how to not give a fuckfind your ikigai
most people never answer the most important question
what gets you out of bed in the morning? not your alarm clock. not your obligations. what genuinely pulls you forward with energy and purpose?
if you don't have a clear answer, you're not alone. most people spend decades drifting between jobs, hobbies, and relationships without ever identifying the thing that makes their existence feel meaningful. the japanese have a word for that thing: ikigai.
what ikigai actually means
ikigai translates roughly to "a reason for being." it's not just passion, and it's not just purpose. it's the intersection of four elements:
- what you love — what activities make you lose track of time? what would you do for free?
- what you're good at — where do you have genuine skill or talent? what comes naturally to you that others find difficult?
- what the world needs — what problems can you help solve? what value can you create for others?
- what you can be paid for — how can you sustain yourself financially while doing the above?
when all four circles overlap, you've found your ikigai.
why each element matters alone and together
- love + skill but no market demand = satisfying hobby, not a career
- skill + demand + money but no love = lucrative burnout
- love + demand but no skill = frustrating idealism
- all four = a life that feels worth living
how to find yours
this isn't a weekend exercise. it's an ongoing exploration. but you can start now:
- list 10 activities that energize you — not "should" activities, genuine energy-givers
- list 10 skills you've developed — professional, personal, weird hidden talents
- list 10 problems in the world that bother you — things you'd fix if you could
- look for overlaps — where do these lists intersect?
the intersection might not be obvious. it might be a combination you've never considered. that's okay. ikigai isn't discovered in a flash of insight — it's uncovered gradually through exploration and experimentation.
stop drifting. start looking.
if this resonated, share it with someone who needs to hear it.