Discovering Ikigai: A Journey to Your Purpose, Part 3
As we journey through Ikigai, we arrive at the third essential element: What the World Needs. Part 1 began with exploring the Ikigai meaning for your life and Part 2 showed how to use the Ikigai diagram to discover what you’re good at. As we further explore the Ikigai Venn Diagram, the next step shifts the focus outward, exploring how your unique passions and talents can address the world’s deepest needs.
The world cries out for healing, love, compassion, and integrity. It needs people who can step into the light, resist the allure of the shadow, and inspire others to do the same. Let’s dive into what this means and how it relates to your purpose.
Understanding the Ikigai Venn Diagram
As a reminder, the Ikigai Venn diagram is a visual representation that helps individuals identify their purpose by finding the overlap between four essential areas – what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.At the core of this diagram lies one’s Ikigai, or reason for being.This concept encourages a harmonious balance between personal satisfaction and societal contribution.
The Importance of “What the World Needs” in the Ikigai Venn Diagram
The segment labeled “What the World Needs” emphasizes the significance of aligning personal passions and skills with the demands and necessities of the broader community.This alignment ensures that one’s pursuits not only bring personal fulfillment but also contribute positively to the world.
Addressing “What the World Needs” involves identifying areas where your talents and passions can meet societal challenges or gaps.This could range from addressing environmental issues to providing essential services in underserved communities.Integrating this element into your life ensures that your actions resonate beyond personal satisfaction, fostering a sense of connection and responsibility to the world around you.
What Does the World Need?
The world needs healing. It needs people willing to show the way of the light—not the shadow. The shadow is powerful, seductive, and mysterious, offering countless answers to justify taking the easy path. But the light, with its singular and unwavering call to integrity, is what the world truly needs.
Here’s an example from my own life:
I once went shopping at Marshall’s and bought a few items. When I got home and opened the bags, I realized they hadn’t charged me for a pair of Michael Kors slacks. The shadow immediately spoke to me in four different ways:
Score! You’ve got some free pants!
You worked hard, so you deserve them.
It’s not your fault they don’t train their employees properly.
The company is so big they won’t miss a $75 item.
But the light in me SCREAMED:
“Put those pants back in the bag, take them back to Marshall’s, stand in line, and pay for them.”
And that’s precisely what I did. I worked too hard to step into the light; I wasn’t about to throw it all away for a pair of pants.
A similar situation happened while grocery shopping. It was pouring rain, and I had five heavy bags. When I loaded them into my trunk, I noticed a tube of toothpaste left in the cart. The shadow tried to tempt me again: “It’s not even worth it. The toothpaste is $3. Just throw it in with your other groceries.”
But I didn’t. I went back into the store and paid for it.
These moments may seem small, but they’re significant. They’re about choosing the light over the shadow, integrity over convenience. And this is what the world desperately needs—people with the courage to resist the pull of the shadow and inspire others to do the same.
Reflecting on “What the World Needs” Within the Ikigai Venn Diagram
To effectively incorporate “What the World Needs” into your personal Ikigai Venn diagram, consider the following reflective questions:
What do you believe the world is lacking most right now?
How can your unique passions and talents address those needs?
Think of a time when you chose to act with integrity. How did it impact you and those around you?
Who inspires you to stay in the light, and how can you emulate their example?
How can you use your voice and actions to inspire positive change?
Asking yourself these questions will help you identify how your personal attributes can align with what the world needs, giving you a greater sense of purpose.
My Personal Insights
For me, personally, I see the world’s greatest need as healing. People need love, compassion, and a way to step into the light. I’ve seen firsthand how easily the shadow can pull us in with promises of power, greed, or even convenience. But I’ve also seen the incredible transformations when someone chooses the light instead. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
Integrating “What the World Needs” into Your Ikigai
Aligning your passions and skills with societal needs can lead to a more fulfilling and impactful life.For instance, if you are passionate about education and possess strong communication skills, you might find purpose in teaching or mentoring.By doing so, you address the societal need for education while engaging in work that you love and excel at.
