Find your Ikigai in 10 minutes
Who said that finding your Ikigai had to be a long and laborious process?
In this article, we'll turn finding your purpose into a fun, quick game that can be done in just 10 minutes.
Get ready to explore your passions, talents and aspirations to discover your ikigai in a fun and inspiring way!
List your Passions (2 minutes)
Grab a piece of paper and a pen and write down all the things you are passionate about. Whether it’s cooking, traveling, painting, writing, teaching, or playing sports, write down everything that brings you joy. Let your imagination run wild for two minutes
Remember to write quickly and instinctively, jotting down whatever comes to mind.
You might be surprised by the variety of your passions once you start listing them!
Identify your Talents (2 minutes)
Next, think about your unique talents and skills. What are you good at? What are you good at?
Write down everything that comes to mind, even the smallest things. Talents can be varied and often what comes naturally to you may be extraordinary to others. Be open and grateful for your abilities.
Here are some suggestions to inspire you: Organization, ability to teach or explain, teamwork, empathy, leadership, time management, adaptability, manual skills (DIY, crafts), writing, foreign language skills
Think About the World's Needs (2 minutes)
Think about the needs in the world that affect you. What causes are you passionate about? What problems would you like to solve?
Take some time to write down areas that resonate with you personally. And where you feel you could have a positive impact. Your passions and talents can be used to help cause you care about, helping to make the world a better place.
Here are some suggestions to get you started: Protecting the environment and combating climate change, providing access to education for all, combating food insecurity, combating social and racial injustices, supporting refugees and displaced people, providing access to clean water and sanitation, etc.
Figure out what pays you (2 minutes)
Finally, think about what could make you a living. What skills could you monetize? What fields could you work in while staying aligned with your passions and talents?
Take some time to think about your skills and how you can monetize them while staying true to your passions and values. Finding a balance between what you’re passionate about, what you’re good at, and what allows you to make a living can be the key to finding your ikigai.
Here are some ideas for example:
If you have a talent for writing, you might consider working as a freelance writer, editor, or blogger.
Passionate about teaching ? And you have knowledge in a specific field, you might consider giving private lessons, online training or workshops in your area of expertise.
If you have expertise in a particular field, you could monetize your knowledge by working as a consultant or coach in your field of expertise.
Or again health and well-being are areas that you deeply enjoy? Then you might consider working as a health coach, yoga teacher or holistic therapist.
Last example, if you have skills in marketing and in communication, you could work as a digital marketing consultant, social media manager or copywriter.
Find the alignment (2 minutes)
Finally, look at your lists and look for the intersections between your passions, talents, the world’s needs, and income opportunities. That’s where your ikigai lies.
Keep in mind that your ikigai may evolve over time. And it is important to be open to the possibilities that come your way. By finding this alignment, you will be able to live a life filled with meaning, satisfaction and happiness. All while contributing positively to the world around you.
Here are some questions to guide you through this process:
- What passions best match your talents and skills?
- How can you use your talents to address needs in the world that matter to you?
- Are there areas where your passions and talents could be monetized in a meaningful way?
- What career or entrepreneurial opportunities could allow you to combine your passions, talents and the needs of the world?
And there you have it! In just 10 minutes, you have discovered the key elements of your ikigai.
Whether you've found a clear answer or need more time to dig deeper, remember that the quest for your purpose is an ongoing journey.
So, have fun exploring your ikigai and living a life full of passion, meaning and satisfaction!
To your pens 🙂
