006-Do you know your ikigai?

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Have you ever heard of the term "ikigai"? I hadn't heard it until recently and I am so intrigued by it. But it makes total sense. It's a Japanese concept that translates into "a reason for being" or "a reason to wake up in the morning." The idea behind ikigai is that everyone has a unique purpose in life, and finding that purpose can lead to a fulfilling and happy life. The concepts of passion, mission, profession, and vocation are related and they can help you find your own ikigai.

I have struggled with this most of my adult {professional} life. Here's a short list of the careers/jobs/businesses I've had.... lending intern, bank credit analyst, assistant to bank controller, fuel company accounting assistant, bookkeeping business owner, ranch business CFO, MLM associate, professional photographer, real estate salesperson, real estate broker, construction scheduling manager, property manager and now lifestyle blogger. Whew! My family likes to tease me about how I have changed careers a lot in the 25-ish years that I've been working.

Passion is something that you love to do, something that gives you energy and makes you feel alive. It's a driving force that motivates you to pursue your goals and dreams. Mission is a higher purpose or calling that you feel compelled to pursue. It's something that goes beyond your own personal desires and makes a positive impact on the world around you.

Profession and vocation are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. Your profession is the job or career that you choose to pursue, while your vocation is your true calling or the work that you were meant to do.

So how do these concepts relate to ikigai? The idea is that when you find the intersection between your passion, mission, profession, and vocation, you'll find your ikigai. This means that you'll be doing something that you love, something that has a positive impact on the world, something that you're good at, and something that you were meant to do.

Finding your ikigai isn't always easy (I think I am the perfect example of this), but it's worth the effort. When you're living your ikigai, you'll feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment that can't be found in anything else. You'll wake up every day excited to pursue your goals and make a difference in the world. It's probably no surprise but this- ikigai- is why I started this blog.... to share what I've learned over the years and how I am still on my path find my true ikigai.

So how do you find your ikigai? Here are a few steps to get you started:

1. Passions: What do you love to do? What gives you energy and makes you feel alive?

2. Mission: What do you care about? What positive impact do you want to make on the world?

3. Profession: What skills do you have? What job or career would allow you to use those skills and pursue your passions and mission?

4. Vocation: What work were you meant to do? What is your true calling? Think about your natural talents and abilities and how you can use them to make a difference in the world.

5. What's the intersection between these four things? Look for the overlap between your passion, mission, profession, and vocation. This is where you'll find your ikigai.

Remember, finding your ikigai is a marathon, not a sprint, as they say. It takes time and effort, but it's worth it. When you're living your ikigai, you'll feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment that can't be found in anything else. So start exploring your passions, mission, profession, and vocation today and see where your journey takes you! If you've discovered your own ikigai, I'd love to hear about it. Make yourself proud!