A practical exercise to begin connecting your purpose with the world’s needs might include –
Identify a Need:
Reflect on what you believe the world is missing. Is it love, compassion, honesty, or something else?
Find Your Contribution:
Think about how your unique talents and passions can address this need.
For example, if the world needs healing, consider how your skills—like storytelling, coaching, or art—can inspire others to heal.
Take One Small Action:
Commit to one action today that reflects the light you want to bring to the world. It could be as simple as showing kindness, creating something beautiful, or standing up for what’s right.
Integrating “What the World Needs” into your Ikigai Venn diagram not only enhances personal satisfaction but also ensures that your efforts contribute meaningfully to the community. This is the essence of Ikigai!
The world needs your light, courage, and willingness to stand up for what’s right. By aligning your passions and talents with what the world needs, you’re discovering your Ikigai and making a profound difference.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and creating your Ikigai Venn diagram facilitates a deeper connection between personal fulfillment and societal contribution.By focusing on “What the World Needs”, you position yourself to lead a purpose-driven life that benefits both you and the broader community.
For personalized guidance on aligning your passions and skills with societal needs, consider exploring our Transformative Coaching program.At Go Within Spiritual Coaching, we are dedicated to helping individuals discover and live their true purpose. Go ahead and schedule your complimentary 1-hour Discovery call to chat about your Ikigai.
Next up: While Part 1 began with exploring the Ikigai meaning in your life and Part 2 showed how to use the Ikigai diagram to discover what you’re good at, in Part 4 we’ll explore the final element of Ikigai: What You Can Get Paid For and how it ties everything together.
Discovering Ikigai: A Journey to Your Purpose, Part 2
Finding your Ikigai is a transformative process that connects passion, skills, and purpose. In Part 1 of this blog series, we explored the meaning of Ikigai and specifically addressing what you love. A key tool in your journey to your purpose is the Ikigai diagram, which visually represents the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
What is the Ikigai Diagram?
The Ikigai diagram is a visual representation of the concept of Ikigai. It consists of four overlapping circles that help individuals identify their purpose by exploring:
✔ What you love – Your passions and interests ✔ What you are good at – Your natural talents and learned skills ✔ What the world needs – Ways you can contribute meaningfully ✔ What you can be paid for – Sustainable career or vocation
At the center of the Ikigai diagram, where these elements overlap, lies your true life purpose.
How the Ikigai Diagram Helps Identify Strengths
The Ikigai diagram helps break down the different aspects of life purpose in a structured way. By mapping out your passions, skills, and contributions, you gain a clearer understanding of your strengths and how they align with your purpose.
For many, the challenge isn’t knowing what they love, but rather understanding how to turn their skills into something meaningful and sustainable. The Ikigai diagram helps bridge that gap.
Exploring Your Strengths Through the Ikigai Diagram
To fully utilize the Ikigai diagram, start by reflecting on these questions:
What skills do you use effortlessly that others admire in you?
When someone asks for help, what will they most likely come to you for?
Are there tasks you’ve mastered that feel easy or second nature?
What accomplishments are you most proud of in your life?
What challenges have you overcome, and what strengths have helped you do so?
Mapping out your responses within the Ikigai diagram will help you see patterns and connections between your talents and purpose.
My Personal Experience with the Ikigai Diagram
When I first discovered the Ikigai diagram, I realized that my strengths in coaching, writing, and helping others shift their perspective were not just passions, but part of my greater purpose.
Some key strengths that aligned within my Ikigai diagram included:
🔹 Creating & Storytelling – I naturally communicate ideas that resonate with others. 🔹 Helping Others Gain Perspective – I assist people in seeing challenges from a new angle. 🔹 Empowering Others – I guide people toward healing and self-confidence. 🔹 Walking Through Fear – I embrace fear and use it as a catalyst for transformation.
Understanding how these strengths fit into the Ikigai diagram allowed me to refine my career path and create a life aligned with my true purpose.
Practical Exercise to Discover Your Strengths
Here’s an exercise to help you identify your skills and talents:
Create a Strengths Inventory:
Write down every skill or ability you think you have, no matter how small or insignificant it seems.
