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Life
Ikigai: A Designers Guide to Finding Your Purpose
Ikigai: A Designer's Guide to Finding Your Purpose in Life
I have been pondering the Japanese concept of Ikigai (ee-key-guy) for a while since I stumbled across this venn diagram of 4 circles intersecting. It’s a Japanese term meaning “a reason for being” or "a reason to get up in the morning." It’s about finding happiness and living your life’s purpose. I was immediately intrigued and set out to learn what I could about this concept and how it applies to my life as an entrepreneur.
Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert on this as I’m still discovering what my Ikigai is. This TEDx Talk from Tim Tamashiro discusses the origin (Okinawa, Japan) and how to discover your Ikigai.
Ikigai is found at the intersection where your passions and talents converge with the things that the world needs and is willing to pay for.
I used to call it being in the “zone”or flow state. It’s when work doesn’t feel like work. It took me years to figure out what that was for me. In my younger years I was focused on climbing the corporate ladder, thinking that when I reached the top I would be happy. I was busy chasing the dolla bills y’all 😉
Although I was paid relatively well for my work, I didn’t feel fulfilled with what I was doing. I was lacking that passion, that drive that made me want to get out of bed every day. It felt like a grind to me… until I started my own clothing business. Like most fun things, it started as a hobby. While I was working full time, I spent my weekends designing, sewing and creating things. I used my sewing skills to produce fleece hats and it turned out that people were willing to pay for them. That hobby eventually turned into a business where I was able to make a living doing what I love.
Running my business gave me a sense of purpose and excitement every day!
My business allowed me to experience so many wonderful things. My work and life seemed to blend together and gave me joy, especially when seeing the smiles on my customers’ faces. From my imagination and creation I was able to give my fans what they were craving—and that’s Kawaii, which means cute in Japanese ✌️ Running Punch Brand gave me a sense of purpose and excitement every day!
Glynis standing in front of Aloha sign
My clothing business satisfied my love for traveling as well, taking me to different destinations for trade shows and conventions. I’ve been to Sydney, Hong Kong, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Seoul, Tokyo, Bora Bora and several of the Hawaiian islands.
Which destination has been my favorite?
Hawaii, because of the stunning beaches and landscapes, rich culture, welcoming spirit, and delicious food!. So far I’ve explored Maui, Oahu and the Big Island. I hope one day to go to Kauai.
Beyond career— The Japanese secret to a long and happy life
There’s a reason why Okinawan’s live the longest in the world, they live according to Ikigai. In professional terms it means to make a living doing what you love.
However, in Okinawa, Ikigai is not just limited to a professional context, it is considered to be the reason for being, a sense of purpose and fulfillment in life. It is a combination of one's passion, mission, vocation, and profession. It is believed that having Ikigai leads to a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
Okinawans believe that everyone has an Ikigai, and it is their responsibility to find it. It can be a simple and humble purpose, like taking care of grandchildren or gardening, or it can be a grander purpose, like contributing to society through a profession or volunteering.
Living according to Ikigai requires a balance between the things that one loves, the things that one is good at, the things that the world needs, and the things that one can be paid for. It involves self-reflection, discovering one's strengths and weaknesses, and finding ways to align personal values with actions.
Incorporating Ikigai into our lives can bring a sense of clarity, motivation, and joy. It can help us navigate the uncertainties of life and make decisions that align with our purpose. As the Okinawans have shown us, living according to Ikigai can lead to a long and fulfilling life.
How to Find Your Ikigai
Finding your ikigai requires introspection and self-reflection. Here are some steps to help you find your ikigai:
Identify what you love: Start by making a list of the things that you enjoy doing the most. These could be hobbies, interests, or activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.
Example: I love teaching and sharing my knowledge of the fashion industry with others.
Determine what you're good at: Next, consider your skills, talents, and abilities. Think about the things that come naturally to you and the things that others have complimented you on.
Example: I'm particularly good at making connections, collaborating, interviewing industry professionals and other business owners and sharing resources to help each other within the community to grow.
Consider what the world needs: Ask yourself what problems or needs you see in the world that you're passionate about addressing. What social or environmental issues speak to you? What changes do you want to see in the world?
Example: I want to change how the industry traditionally operates, by offering more transparency about how fashion companies actually conduct business behind the scenes. This industry has been known to be very “closed off”, reluctant to share best practices and “secrets". I want knowledge to be shared and accessible to all designers and brand owners so that they can make the best business decisions that benefit their businesses, the people and the planet.
Reflect on what you can be paid for: Finally, consider the skills and expertise that people are willing to pay for. This could include a variety of careers or entrepreneurial ventures.
Example: As a business owner I have chosen to provide business consulting and SEO services to help launch and grow fashion e-commerce brands.
Look for overlaps: Once you have identified each of these four elements, look for areas of overlap. What activities do you love that also address a need in the world and can be monetized? What skills do you have that are in demand and also align with your passions?
Experiment and refine: Finding your ikigai may take time and experimentation. Try different things and see what feels right. Refine your understanding of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for over time.
So why not give it a try and find your Ikigai, just start by asking these 4 questions:
- What do you love?
- What are you good at?
- What does the world need?
- What can you be paid for?
Conclusion
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that focuses on finding one's purpose and fulfillment in life. It involves discovering the intersection where one's passions, talents, the world's needs, and what one can be paid for converge. Incorporating Ikigai into our lives can lead to a sense of clarity, motivation, and joy, as well as a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life, as seen in the Okinawan culture. Finding your Ikigai requires introspection, self-reflection, and aligning personal values with actions. By following the steps of identifying what you love, determining what you're good at, considering what the world needs, and reflecting on what you can be paid for, you can discover your Ikigai and live a more purposeful and fulfilling life.
To sum up, here's a quote from Tim’s book: How to Ikigai: Lessons for Finding Happiness and Living Your Life’s Purpose
“Each moment you invest into what you love to do and what you’re good at brings you closer to seeing your first glimpse of Ikigai. Only you can take the steps necessary to look deeper into the potential of your joys. You are conducting research about yourself. Your job is to look deeper into your heart. Be honest every day about the things you love and the things you find challenging. Explore your wants and needs. Start a journal. Keep track about the stuff you find fascinating. Do it today. Come back tomorrow.” – Tim Tamashiro