Living Your Ikigai: How to Find Balance and Fulfillment

I discovered the concept of ikigai when I was living in Japan, and it struck me to the point where I wanted to write about how to live according to one's own ikigai. Finding your own ikigai is the secret to a fulfilling and happy life, but once you've identified it, how do you live it?

The first thing to do is to make conscious choices. Every time you have to make a decision, ask yourself if that choice aligns with your ikigai. If the answer is no, you should probably look for another solution. This will help you live according to your purpose and avoid getting lost in activities that don't move you forward.

The second thing to consider is finding balance. Living according to your own ikigai may require a change in your lifestyle, but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice everything else. Try to balance the various aspects of your life, such as family, friends, work, and hobbies. This way, you'll be able to live according to your ikigai without neglecting other important aspects of your life.

Finally, be grateful for what you have. Focus on what really matters and appreciate the little things in life. This will help you maintain the right perspective and stay motivated in pursuing your ikigai.

Exercise: Make a list of activities that bring you joy and give you a sense of accomplishment. Then, evaluate each activity and ask yourself if it aligns with your ikigai. If the answer is yes, try to do these activities more often in your daily life. If the answer is no, ask yourself why you enjoy doing that activity and if there are ways to modify it to align it with your ikigai.

For example, if you enjoy volunteering, ask yourself if the type of volunteering you do aligns with your ikigai. If the answer is yes, try to do more of this type of volunteering. If the answer is no, ask yourself why you enjoy volunteering and if there are ways to modify the type of volunteering to align it with your ikigai.

This exercise will help you identify the activities that bring you joy while also helping you live according to your ikigai. It will also help you reflect on the activities you do in your daily life and understand if they align with your ikigai. This way, you can make more?conscious choices?and live a more?meaningful life.

Living according to your own ikigai can bring many benefits to your life. It will give you a purpose, a direction, and a motivation to get up every morning. You may also discover that your ikigai can change over time, and that's normal. What's important is that you seek it out and follow it, giving yourself a rich and happy life.