Include feedback you’ve received from friends, family, or colleagues about what they think you’re good at.
Reflect on Past Accomplishments:
List your proudest achievements and think about the skills you used to accomplish them.
Ask for Input:
Reach out to people you trust and ask them what they believe your greatest strengths are. You might be surprised by what they share.
Look for recurring themes in your inventory. These patterns often reveal your core strengths.
Aligning Your Strengths with Your Purpose
By fully engaging with the Ikigai diagram, you can begin integrating your skills and passions into a life that feels fulfilling and purpose-driven.
Discovering what you’re good at is a crucial step in the Ikigai journey. By reflecting on your strengths and abilities, you’ll uncover the tools you need to live a life of purpose and meaning. In the next post, we’ll explore how to connect these strengths to What the World Needs and create a powerful alignment between your talents and impact. In Part 3, we’ll explore the Ikigai Venn diagram in greater depth, breaking down how each overlapping section connects to different life paths.
If you’re looking for one-on-one guidance in using the Ikigai diagram to uncover your strengths and purpose, Transformative Coaching at Go Within Spiritual Coaching can help you take the next step toward a more aligned and fulfilling life. schedule a complimentary 1-hour Discovery call today.
🚀 Your purpose is waiting—start exploring it today!
Discovering Ikigai: A Journey to Your Purpose, Part 1
Finding purpose in life can be challenging, but the Ikigai meaning to your life provides a powerful framework to help you align passion, mission, vocation, and profession. If you’re ready to go deeper into self-discovery and personal transformation, Transformative Coaching can guide you through uncovering and embracing your unique purpose.
Understanding Ikigai Meaning
Ikigai (pronounced “ee-key-guy”) is a Japanese term combining “iki,” meaning “life,” and “gai,” meaning “worth” or “value.”Together, they translate to “a reason for being,” signifying the things that make life worthwhile.The Ikigai meaning encourages individuals to find joy and purpose in daily living.
The Essence of Ikigai
At its core, Ikigai represents the intersection of four fundamental elements:
What you love: Activities that bring you joy and satisfaction.
What you are good at: Skills and talents you possess.
What the world needs: Ways you can contribute to society.
What you can be paid for: Professions or vocations that provide financial support.
Finding the Ikigai meaning in your life involves identifying where these elements overlap, leading to a fulfilling and purposeful life. Download the diagram for Ikigai.
The Cultural Significance of Ikigai
In Japanese culture, the Ikigai meaning is deeply rooted in daily life.It’s not solely about grand ambitions but also appreciating the small joys that make life meaningful.This perspective fosters resilience, contentment, and a balanced lifestyle.
Preparing for Ikigai
Setting the stage for discovery is essential before diving into the details of these elements. Here are some steps to help you prepare:
Reflect on Your Identity: Your job or external roles do not define your identity. Who are you beyond your title?
Take Pleasure Seriously: Find joy in simple activities and hobbies. Often, these small moments lead to deeper passions.
Connect with Others: Engaging in what you enjoy often leads to meeting like-minded people who can inspire and support your journey.
Reflective Questions to Begin Uncovering Ikigai
As you explore the first element of Ikigai—What You Love—consider these reflective questions:
What do you never get bored with? (Do you remember loving anything as a child?)
When do you feel happiest? (What fills you with joy and fulfillment?)
What were you doing when you last lost track of time? (What activities absorb you completely?)
If you’re working: Are you excited to go to work? Do you feel emotionally connected to the results of your efforts?
If you have a hobby: Is it something you can’t get enough of? Does it bring you excitement and joy?
These questions will help you identify what truly lights you up and connects to the first pillar of your Ikigai.
My Insights
Ikigai manifests in my love of creating, learning, and helping others heal. Whether exploring new tools like Canva, coaching clients through trauma, or sharing the joy and freedom I’ve found in recovery, my Ikigai is rooted in curiosity and connection. These are the passions and talents that guide me every day.
