šŸŒ³ How to Find Your Purpose

Ikigai is an ancient Japanese concept meaning 'A reason for being' or in other words, the meaning of life. It's the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for and the Japanese believe that leading a life in the centre of these four qualities gives a person a sense of purpose and a reason for living.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

ā€œEverything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms. To choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.ā€

In simple terms, your attitude towards any situation will decide the severity of it. The circumstances could be stacked all against your favour however if you are in control of your emotions and attitude, you are in control of the outcome.

FINDING YOUR PURPOSE

Ikigai is an ancient Japanese concept meaning 'A reason for being' or in other words, the meaning of life.

It's the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs and what you can be paid for and the Japanese believe that leading a life in the centre of these four qualities gives a person a sense of purpose and a reason for living.

Once you know your Ikigai and understand its meaning, you're aligned with the work you've longed to do and the world needs you to do.

It's such an incredibly simple but interesting concept, the four pillars that create the meaning of life. Do you know your Ikigai? Something worth thinking about.

There's empirical evidence that backs up its effectiveness, and that's how those in the culture who practice it live. "Okinawa is one of the world's blue zones regions and has one of the highest rates of centenarians. On Okinawa, ikigai imbues the culture. In the Okinawan language, there is no word for retirement. For elders there, their ikigai might be minding their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, teaching martial arts, or minding their garden and sharing their bounty with their friends.

Essentially, knowing your purpose can add years to your life, and depth to them, as well. "People with purpose live longer, sleep better and are healthier and happier.

How do you find your Ikigai? There are a few things you can do:

  • Make three lists: your values, things you like to do, and things you are good at.

  • The cross-section of the three lists is your ikigai.

  • Find an outlet for your ikigai; ikigai is purpose in action.

For those who are struggling even to identify what they are interested in or genuinely good at, it's not a cause for stress or worry, but rather, an opportunity to do some self-exploration. such as sign up to volunteer at a local organization or group that interests you. In doing so, you'll be able to connect with like-minded people who have a similar goal as you. Not only will you be helping your community, but you'll be developing a sense of ikigai in the process.

ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS:

Struggling to discover your purpose and experience true fulfilment?

Look into Ikagi and find yours.

TAKEAWAYS:

Donā€™t let your purpose become what others are telling you it should be.

BOOK OF THE WEEK ā¤µļø

The book of the week is ā€˜7 Habits of highly effective peopleā€™ by Stephen R. Covey. A fantastic read that goes into so much more depth than you would think that explores the principles of effective self-leadership, influence, collaboration, and improvement. You can read it HERE

CREATOR OF THE WEEK ā¤µļø

The creator of the week is @Joshterryplays, an extremely well-spoken creator who makes simple but intriguing content all focused on making your life better. His videos are straightforward, easy to understand and consume and heā€™s someone that you want on your timeline. Check him out HERE

LESSON OF THE DAY ā¤µļø

Our worst fears lie In anticipation.

Did you like this email?! Tell us what you think by replying to this email, any feedback helps us to improve your experience and make The Kaizen better.