Questions to help you find your Ikigai
The Japanese concept of Ikigai is about knowing your purpose in life, your reason for living and why you feel satisfied and fulfilled. Ikigai is a great concept for those looking to change their careers so that they are more fulfilled, less frustrated.
There are 4 circles of Ikigai:
What you love to do (love)
What you are good at (skills)
What the world needs (needs)
What you can be paid for (money)
Where two circles overlap, you find things like passion or mission. Where they all overlap is your Ikigai. It's doing something you're good at, that you love, which the world needs and which satisfies your financial need. It may be that you can't get to that centre (right now) because you need to up skill or find a job that allows you to do what you love. But more fundamentally, it may be that you have not found your Ikigai. Here are some questions to help you with that.
LOVE
What do you enjoy doing so much you lose track of time?
What do you do in your spare time?
What do you wish you did more of?
Skills
What are your skills and strengths?
What are the words you like to use to describe yourself?
What is your area of expertise that people turn to you for?
Needs
What inspires you?
What makes you passionate/annoyed/indignant?
What one thing about the world would you change if you had the power?
Money
What service or product could you sell?
What job could you do?
How could you change your current job?
Even if you can't find your Ikigai right away, keep thinking about this concept. There are opportunities out there for you to find yours, but only if you keep looking.