Discovering the Ikigai meaning is a journey that begins with curiosity and reflection. Take some time to explore the questions above, and don’t rush the process. In the next post, we’ll dive deeper into the second element of Ikigai: What you are good at. Together, we’ll continue to uncover the unique purpose that makes your life worth living.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this series where we’ll explore the Ikigai diagram and take the first steps toward finding your purpose.
If you’re looking for personalized guidance in uncovering your Ikigai and living with purpose, Transformative Coaching at Go Within Spiritual Coaching can help you gain deeper self-awareness and clarity on your journey. Schedule a complimentary 1-hour Discovery call so we can chat about your journey towards embracing your Ikigai—your reason for being.
Letting go is one of the most challenging yet transformative experiences we can have in life. We often cling to control, fearing the unknown, but true peace comes when we learn to surrender. The power of letting go allows us to release resistance, trust the process, and embrace life as it unfolds.
If you’re seeking deeper personal transformation, learning to let go is an essential step. Transformative Coaching can help you navigate this journey by providing the tools and support you need to release what’s holding you back and step into a more empowered version of yourself.
Understanding the Power of Letting Go
We all encounter moments where holding on feels safer than releasing. But in reality, the power of letting go is what frees us from emotional burdens, fear, and self-imposed limitations. When we surrender, we open ourselves to new possibilities, healing, and a deeper connection with our true selves.
Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up—it means choosing faith over fear, allowing life to flow instead of forcing outcomes.
Why Is Surrender So Challenging?
As humans, we’re wired to seek security and control. We want to protect ourselves from pain and uncertainty, so we cling tightly to things we feel we can influence. Surrendering often means loosening our grip on our deeply held beliefs and releasing old patterns that no longer serve us. Letting go is intimidating because it requires us to step into the unknown, trusting that there is wisdom in the process even if we can’t see it yet.
Signs You Need to Embrace the Power of Letting Go
If you resonate with any of these, it may be time to practice the power of letting go:
You feel stuck in the past, replaying old memories or regrets.
Fear of uncertainty keeps you from moving forward.
You struggle with perfectionism and the need to control everything.
Holding onto resentment or anger is draining your energy.
Anxiety about the future is keeping you from enjoying the present.
Acknowledging these signs is the first step toward release. Letting go brings emotional freedom and a sense of inner peace.
6 Steps to Unlock the Power of Letting Go
Identify What You’re Holding Onto
The first step in surrendering is recognizing what you resist or try to control. Maybe it’s a past hurt, a challenging relationship, or a need to be perfect. Name it, bring it to your awareness, and be honest about how it’s impacting your life.
Acknowledge Your Desire for Control
Accept that the desire for control is natural. Reflect on how attempting to control everything might be limiting you, adding stress, or even causing pain. Understand that letting go doesn’t mean you’re powerless; it means allowing space for greater strength to emerge.
Embrace the Power of Faith
Whether you find faith in God, the universe, or your inner wisdom, trusting in something greater than yourself is essential. In moments of fear or frustration, remind yourself that there is a purpose beyond your immediate understanding. Surrendering is an act of faith—a belief that even in uncertainty, there is guidance.
Practice Letting Go in Small Ways
Surrender doesn’t have to start with life’s most significant issues. Begin with something small, like letting go of the need to control an outcome in a minor situation. Observe the relief it brings and use this as a stepping stone for larger moments of surrender.
Shift from Reaction to Response
Instead of reacting with anxiety or frustration when things don’t go as planned, pause, breathe, and consciously respond. Ask yourself: “How can I see this differently?” or “What is the lesson in this for me?” Surrender involves moving away from a reactive state and into a place of observation and acceptance.
Create a Ritual of Release
Rituals can be powerful in letting go. Write down your worries, fears, or things you can’t control, and then release them—burn the paper, bury it, or throw it away. Physically releasing these items can bring a sense of freedom and lightness.
What Happens When You Surrender
When you choose to surrender (and it is a choice), you allow yourself to move from resistance to acceptance. This shift creates a space for clarity, healing, and new perspectives to emerge. The very act of letting go can feel like lifting a heavy burden, opening the door to peace, joy, and greater resilience.
