How I found my Ikigai?
After aimlessly roaming about and doing the regular stuff, I came across this book called Ikigai. I had heard its name, but always put it aside as being another ‘Motivational Gimic’.
Once while scrolling through m list of read books, I thoguht well let’s give this a try too.
I started reading the book Ikigai, and it changed me compleltely.
Ikigai
A master book that provides you insight into some of the best technqiues and tricks on how to stay happy and live a long life. Well it isn’t something we all know, but it is always good to know the reality with good examples.
Ikigai: The Secret to Happy and Long Life
How I found my Ikigai?
Since i was a kid i wrote poems about anything and everythign. Whether it is a new book I received, or a new crush, my parents or some distant relative. I had a poem ready for all. Even while studying in school, I would have poems written at the back side of my notebooks.
But as I grew, my words remained mere ink stains on my books and i completely forgot about it. Then college happened, I got a job and from a girl of words, I became a mechanical engineer.
When Iread Ikigai, it got me thinking what is it that I love the most. After careful thinking for a whole week, and striking down multiple options, I knew the answer.
Dancing
Writing
I knew this love was not even close to what I was doing right now. So what next? I talked to my family, friends, they all thought i was just being naive.
My Love for writing
Then i met an acquaintance, now my husband, who heard all my stories and inspired me to start writing. He asked me to make an account on Quora and start writing.
After two years of writing, I started my first website called anadipahadi. After an year i felt that the name did not resonate with my personality, so I bought another domain called www.braincuddle.com.
I also started writing on Medium. Though I was not regular, I still tried my level best to make the most out of these platforms.
My Love for dancing
As for mylove for dancing, I started learning through Youtube. I also joined the cult fit dance fitness session, that not only helped in dance my heart out, but also kept me fit.
Next I am planning to learn shuffling and become a pro someday.
So why is Ikigai important?
In me personal experience, Ikigai not only keep you happy, but it helps
- Create your ideal work environment.
- At work, make strong social relationships.
- Strike a good work-life balance.
- Pursue your professional goals.
- Take pleasure in your task.
Steps to Finding Your Ikigai
1. Know what you love?
If you’re currently employed, ask yourself :
Are you completely engrossed in your work?
Do you look forward to going to work more than you do to leaving it?
Do you have an emotional attachment to the outcomes of your work?
If you have a hobby or a craft, ask:
Do you have a favourite pastime or craft that you can’t get enough of?
Is your hobby or craft more exciting to you than anything else?
Do you have an emotional attachment to your hobby or craft?
2. Brainstorm Your Passion
Spend some time imagining your perfect day from beginning to end. This, believe it or not, will assist you in determining your ikigai and genuine meaning. What do you have on? Who are you conversing with? What exactly are you up to? Pay attention to your emotions. What does it take to make you happy at work?
Make a note of it when you’re done visualising (or write it down as you’re visualising).
3. Study
You now have a mental image of what your dream weekday would look like. Now is the time to think about studying, researching, enrolling in classes, or engaging a coach or mentor. This stage can assist you in determining whether your vision corresponds to your real-life expectations.
For example, perhaps you wish to work as a wedding photographer. However, after working as a mentor for a professional wedding photographer, you realise it isn’t for you.
Or perhaps you wanted to sell vintage clothing but realised after researching the process that you didn’t want to deal with so much inventory.
Congratulations, you’ve identified your ikigai if you go through this process and discover that your vision matches your real-life expectations. Continue to the following section to learn how to put it together.
4. Embrace Your Ikigai
Step 1: Create Small Goals
Use your ideas to develop concrete annual goals now that you’ve brainstormed some viable solutions.
Create tiny monthly goals to help you achieve your annual goals after you’ve written them down. Take one small step at a time until you achieve your long-term aim.
Step 2. Plan it out
Then, using your monthly goals as a starting point, make weekly (or even daily) goals.
Now that you have a list of long-term and short-term goals, use a chart, calendar, or notebook to organise them.
It doesn’t matter what you use as long as you have a designated location for your plans that you can access frequently.
If you lose one of your plans, make a digital and a paper copy. Keep the paper copy somewhere accessible, such as on your office bulletin board or pinned to your bathroom mirror.
Step 3. Create a support system
When it comes to figuring out what you want to do with your life, having a support system is crucial.
Reach out to friends, spouse, colleagues or teachers, and other professionals who have achieved comparable goals to form a support system. In this digital age you can also join hands with others who are pursuing the same aim.
Develop relationships, network, and take advantage of your support system as much as possible.
Step 4. Test it out
Now that you’ve have a strategy, it’s time to put it to the test. Are you on track to meet your short- and long-term objectives? Is there anything on your mind? What exactly is going on?
Are you able to say “yes” to all of the questions in step 1 right now? If not, it’s time to rethink your objectives and strategy.
Conclusion
It is extremely important to find your Ikigai and work towards it whole heartedly. As humans our greatest fear is not failure, but actually achieving what we want to do. So stay focussed and learn to be the best at what you want.
Know about the Boy Whose Head was filled with stars.
