When I first heard about purpose as a principle that helps guide our path forward, it was strictly in reference to brand building.
I had been working in marketing and advertising for years, and a select few of us in the business had begun to realize that a brand’s reason for being has to be more meaningful than just to sell more of its products or services.
After all, brands and businesses have power and influence, both of which can help to drive real impact on our lives and the world around us. By focusing on purpose, not only can they sell more, but they can ultimately take steps today to help in building a better tomorrow.
Purpose applies to each of us as well – and in a fundamental way. It can help to drive a sense of meaning and reason for being as we navigate our own careers and lives. The Japanese concept of Ikigai expresses this more clearly than anything I’ve seen.
Ikigai reflects the intersection of our passion, vocation, mission, and profession. It weaves together the best of multiple areas that affect our lives into a cohesive view to shape our direction. This direction is based on interconnected concepts to make it easier to determine a destination and pave the path to reach that destination.
How can you use Ikigai to help in finding meaning for yourself? How can you use this as your guiding principle to propel you forward? Here are the key steps to consider.
Unleash what you love
We all have activities that we enjoy doing and that give us energy to stay motivated. Our passions allow us to keep moving forward and release stress to drive recovery for our minds and bodies. What are you passionate about? What do you love doing?
Understand where you excel
We all have strengths – key areas where we naturally excel, whether it’s in our day-to-day work or personal projects. We often find that where we excel is where it’s easier to sustain our energy and remain focused. What’s your vocation? What skills do you have that you can apply?
Unearth what the world needs
We all play a role in the world around us. We have the choice – and the responsibility – to make things better for our communities and for ourselves. We can achieve a mission driven by what the world needs. What is your mission? What’s the role you’ll play in the world around you?
Unlock what you can get paid to do
We all come from different backgrounds and can bring our lived experiences to the work we do. Our work can help us to live the life we’d like to lead – and in today’s world, there are more options than ever before. What is your profession? What can you get paid to do that aligns best in your own life?
Aligning these four areas of our lives can make a meaningful impact for us, along with for those around us. It can reduce the stress we feel in our lives and careers, and it can be a tangible step toward avoiding burnout. Finding a sense of purpose by applying the Ikigai principles can aid in driving our own sense of joy, motivation, and overall health and wellbeing, which benefits both our communities and each of us as individuals.
