Finding Your Purpose with ikigai

Did you know that one of the top characteristics of burnout is a feeling of detachment?

Detachment is a consequence of being physically and mentally exhausted. This emotional disconnect or apathy may cause you to retreat from the tasks, activities, or people you once enjoyed. 

Some examples of what detachment look like include: 

👉 You are quick to anger and have less patience with others

👉 You ditch events you used to look forward to attending

👉 You no longer care about keeping your life organized and flowing smoothly

👉 You’ve become indifferent to chaos and imbalance 

What’s Your Ikigai? 

Luckily, there is a proven antidote to detachment, a powerful tool that can help you reconnect with your passion and drive: Purpose. Or, as the Japanese call it, your “ikigai” (“ee-key-guy”)- the secret to living a long and purposeful life.

Your ikigai is the convergence of four elements:

1) What you love;

2) What you’re good at;

3) What the world needs; and

4) What you can get paid for.

The intersection of these four guiding questions can help you identify your purpose in life, bring you fulfillment and happiness, and help you overcome (or prevent) burnout.

Meaning, Purpose, and Ikigai

Understanding your ikigai is a powerful way to build resilience. In my work with clients, we often start by identifying what’s most important in their lives and connecting that with purpose. Because naming a purpose can feel really big and existential, I have found it quite helpful for clients to start by breaking it down into the four components of ikigai.

I encourage to consider your ikigai. Start by making four lists: What I Love; What I’m Good At; What the World Needs; What I Can Get Paid For. Then, spend 10 minutes brainstorming everything that comes to mind for each list. Don’t overthink it, just write it all down. Next, read over your lists. Look for themes or commonalities between them. From there, you can begin to understand your purpose.