Ikigai Workshop: What Makes Your Heart Race?

Previously, we learned about the four circles of Ikigai (what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for). However, when asked “What is your Ikigai?”, it can be difficult to answer readily.

Ikigai is not a destiny that suddenly falls from the sky. It is a process of meticulously assembling clues scattered throughout your past and present. Let’s start the ‘Ikigai Inventory’ to find your mission together.

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Step 1: What You Love (Clues to Passion)

This domain is related to your ‘joy.’ Find things that make you smile regardless of the reward.

• Question 1: Even if you didn’t receive a single cent, what is something you would willingly wake up early for on a Saturday morning?
• Question 2: When you go to a bookstore, at which section do your footsteps stop first?
• Question 3: When you were 10 years old, what was a game or activity you were so immersed in that you lost track of time? (Childhood interests are usually connected to one’s true self.)

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Step 2: What You Are Good At (Clues to Talent)

This domain is related to your ‘strengths.’ Find things you can do more easily or excellently than others.

• Question 4: What kind of help do people mainly ask you for? (Counseling, organizing, repairing, designing, problem-solving, etc.)
• Question 5: Among the things you’ve done, have you had an experience where the results were much better relative to the effort you put in?
• Question 6: Among the skills you have, which field would you not find boring even after repeating for more than 10 hours, and want to continue growing in?

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Step 3: What the World Needs (Clues to Contribution)

This domain is related to your ‘values.’ Envision the appearance of the world you want to contribute to.

• Question 7: Looking at news or situations around you, what issues make you most angry or sympathetic? (Your mission is hidden within that anger.)
• Question 8: If you were to help someone today with a small ability you have, what kind of people would that ‘someone’ be? (Children, the elderly, colleagues, marginalized groups, etc.)
• Question 9: When you leave this world, what kind of person do you want to be remembered as by people?

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Step 4: What You Can be Paid For (Clues to Reality)

This domain is related to your ‘sustainability.’ Find the point where your value is exchanged in the market.

• Question 10: Among the skills you currently have, what is a service that someone would willingly pay for (or is worth purchasing)?
• Question 11: Does a model who has made your passion their profession exist in the world? How are they generating profit?

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Conclusion: Connecting the Dots

If you have written down answers to the above questions, look for ‘common words’ or ‘fitting combinations’ that cross through each of your replies.

For example, if ‘writing (love)’ + ‘logical analysis (good at)’ + ‘wandering youth (world’s need)’ meet, then ‘a psychological analysis columnist for youth’ could be your Ikigai.

Ikigai is not fixed. The Ikigai of your 20s and your 50s can be different. What’s important is to honestly face where your heart is beating toward today. Your answer is already waiting to be discovered somewhere within you.