Finding Your IKIGAI

Hi there! How was your weekend? I had a nice one.

So in my last post -"What's Yours?" (go read if you haven't), I promised to share with you something I learnt recently. Let's get started, shall we!
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being." It is thought of as the reason why you want to get up in the morning, what makes you enjoy life, makes you happy and gives you fulfillment. The word ikigai is usually used to indicate the source of value in one's life or the virtues that make your life worthwhile.

Ikigai = Purpose

To know your reason for being and why you want to wake up in the morning or what gives you fulfillment is quite easy, just follow the steps below; {You might need to get a notepad and pen here}

a) What are those skills you have that you can be paid for? 

b) What do you have that the world needs?

c) What are you good at?

d) What do you love doing?

*What the world needs + What you love = your MISSION

*What you can be paid for + What you are good at = your PROFESSION

*What the world needs + What you can be paid for = your VOCATION (side hustle)

*What you are good at + What you love = your PASSION.

Let's use Aishat Bukola Charles as a case study (I love how I sound like a lecturer here...lol).
The skill Aishat has that can be paid for is Event Planning.
What Aishat has that the world needs is Counselling & Mentoring
What Aishat is good at is Cooking
What Aishat loves doing is Talking

Meaning;

Aishat's MISSION could be Counselling/Mentoring + Talking = Counsellor / Life Coach

Aishat's PROFESSION could be Event planning + Cooking = Event Planner / Caterer

Aishat's VOCATION (side hustle) could be = Counselling/Mentoring + Event Planning = Owning a Catering School

Aishat's PASSION could be Cooking + Talking = Teaching/ Training Caterers 

Ikigai = Mission + Profession + Vocation + Passion.

Taking time to draw out what your Ikigai looks like makes it easier for you to examine from time to time if you are on the right path. You can even try different combinations for multiple attributes.

Aishat's case was just to help us have a better understanding of what the calculations should look like.

For instance, I for one can be paid for Acting, Writing, Marketing, Costume Designing and Directing and some of the things I love doing include; Eating (yes, yes), Dancing & Vlogging. Same way, I have multiple things that the world needs and what I am good at.

So please, don't streamline your thoughts and try as many combinations as possible.

Your Ikigai/Purpose is the reason for which you exist. Find your Ikigai.

DON'T JUST EXIST, LIVE!