Tag Archives: IKIGAI

curious cat

Getting Curious…

 

“Somewhere beyond right and wrong, there’s a garden. I will meet you there” Rumi

In loving memory of CH RIP 💔🖤💔

What’s one of the best pieces of advice you have ever been given?

Mine was to find my Ikigai when I was in the process of redefining my path and kept experimenting with new business ideas.

For years, I had a deep-rooted belief that all I could do for work was the profession I was trained to do.  I had invested 25 years of my life in it after-all.

So I decided to become an explorer during which time I met a lot of people from different backgrounds.  I became a curious student again and asked lots of good questions.  I listened to the stories of many business owners at different stages of their journey.  Some were start ups, and others seasoned entrepreneurs.  Every single one had a viewpoint and a perspective worth listening to.

The new insights led to the doors of wonder being opened up in my mind where my logical left brain had dominated my outcomes up until that point.   It was time to allow the creative right brain to get a turn in determining my future path.   It was time to think differently.

I started to question my current limiting beliefs.  It was like putting new colour shades on which changed the way the world appeared!  I wondered what any of those people would do if they were in my shoes?  

I compiled a list of strengths and the traits others valued in me.  The activities I enjoyed taking part in.  I wrote a list of tasks that motivated me.  To take an audit of the things I would gladly do all day every day even if I wasn’t being paid was a useful first step for sure. 

I was determined to find something that made my heart sing.  And that’s what I now inspire and help my clients to achieve.

I present them with three questions to open the doors of wonder:

  • What would you do if you had all the time, money and resources in the world?
  • How would you choose to live if you knew you had a few months to live?
  • Who could you approach to seek different perspectives from?

I lost a dear friend yesterday.  She championed me to the end and was an inspiration.  She made everyday count because she knew the end was near.  What would you do differently if you knew the end was near?

Let’s remember.  You only get one life.  Why not live it on your terms.  How can you  get the life you wish for?

Reach out and let’s have a chat

“Find Your IKIGAI…”

 

“Find Your IKIGAI…”

That’s what I kept being reminded by my mentor during our 1-2-1 sessions.  Back when I was trying to find a new path in the exciting playground of business ownership.  I wanted to be in charge of my own destiny and gain the work life balance I wanted.

I had met him years ago during my “explorer” years.  He’d been a part of my journey of Personal Revolution from the early days.  I presented new business ideas to him every time we met; usually once every six months or so when I visited yet another business show.

So, what is this IKIGAI my mentor kept asking me to find? According to the fountain of all knowledge, aka Wikipedia:

“IKIGAI is a Japanese concept that means a reason for being. The word IKIGAIis usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means, things that you live for or the reason for which you wake up in the morning”

My quest to find a new vocation was to gain personal freedom.  To spend quality time with my son during his long school holidays.  To return some much needed passion and vitality back into my life. 

I had spent a quarter of a century in a career that had been rewarding for many years, but had recently plateaued.  It wasn’t leaving me fulfilled anymore (I can’t believe I’m that old!).  The aspects of the job I had most loved were training and mentoring students and young professionals.  

I had all the essential ingredients for a start-up business owner.  I was passionate, resilient, determined and open minded about all opportunities that presented themselves to me.  I knew my strength was in building human connections and I adored investing in my personal development.  

I’d been a fan of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and a follower of Tony Robins since the early 90s, and I was passionate about helping people achieve the best version of themselves.  So when an opportunity presented itself to obtain a diploma in NLP and coaching, I didn’t hesitate.  I knew I’d have the best tools to help people in realising their own journeys of personal revolution.

 

 

I love how Tim Tamashiro likens IKIGAI to a “treasure map with four directions” in his TEDx talk. It’s basically a cross section of 4 simple questions:

  • What you LOVE doing

  • What you’re GOOD at doing

  • What the WORLD NEEDS

  • What you can get PAID FOR

It’s more about finding a vocation that yields results than finding a job that pays the mortgage.  It’s about fulfilling your heart’s desires.  Your life’s purpose and discovering a more meaningful you, where you do the things that really matter to you.  It’s about feeling useful and therefore having a reason to live for.

One interesting fact I came across in my research was that there are more centurions in Okinawa where the concept of IKIGAI stemmed from, than anywhere else in the world.  That’s partly due to their diet, and partly due to the fact that they have a sense of purpose in their lives.  A feeling of being valuable in society due to their adopted roles and responsibilities.

Do you want to know something interesting?  It just happens that I was looking for my IKIGAI when I became an explorer and started my wonderful journey of Personal Revolution.  Except I didn’t yet know that the Japanese had summed it up with this one beautiful word… IKIGAI.  

Have you started the search for your IKIGAI and your own Personal Revolution? If not, what are you waiting for? Call me and let’s start exploring what your life’s purpose is and how to get you there… ✨✨✨

 

Love and strong coffee

Vafa