What Is Ikigai and Why Does It Matter?
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that translates loosely to "reason for being" or “life purpose.” It represents the intersection of four key elements:
What you love
What you're good at
What the world needs
What you can be rewarded for
When all four align, you’ve found your Ikigai—the thing that makes life deeply fulfilling and purposeful. It’s not just about career or income; it’s about a way of being that brings daily joy and meaning.
Image from Freepik
Tim Tamashiro, author of How to Ikigai, explains it this way:
“Ikigai isn’t just about what you get paid for—it’s about what you’re rewarded for, and that can come in many forms, not just money.”
Finding your Ikigai helps you live with intention. It gives you clarity about where to invest your energy and how to navigate challenges with a sense of purpose.
Many Ways to Discover Your Superpower
There are many ways to discover your unique superpower, and the Superpower Quest is just one of them. Other tools like the Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, and CliftonStrengths offer valuable insights into different aspects of your personality and strengths. The key is to find the framework that resonates most with you. That’s why I highlight other approaches like Ikigai—to give you the best possible options for uncovering what truly works for you.
Meet Tim Tamashiro: A Life of Joy and Purpose
Tim’s journey to discovering his own Ikigai has been anything but ordinary. Raised in a small Canadian town, he realized early on that he wanted to do something meaningful with his life. But it wasn’t until his twenties that he had his breakthrough moment.
“I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if it was possible to live a life doing what I love. And then I thought—no, it’s not just possible, it’s necessary.”
That realization led him to study music, work as a professional singer, host a CBC radio show, and even spend time as a Buddhist monk. Each experience added a layer to his Ikigai, which he ultimately named: to delight.
“My Ikigai is to delight. That means bringing light into people’s lives—whether through music, speaking, or even just a kind word at the grocery store.”
How Ikigai Helps You Discover Your Superpower
If you’ve been on the Superpower Quest, you already know that finding your unique gifts is the key to fulfillment. Ikigai is a perfect tool for that discovery. It doesn’t box you into a personality type; instead, it invites you to explore freely.
Johnny describes his experience of Ikigai as an open-ended journey:
“Ikigai is more like an essay question than a multiple-choice test. It’s a process of self-discovery.”
For me, my Ikigai is to enhance others. A huge contributor to this realization was a profound experience in college. A poetry teacher challenged me to write something real, something from my heart. When I read it aloud and saw tears in my teacher’s eyes, it hit me—
“If my words can move people, I want to spend my life doing that.”
The Power of Naming Your Ikigai
One of the most valuable exercises in How to Ikigai is naming your Ikigai in two words. Tamashiro explains:
“When you name it, you know which way to point your feet every morning. You don’t have to overthink it—you just live it.”
He suggests an Ikigai interview with a close friend:
Ask them what they see as your biggest strengths.
Reflect on what activities bring you the most joy.
Consider where those things align with making a difference in the world.
Once you identify your Ikigai, it becomes your compass. It’s not a rigid career path—it’s a way of living.
The Beauty of Letting Go
A key lesson in Tamashiro’s journey was learning to let go of past burdens. He shares a profound experience from his time as a monk:
“We were given a packet of our shaved hair and told to release it into a stream. It represented our past. As I watched it float away—sometimes getting stuck, then moving again—I realized that’s life. Flow, struggle, flow. And it reminded me: I’m in a state of flow now. Just enjoy it.”
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. It means embracing your past as part of your journey while choosing to move forward with open hands.
Final Words: Live Your Ikigai
So how do you start living your Ikigai today? Tamashiro’s advice is simple:
“Focus on the first step: do what you love. The rest will follow.”
Want to dive deeper? Check out Tim Tamashiro’s website timtamashiro.ca or his YouTube channel Tim Tamashiro Ikigai. And most importantly—take some time today to reflect on your own Ikigai. It just might change your life.
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