Uncovering your life purpose with the Ikigai model

Finding your life purpose can be a daunting and confusing task but, fortunately, there is a simple and powerful tool that can help you discover your true calling – the Ikigai model.

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being”.

It is based on the idea that you can find your life purpose by exploring the intersection of four circles: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

We’ve developed a free worksheet to help you work through this tool, which you can grab now, but we thought we’d also explain the Ikigai model in detail and provide you with some introspective questions for each section that can help you find your Ikigai.

Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will have a clearer vision of your life purpose and how to achieve it.

What is Ikigai?

The Ikigai model is a framework that helps you find your life purpose by exploring four key components: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

These questions correspond to four circles that overlap with each other, creating a Venn diagram with four sections and a central point.

Each section represents a different aspect of your life:

• Passion: This is the section where what you love and what you are good at intersect. It is the source of your enthusiasm and joy. It is what makes you feel alive and energised. However, passion alone is not enough to sustain your life purpose, as it may not be aligned with what the world needs or what you can be paid for.
• Mission: This is the section where what you love and what the world needs intersect. It is the source of your altruism and contribution. It is what makes you feel useful and valuable. However, mission alone is not enough to sustain your life purpose, as it may not be aligned with what you are good at or what you can be paid for.
• Profession: This is the section where what you are good at and what you can be paid for intersect. It is the source of your income and security. It is what makes you feel competent and confident. However, profession alone is not enough to sustain your life purpose, as it may not be aligned with what you love or what the world needs.
• Vocation: This is the section where what the world needs and what you can be paid for intersect. It is the source of your fulfillment and satisfaction. It is what makes you feel appreciated and respected. However, vocation alone is not enough to sustain your life purpose, as it may not be aligned with what you love or what you are good at.

The central point of the Venn diagram is where all four circles intersect.

This is where your Ikigai lies. It is the source of your harmony and balance.

It is what makes you feel complete and content. It is your reason for being.

Finding your Ikigai requires a process of self-reflection and experimentation. You need to ask yourself the four key questions and explore the answers in depth.

You also need to try different activities and experiences that relate to each question and see how they make you feel. By doing this, you will gradually discover your Ikigai and align your life with it.

Questions to help you Find your life purpose through Ikigai

Here are some questions for each section of the Ikigai model to help you find your life purpose:

What you love:

• What are some activities that make you happy and fulfilled?
• What are some topics that you are curious and passionate about?
• What are some hobbies or interests that you enjoy doing in your free time?
• What are some things that you would do even if you were not paid for them?
• What are some values or principles that guide your life choices?

What you are good at:

• What are some skills or talents that you have developed or learned over time?
• What are some areas of knowledge or expertise that you have acquired or mastered?
• What are some achievements or accomplishments that you are proud of or recognized for?
• What are some strengths or abilities that others compliment you on or seek your help for?
• What are some challenges or problems that you can solve easily or creatively?

What the world needs:

• What are some issues or causes that you care about or want to contribute to?
• What are some needs or gaps that you can fill or address with your skills or talents?
• What are some opportunities or trends that you can take advantage of or adapt to?
• What are some groups or communities that you belong to or want to serve or support?
• What are some values or principles that you share with others or want to promote?

What you can be paid for:

• What are some sources of income or revenue that you have or want to have?
• What are some markets or industries that you can enter or grow in?
• What are some customers or clients that you can attract or retain with your products or services?
• What are some ways that you can increase your value or worth in the marketplace?
• What are some goals or plans that you have or want to have for your financial future?

If you want to know more about the Ikigai, we recommend checking out PositivePsychology.com.

Congratulations on making such a big move – what could be bigger than trying to tackle the question of what your life purpose is?!

Hopefully, these prompts help, but if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

And let us know how you go!