In my journey, I experienced a moment of surrender that transformed everything. After struggling and resisting the need for help, I reached a point where I could no longer keep up the fight. That moment of surrender was like a gift, an unexpected clarity, and peace that washed over me. I then understood surrender not as a loss but as an invitation to allow grace to guide my steps forward. I was no longer carrying the weight of my burdens alone.
When we surrender, we align with our higher self and invite miracles into our lives. Healing begins not because we have forced it but because we have allowed space for it to unfold naturally. We start seeing signs, receiving insights, and feeling supported in ways we couldn’t have imagined.
Surrendering is not a single act but a practice, a choice we make every day to trust the journey we are on. It’s a profound transformation that teaches us that even in our darkest moments, we are never truly alone.
Final Thoughts: Embrace the Power of Letting Go
If you’re struggling with the idea of surrender, start by simply being open to it. Know that surrendering is not a sign of weakness but of immense strength. It’s the courage to let go and trust that, in doing so, we open ourselves to a life of greater peace, wisdom, and healing.
Surrender may feel like stepping into the unknown, but it is often there, in the depths of our vulnerability, that we find our truest strength. So, breathe, trust, and allow yourself the grace to let go. The path forward might surprise you, bringing growth, peace, and possibilities beyond your imagination.
If you’re ready to experience the power of letting go on a deeper level, Transformative Coaching can help guide you through the process. Let go of what no longer serves you and step into your highest self today.
If you’re holding onto something and want to let it go but can’t, schedule your complimentary Discovery call. Together, we’ll plan the first steps for you to let it go.
🚀 Now is the perfect time to embrace this transformation—because the best version of you is waiting on the other side of letting go.
Step 1 for Everyday People: Acknowledging Powerlessness to Regain Control
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to control everything—whether it’s people, situations, or outcomes. But one of the most liberating realizations is that we are truly powerless over people, places, and things. For those familiar with recovery programs, this is the core of Step 1. However, this truth applies to everyone, regardless of their struggles. Recognizing our powerlessness doesn’t mean we’re weak—it’s the first step toward finding true freedom and serenity.
The Myth of Control
We often try to manage or fix the world around us, believing that if we work harder, speak louder, or plan better, we can change outcomes or people’s behaviors. But the truth is, we don’t have the power to control how people respond to us, what happens in the world, or even how life unfolds. The more we try, the more unmanageable our lives become.
Reflection: Think about a time you tried to control someone or something, and it spiraled out of control. What did you learn from that experience?
Letting Go of People, Places, and Things
It’s common to believe that by controlling others or situations, we can shape the life we want. But how often has that led to frustration or burnout? Step 1 reminds us that we cannot change other people’s actions, the circumstances we face, or even the past. The more we cling to the need to control, the more chaotic life becomes.
Reflection: Where in your life are you holding on too tightly? Are you trying to control your partner, children, job, or health?
Facing Unmanageability
Once we recognize our powerlessness, it’s natural to feel the discomfort of unmanageability. We might feel lost, confused, or even scared. But admitting that life is unmanageable doesn’t mean we give up. It’s the beginning of accepting reality as it is—and from there, we can start making more empowered choices based on what we can control: ourselves.
Reflection: How does unmanageability show up in your life? What signs tell you that your efforts to control have led to chaos?
The Freedom in Surrender
Surrendering doesn’t mean giving up—it means releasing the false belief that we can control everything. We open ourselves to new possibilities by embracing powerlessness, including peace of mind and inner freedom. We focus on managing what we can control—our reactions, choices, and personal growth.
Reflection: What areas of your life could benefit from surrender? Where can you let go to make room for more peace?
Step 1—acknowledging that we are powerless over people, places, and things and that life has become unmanageable—is not just for those in recovery. It’s a transformative realization for anyone struggling with the stresses of everyday life. Once we accept our limits, we can live more freely, focusing on the things within our control and finding serenity in the flow of life.
Call to Action: If you’re ready to release the burden of control and step into a new way of being, take a moment to reflect on one thing you can let go of today, and then schedule your complimentary Discovery call to ensure that it is lasting.
