Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese term that roughly translates to "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." It’s a beautiful and profound concept that sits at the intersection of four key elements:
What you love (your passion)
What you're good at (your vocation or craft)
What the world needs (your mission)
What you can be paid for (your profession)
Many people spend years chasing success without stopping to ask a fundamental question: 👉 What am I truly meant to do?
Finding your purpose isn’t about following a trend or settling for what's safe. It’s about aligning your inner world with the value you bring to others.
Inspired by the Japanese concept of Ikigai (生き甲斐), the idea of finding the intersection between what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for, I’ve developed a simple way you can start clarifying your direction today.
It begins with three simple circles. see the photo below.
1. Draw Three Overlapping Circles
(Think of a basic Venn diagram.)
Label them as follows:
Circle 1: What are the things that are most important to you? (These are your core values, your deepest priorities.)
Circle 2: What are the things you will never get bored of? (These are the activities, topics, and pursuits that energize you endlessly.)
Circle 3: What are the things you naturally do for others, and enjoy helping them with? (This points to your natural service, contribution, and talents.)
2. Reflect on the Overlaps
Circle 1 + Circle 2 = Your Passion When what matters to you aligns with what you love doing endlessly, passion is born.
Circle 1 + Circle 3 = Your Purpose When your deepest values meet how you help others, you find meaning and a call to serve.
Circle 2 + Circle 3 = Your Career When what you love aligns with what you can offer to others, sustainable work emerges.
3. Find the Sweet Spot: All Three Circles Overlapping
When all three overlap, you begin to see a clearer picture of what you are meant to do with your life, a path that is meaningful, sustainable, and uniquely yours.
It won't be a one-time exercise. It’s a living map you refine as you grow.
The world doesn't just need more people chasing success. It needs more people living in alignment with their inner calling, People who wake up energized, connected, and ready to serve.
Start with your three circles. You may just find the key you’ve been searching for.
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