wilcox, a career coach who specializes in job transitions and career pivots,
said that workers looking for more fulfilling positions should start by
identifying their "ikigai."
Ikigai-
What it is?
It
can be translated as “to live (iki) and reason (gai)” – essentially, what is
the source of your daily motivation?
"Ikigai
is the synergy between doing what you love and what the world needs — and
discovering a meaningful way to express it in the work place in order to
receive a satisfying income,” says Julie Haber, Inspiration and Wellness
Specialist at Lake Austin Spa Resort. “Everyone has an ikigai. It’s unique to
each person, deeply personal and is not linked to one's financial status."
Ikigai
is “my reason for being,” the inner purpose for how we make our livelihood.
It’s the magical intersection of one’s passions, skills, and vocation.
Ikigai is how we make work meaningful and connect with what we do.
A
person’s ikigai can be anything: a passion, a dream, a mission, among others.
It is something that gives you the reason to get up every morning. It’s what
motivates you to keep going and gives you the drive to do something for the
pursuit of that ikigai. Some people can easily figure out what their ikigai is.
As for others, it can still be an ongoing search.
Four
questions helpful in finding your ikigai
In
your pursuit to find your ikigai, there are four things that you need to tick
off of your list. The Japanese method involves asking yourself four important
questions so you can determine your Ikigai and your purpose. Your answers will
in theory overlap in the middle. These are:
- What you
love
Your
ikigai should be something that you enjoy doing. It can be anything that makes
you feel good; something that you would willingly do anytime. Make a list of
everything that brings you joy on a daily basis. Don’t put any limits on this
list. Write it all down. It can be as simple as a hobby that you really enjoy
doing, such as writing, creating videos, taking photos, painting, dancing,
baking cakes or even collecting stamps.
- What you
are good at
Another
thing that can help you get closer to finding your ikigai is figuring out what
you are, or would like to be, good at. Is there something that you naturally
excel at? Something that you can effortlessly accomplish or people consider you
an expert in? You may not notice, but people probably give you compliments all
the time. Maybe they appreciate your cooking, athleticism, creativity or musical
talent. Perhaps people know you for your people skills: being a good listener,
being patient, kind or generous. It can be a skill that you’ve spent years to
perfect, such as videography, public speaking, fashion design, marketing,
counseling, or computer programming.
- What you
can get paid or rewarded for
To
find your ikigai, you should also know what you can get financially rewarded
for. Keep in mind that, for us to survive, we need to earn money to support our
daily needs and expenses. What are some of the things you do every day? Why do
you get paid to do them? What other skills or abilities do you have that you
could get paid to use?
It’s
not enough that you just love what you do or that you are good at it. It also
matters that employer properly compensate you for it and that it helps you get
food and cloths.
- What the
world needs
The
fourth component for finding your ikigai is something that the world, or a
community, needs. Knowing that what we do helps make the world we live in a
better place helps us feel good. Finding your purpose also means being in tune
with your surroundings and the world around you. It makes us feel that we are
playing an important role in our community. Are there any causes or issues that
concern or affect you? Things you would like to change or causes you would like
to get involved with helping?
One
reason why people are not happy with their work is because they don’t
understand the value of their work. By knowing their work have impact and
change lives of others, it can help them advance and discover their ikigai.
Finding
your ikigai
By
knowing what you love, what you are good at, what you can get paid for, and
what the world needs, it can be a lot easier for you to understand what your
ikigai is.
If
you look at the ikigai diagram, you will find that to achieve ikigai, you need
to have all four components. But sometimes, you might only have two out of the
four. In this ikigai diagram, you can see if what you have is your passion,
mission, profession or vocation.
The
most effective way to find your result is to write your answers in a circle
that represents each questions. In the diagram, your ikigai will be at the
intersection.
- Passion
If
you have something that you love and are really good at, then you have found
your passion. Unfortunately, some people who are pursuing their passion have a
sense of satisfaction and happiness. But some of them may feel like what they
do is not creating such a huge impact or is not getting them any tangible rewards
at all.
