Where Passion Meets Purpose
About a year ago, I heard a term for the first time that I had never heard before, which had a meaning unlike any I had previously understood. Ikigai, in case you’re wondering I said icky guy, I did not. Ikigai is a Japanese term that basically means the sum of small joys in everyday life results in a more fulfilling life as a whole. It basically means your passion and your mission, it is both what you are good at and what the world needs. In 2017, the BBC published an article on it that was eye-opening.
I’ll highlight the points that stood out to me.
Japan has some of the longest-living citizens in the world 87 women, and 81 men. Could ikigai contribute to that?
Older people are celebrated, and they feel obligated to pass on their wisdom to younger generations. This gives them a purpose in life outside of themselves and service to their community.
How does one find their Ikigai?
Dan Buettner, author of Blue Zones: Lessons on Living from the People who’ve Lived the Longest, catchy title. Dan says folks should make 3 lists to find their Ikigai, their values, things they like to do, and things they are good at. The cross-section of these three lists is your ikigai.
But knowing your ikigai is not enough, simply put, you need an outlet. Ikigai is purpose in action.
How do we find our purpose?
Psalm 57:2 “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills my purpose for me.“
There are tons of Mastermind courses and life coaches and retreats and seminars that we could attend that promise to reveal to us our purpose, but the honesty of God’s truth is our purpose is the fulfillment of our God-giving gift within us.
A blog from Cornerstone University gives 6 ways to regain or find your purpose.
Go to God in prayer.
James 1:5- If any of you likes wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him or her.
Dig into God’s word
Psalm 119:105- your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. God’s word brings light to pass it otherwise seems dark.
Determine your gifts and strengths.
God is giving you very specific gifts, so more than likely God’s purpose for you probably involves the things you’re already good at. Determine your passions. Determining your passions often helps you figure out what God has called you to do. It’s often said that God works at the intersection of our gifts and our passions.
Bring others into your life.
Proverbs 11:14 where there is no guidance, of people fall, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety. It may be that one of the ways God will help you find your purpose is through others.
Take a solitude retreat
Sometimes it can be incredibly helpful to get away from the normal and take unhurried time to think, pray, and journal.
Hebrews 11:6-god rewards those who seek him. He is not hiding in the dark trying to keep his will hidden from you. He wants to guide you.
So the question is not how do I find my purpose, but how do I utilize the gifts that God has given me in a way that impacts the world?
What are some of the ways that you’ve tried to utilize your gift to make an impact in the world?
In what ways have you put your purpose into action?
What are some small steps that you can take in hopes of stepping closer to your purpose or your ikigai?
The CEO of a Japanese recruiting firm when interviewed said “if you want to start a company but you are scared to dive into the unknown, go and see someone who’s already doing something similar to what you have in mind. Seeing your plans in action, it will give you confidence that you can do it too.
The icky guy is not just about you feeling good at the end of the day but it’s about feeling your work makes a difference in people’s lives.
The goal in life is not to automatically reach the end, instead, it’s to stop and appreciate the journey. As you learn to appreciate the road markers you’ll stop concerning yourself with the destination. Let’s start small to play big.
So a year ago at a work retreat, they had us do this activity where we were to find our sentence. It was who we Are, what we do, and the impact we’d like to have. So I created two sentences that are both applicable.
The first one is I am a god-fearing mama who teaches and builds community through service.
The second one is I am a servant of God who works to establish his kingdom on Earth through creativity and community.
And when I wrote this my father was nearby and he challenged me to change the beginning part to I am a child of God who works to establish his kingdom on Earth through creativity and community.
Take a moment and write down your sentence. Start with who you are, I am, and use adverbs that describe you. A mother, daughter, teacher, doctor, businesswoman, and entrepreneur. The second part of your sentence needs to be what you do, not what you hope to become or may become one day but at this moment who you are. The third part of the sentence is what you believe you were called to do. What is your gift, what are you talented at, what are you good at, and what do you think you’re calling is? And once you put those three pieces together you have your sentence. This sentence should guide you and hopefully inflate yourself as you move forward in life and draw closer to fulfilling your ikigai.
Brief Bio: Jori O’Neale is a 3 time-published author, ordained Minister, bible teacher, and the CEO of IYH Innertainment LLC, a faith-based entertainment company. She is the wife to one amazing husband, mother to four miraculous children, and teacher to hundreds of NYC youth. Check out her podcast “30 Minutes of Power”, a podcast dedicated to motivating and inspiring godly women to pursue their passions. Follow her @jorioneale on all socials and for more great content check out her author’s page on Amazon.
