Have you ever wondered why some people wake up excited every morning to start their day, while others feel lost, tired, anxious or unmotivated to even get out of bed?

Why some people stay active and happy even at the age of 90…
while others feel old, stressed, and burned out at 35?

The difference is not luck.
It’s not money.
And it’s not talent or fame.
It’s something much deeper; it’s a simple, but powerful Japanese concept called Ikigai.

And mastering Ikigai can completely change your life.

Ikigai means “a reason for living” or “a reason to wake up in the morning.”
It’s the special place where four things meet:

→ What you love
→ What you’re good at
→ What the world needs
→ What you can be paid for

Your Ikigai is the thing that gives your life meaning.
It doesn’t have to be a big dream or a huge goal.
It can be small, simple, and personal.

For some people, their Ikigai is their family.
For others, it’s teaching.
For others, creating, helping, building, cooking, learning, or growing.

Everyone has an Ikigai.
But not everyone has found it yet.

According to the authors, people who live with Ikigai:

→ Live longer
→ Are happier
→ Stay healthier
→ Handle stress better
→ Feel more motivated and fulfilled
→ Have a clear direction in life

When you have purpose, everything changes.
You feel lighter.
You feel stronger.
You feel alive.
That’s the power of Ikigai.

The book focuses on Okinawa, a small island in Japan where people live some of the longest and healthiest lives on Earth.

But why?
It’s not only diet.
It’s not only exercise.
It’s their lifestyle, their relationships, and their Ikigai.
Here’s what the people of Okinawa do that makes their lives so beautiful:

They garden, walk, cook, clean, stretch.
They don’t sit still for long hours.

A principle called hara hachi bu.
Not overeating keeps their bodies healthy and energetic.

They belong to social groups called moai, where friends support each other for life.

They live simply and enjoy the present moment.

A purpose that gives meaning to their days.
These small habits create long, meaningful lives.

The authors talk about the idea of flow which is a state where you’re so focused on something you love that time disappears.

Flow happens when:
→ You play an instrument
→ You write
→ You teach
→ You work on a project you enjoy
→ You practice a skill you want to master
→ You challenge yourself at the right level

When you are in flow, your brain becomes calm and happy.
Your worries disappear. You feel alive.

Flow is a key part of Ikigai.

Now, you should ask yourself:

When do I lose track of time because I enjoy something so much?

That is a clue to your purpose.

One of the powerful messages in the book is this:
The happiest and longest-living people are not the richest. No!
Rather, they are the ones who never stop living and growing.
They read.
They learn.
They explore.
They challenge themselves.
They stay mentally young because they stay mentally active.

Ikigai teaches us that happiness is not found in extremes.
You don’t need to quit your job and move to Japan.
You don’t need to quit your job to discover your Ikigai.
You don’t need to become famous or rich.
You don’t need a huge mission.

Someone working at his or her dream job, living in his or her dream home, driving his or her dream car, may have a miserable life. Why?
Because they may have lost their sense of purpose.
They’re going through the motions every day without thinking about why they do what they do.

They don’t work to serve others anymore.
They are not in love with their job anymore.
They have stopped learning and growing.

Now, Ikigai is about helping you rediscover your purpose if you have lost it without changing your outer state.

It is about discovering your deepest why without escaping your reality.

Ikigai is about:

✔ enjoying the little things
✔ having meaningful relationships
✔ continuously moving and growing
✔ doing something that gives your day and your life purpose
✔ serving others and being a part of a meaningful community

You can live your Ikigai regardless of where you live —
as long as you live with intention and purpose.

You don’t find your purpose by thinking.
You find it by doing, trying, experimenting.

Start here ↓

What activities excite you or energize you?

Your strengths are clues to your purpose.

What problems can you help with?

What skills could become a career or a service?
When these four areas overlap,
you are getting closer and closer to your Ikigai.

The book shares 10 simple rules for living with purpose:

These rules are very simple, but they require patience and dedication and practicing them daily can transform your life.

Ikigai is not about becoming successful.
It’s not about becoming rich, popular, or perfect.

Ikigai is about:

→ living with purpose
→ staying connected
→ learning continuously
→ appreciating small joys
→ taking care of your body and mind
→ doing what makes life meaningful

When you have a reason to wake up in the morning,
when you have a reason to go to bed at night feeling exciting for the next day,
when you know and understand that you have an important purpose in this world
and others depend on you and you have to show up for them,
when you understand that your time here is limited and every day is a gift,
then you stop surviving; you stop just going through the motions and
you start living.

That’s the message of Ikigai — and it’s the message I hope stays with you long after this podcast.

Take a moment today to ask yourself these questions:

Your Ikigai doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be yours.

Start small.
Start today.
And let your purpose lead you.

Want to listen to this on my Podcast? Click here.