“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” — Robert Byrne
The best way to make a living is to do what you enjoy, are uniquely good at, and what is useful for society.
If you can combine your unique assets (skills, strengths, passions) with the right path (hard work, opportunities, projects, and people), then you can create a significant about of value that only you can create.
This will give you fulfillment as you contribute to making life around you better. By providing value for society, you’ll also get paid, which is crucial to keep yourself sustainable and get the most out of life.
Japanese have a beautiful concept called ikigai that means “reason to live” and can be a guide for life.
It’s primarily associated with the town of Okinawa that has the highest density of 100-year-olds in the world. Locals claim that this is because they live their lives according to the principles of ikigai.
Ikigai is the sweet spot between four distinct elements:
If you’re at the intersection of all four, then you’re living your ikigai.
Keep in mind that you can have multiple ikigai’s. Your purpose is not single facet and can change in time. Ikigai is a constant practice of living a meaningful existence.
How to think with IKIGAI
Read more about how it works.