What is Ikigai? Meaning, Concept And How to Find Your Ikigai

Ikigai Meaning

Everyone wants a meaningful and flourishing life. We all want to wake up with a purpose and feel fulfilled at the end of the day. But how? This is where Ikigai comes in. But what is Ikigai? UEF brings you all you need to know about Ikigi — meaning, concepts and how to find your Ikigai.

What is Ikigai: Meaning of Ikigai

Ikigai (ee-key-guy) is a Japanese concept. “Iki” means life, and “gai” means worth. Together, it means life’s worth or reason for being — the reason you get up every morning.

Ikigai Means

Ikigai is what makes your life meaningful. It is about finding joy and fulfilment in the daily act of living. The meaning of ikigai lies at the intersection of four elements

What you love
What you are good at
What the world needs
What you can be paid for

How To Find Your Ikigai: Ikigai Examples

Finding your Ikigai is not a one-time activity. It is a continuous process. Many of you may now have this question in mind: “How to find my Ikigai?”. Here is a step-by-step way to start finding your Ikigai.

1. Understand the Four Elements of Ikigai

The first step to finding your Ikigai is to understand its four core elements. Collect your thoughts and break them into four categories.

What you love doing

What you are naturally good at

What the world needs

What you can earn a living from

2. Self-Reflection & Exploration

The next step is self-exploration and reflection. Sit with your thoughts again and ask yourself questions that can make you understand things more clearly and deepen your spiritual awareness. Ask questions like” What activities make me lose track of time?” or “When do I feel most alive?”. Note down the answers.

3. Find the Overlapping Points

Once your self-reflection and exploration are done, write them across the four areas and observe where they meet. That is where your Ikigai starts forming. It can be many small things or one large goal.

4. Experiment & Take Action

It is not easy to find Ikigai only by thinking. You will need to try different things. Explore hobbies, talk to people, create side-projects, switch roles. You can gain more clarity by doing different things and testing your interests.

5. Live Your Ikigai Daily

Ikigai is not a goal but a daily habit. You need to do it again and again. Make Ikigai a part of your everyday choices. For some, daily rituals, traditional or religious wear, become anchors that help them align with inner values.

10 Concepts and Methods Of Ikigai

Here are some techniques and methods to help you refine your Ikigai further and apply it practically.

1. What You Love (Passion)

Note down your passion. What activity brings you joy without expecting any external rewards or recognition? Music? Cooking Gardening? This passion is your symbolic fire that lights up your spirit. Whatever it is, note it down.

2. What You Are Good At (Vocation)

What are you good at? What comes easily and naturally to you than others? What do people often ask for your help with? The answers will show what you are good at.

3. What the World Needs (Mission)

What mission do you feel connected to? It could be a social cause, a community need or something that can impact the society that you feel connected to.

4. What You Can Be Paid For (Profession)

Ikigai is about aligning your work with purpose. Find out income paths that match your interests and skills.

5. Self-Reflection Exercise

You can keep a journal about moments that you felt were meaningful. This will help you track where your energy naturally flows.

6. The Venn Diagram Method

This is the classic Ikigai technique that helps you visualize the overlapping points. Map out all the four elements and find out patterns.

7. The 5-Why Method

The 5 Whys method is a problem-solving method developed by Sakichi Toyoda. As per him, “by repeating why five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear.” With this ikigai method, keep asking “why,” and you will get closer to the root of your purpose.

8. Experimentation & Feedback

Try new tasks or roles. Ask people for honest feedback about your strong points and how you have made a difference.

9. The 3-Action Rule

Align your actions with your findings. Every week, take 3 actions that align with your Ikigai. It can be learning something new or even helping someone. Do what makes you feel fulfilled.

10. Self-discovery and growth

Growth is a key part of ikigai. Your ikigai and purpose may shift over time. Be open to changes and evolution. Let go of any false narrative that tells you your purpose must stay the same forever.

Books On Ikigai

If you’re curious about Ikigai’s meaning, then you can start with the international bestseller

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. – It will help you explore what Ikigai means through the lens of Japanese centenarians and how they live with purpose.

Other great titles include

Ikigai for Leaders and Organisations

The Little Book of Ikigai – Deeper dives into practical tools.

Moreover, they provide examples of how people apply Ikigai in daily life. When you pick these books, they help you understand how to define Ikigai, uncover your personal “reason for being”, and discover real-life Ikigai examples that feel relatable.

Conclusion

Your Ikigai is within you, just waiting to be found. It is the spark that brings meaning to your daily life. The more you reflect on your inner calling, the more you live in clarity and calm. Ikigai is a daily practice. Keep revisiting it and reflecting on it often. Like a cosmic tree, it keeps growing, rooted in purpose. Explore our Ikigai online reading to stay inspired.

If you are someone who wants to help your child grow with a sense of purpose and balance, our flourishing child program is designed for it. A purposeful life begins in childhood.

Ikigai Quotes To Be Inspired By

Are you looking for compact nuggets of wisdom? Well then, here are a few Ikigai quotes to spark your reflection:

“When you have a clear purpose, no one can stop you.” — Héctor García.
“A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell on the future.” — Héctor García.

These quotes highlight one key part of what Ikigai means: living with intention. In the present, there is an alignment between what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Frequently Asked Questions on Ikigai

1. How do I identify my ikigai?

Reflect on your thoughts and find what your passions and talents are, what the world needs and what you can do for a living. Use the Venn diagram technique to identify your Ikigai.

2. What are the 7 rules of Ikigai?

The 7 rules of Ikigai are: Stay active, do not rush, eat mindfully, surround yourself with good people, smile, reconnect with nature and live in the present.

3. How do I find my purpose, ikigai?

Find your purpose or Ikigai through exploration and reflection. Align your daily life with your inner values.

4. What is an example of ikagai in real life?

An Ikigai example in real life would be someone who loves guiding children and is skilled in communication, working in under-resourced areas and earning a living from teaching. They are living their Ikigai.

5. Is the concept of Ikigai the same as passion?

Not quite. While your passion is certainly a part of it, but what Ikigai means goes deeper: it’s about the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. So, yes, passion plays a role, but Ikigai isn’t just a hobby you enjoy. Rather, it’s your reason for being, your purpose. Passion might fuel Ikigai, but Ikigai is more holistic.

6. What is the exact translation of Ikigai?

In Japanese, the word is composed of “iki” (life) and “gai” (worth). So, the exact translation of Ikigai would be “a reason for living” or “the worth of one’s life.” It captures not just doing something you love, but doing something meaningful that gives your life value.

7. How to pronounce Ikigai?

It’s pronounced “ee-key-guy” (ee-kih-guy). Many readers feel that saying the word slowly and evenly helps them remember its rhythm: how to pronounce Ikigai becomes part of the experience of exploring it.

What Is Ikigai & How To Find Your Ikigai