The first component of your Ikigai is identifying what you truly love.
This is an exploration of your passions, interests, and pursuits that genuinely excite you.
There are no rules around what you put here.
They could be anything from painting, designing software, traveling or cooking.
The only requirement is that these activities captivate your attention, make time disappear, and fill your heart with joy.
More than just hobbies, these are things that you would do even without getting paid or recognized for.
The second element of your Ikigai is to think about what you believe the world needs.
This is where you look outside yourself and consider the larger societal needs.
This could include the environment, social justice, mental health awareness, technological advancement, and more.
But don’t just put “world peace.”
The idea here is to brainstorm from a perspective of your strengths, skills and passions.
You don’t have to come up with a “perfect answer,” the goal is to simply start putting to paper the various needs in the world.
Ultimately we’ll look to find the intersection of how what you love can help serve a bigger purpose.
The third component is determining what you can be paid for.
This is about identifying the skills, talents, and expertise that others value and are willing to pay for.
Don’t be afraid to get creative, as we’re trying to think outside the box.