Hopes and Aspirations
“Your hopes, dreams and aspirations are legitimate. They are trying to take you airborne, above the clouds, above the storms, if you only let them.”
Reference sources for this post: 1) García, H., Miralles, F., & Cleary, H. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life. Penguin Books; and 2) Coaching tool developed by Elaine Houston on PositivePsychology.com
We’re at the final lap, with just two more months to go, for 2020. If you were to look back at this year a decade from now, how would you describe it? What were your memorable moments of 2020?
I think it goes without saying that this year has been unprecedented for all of us. It has been unprecedented for me in many ways. I became an International Coaching Federation credentialed coach and started my coaching business during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, it has been challenging to grow my business at the pace I desired. I’ve learnt to let go and trust that God will provide my venture as I believe that He has set this purpose in my heart. I’ve been having health issues and strains in family relationships. On the flip side, my children have grown more independent and matured in their thinking. I miss my parents and have not seen them for almost a year now as they live across the border from me.
What am I looking forward to in 2021? First item on my agenda is to visit my parents as soon as border controls are lifted. The second thing is to take a long and well deserved family vacation. Thirdly, continue to improve myself as a coach to serve my clients better and create a positive impact, one person at a time!
What about you? What are you excited about in 2021?
If you are feeling lost and do not have a clear direction on what you want in your life, here are some tips on how to find and live your ikigai.
The term ikigai is a combination of the Japanese words ikiru, meaning “to live” and kai, meaning “the realization of what one hopes for” can be understood as a reason for being, or that which makes life worth living. The diagram below provides an overview of the four ingredients of ikigai.
1) You love it
What are the things that you really enjoy doing in your life? It can be something of a personal interest or hobby. It can also be activities that you do that bring you joy.
What do you never get bored of?
What were you doing when you last lost track of time?
What makes you smile?
If you didn’t have to worry about money, what would you do?
2) The world needs it
Don’t think about addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, famine, war or other global issues. Think about what your family, friends and immediate community need. Is it a particular product or service?
How do you normally help others?
What can you teach others?
What problems in your society that you would like to help solve?
What would you like to see people do more of or differently?
3) You are paid for it
Consider your previous and current jobs. What skills do you possess to carry out your responsibilities under these jobs?
What types of jobs spark your interest?
What would you be doing if you are not in your current job?
Can doing what you love provide you with a good income?
4) You are great at it
Think about your skills and strengths and all the things that you are good at. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small skills or talents. Remember these attributes are what makes you uniquely you!
What do people often approach you for help with?
What skills do you list on your resume?
What activities or skills have you devoted over 100 hours to learn and practise?
What skills or talents come naturally to you?
“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”
- Oprah Winfrey, American television
personality
How do we put all your answers together to find your ikigai?
What you love + What you are great at = Your passion
If any of your answers to what you love also appears as answers to what you are great at, that is your passion. However, you may feel that you are not contributing enough to the world and that you may not earn a livelihood from living out your passions.
What you love + What the world needs = Your mission
When your answers to what you love come up in your responses for what the world needs, you have found your mission. Again, you may feel that your mission may not be able to provide you with a sustainable income.
What you are paid for + What the world needs = Your vocation
When there is an overlap between what you are paid for and what the world needs, this is your vocation. However, it may cause you some anxiety if this vocation requires skills that you don’t currently possess. You could also feel empty as the vocation is not something you enjoy doing.
What you are great at + What you are paid for = Your profession
You are comfortable in your profession because you have the skills to make it work and you are earning a decent income from it. However, your profession may be something you don’t love and that your world doesn’t need.
Your ikigai lies in the domain where your passion, mission, vocation and profession are all aligned in the centre of the circle. The reality is a lot of us are in good professions or vocations but we feel that we have sacrificed our passions and mission for it.
It will take more self-reflection and deliberation to discover your ikigai. I hope this post will spark your desire to find it in the coming two months as we see 2020 come to a close. If you would like support from me as your coach to work on finding your ikigai, please contact me here! I would be honoured to be your travelling partner in your journey to reclaim your ikigai!