If
you are in the same situation, then you might want to figure out a way on how
your passion can gain traction, grab the attention of people and eventually
make a difference in their lives. Moreover, if you can find a way to use your
passion to earn money, then that can help you tick out four out of the four
components to achieve ikigai.
Ways
you can use your passion to earn money and help a community is by writing a
book, starting a blog, offering training and seminars about your craft, or by
becoming a resource person to other people who share your passion.
- Mission
If
you have something that you love and is also what the world needs, then you are
someone with a mission. People with a mission usually become advocates of what
they believe in. They may also be a humanitarian who’s trying to change the
world by joining volunteer missions or offering pro bono services to those who
need it. This can give you a sense of fulfillment, knowing that you are making
a difference in the world. But you might not be getting proper compensation for
what you are doing.
For
you to find your ikigai, you can start with training. Get a formal education to
be better at what you love. Given that it already is creating an impact in a
community, you will only need to take some time to improve your craft and
eventually, boost your potential in becoming not just an advocate, but also an
expert in your field.
Once
you become more knowledgeable in your field, you can then use your acquired
skills and knowhow to ask for compensation and start earning money from what
you love doing, while at the same time, create an impact in the world.
- Profession
If
you are among the many people who have something that they are good at and are
getting paid for it, then you have your profession. As a professional, you
might be earning lots of money doing something that you have basically mastered
doing. People like you are usually considered as experts in your field and this
is why employer pay you well.
But
doing what you are good at and employer pay you for it does not immediately
equate to doing what you love and making a difference in the world. If you are
at a point in your life wherein you have been working so hard, but are not
getting any sense of fulfillment, you might have to make some changes in how
you live your life. To find your ikigai, you might want to figure out how you
can use your profession to figure out what you enjoy doing and find out how it
can help make a difference in the world.
- Vocation
Now,
for those who have something that the world needs and employer pay you for it,
you have found your vocation. Some people who are pursuing a vocation are not
always happy about what they do. Also, some of them are not necessarily highly
knowledgeable or are not always considered an expert at what they do.
If
you think you are one of these people, then you will have to figure out how to
be better at what you do and to turn your vocation into something that you love
doing. To turn your vocation into your ikigai, you can start by perhaps,
earning a degree or by signing up for training sessions that will help you
sharpen your skills. You can also work on gaining more experience in your field
and eventually become an expert in what you do.
Conclusion
No
matter what you have right now, be it a passion, a mission, a profession or a
vocation, you
can always figure out the situation in which you will flourish which lies at
the intersection of the answers to the four questions, where your passions
intertwine with your purpose, your profession and your vocation.
Employees
who find their work meaningful, are more engaged, productive, and less likely
to change jobs. Organizations with employees who’ve found their ikigai create
better customer experience. They are full of happier employees. And tend to be
more profitable.
Once
you have found your ikigai, you will realize how good your life is. You will
become more productive and feel motivated to achieve success. It will also
motivate you to continuously improve and be able to make the most of every
second of your life (enjoy your life). So find your ikigai and start living
your best life.
Refrences:
1. The Formula to Finding Purpose: How to Find
Your Ikigai.
2. Ikigai - Finding Fulfillment at Work
3. Ikigai-ing your way to the perfect job
4. How To Find Your Own Personal ‘Ikigai’ To Get
The Job You Love And Live Your Best Life
Jack Kelly
5. What is Ikigai? The Key to Work-Life Balance.
BY DONNA SOZIO
6. What’s Your Ikigai? Finding Meaning in Work
and Life
by Matthew Hughes
7. A career coach explains how to find 'ikigai'
at work, the Japanese concept for 'jumping out of bed with glee'
HANNAH TOWEY
8. Over 90% of job switchers said they quit
because the pandemic made them feel like 'life is too short to stay in a job
they weren't passionate about'
Juliana Kaplan,Madison Hoff
