At Kingdom Branding, we have come to realize that purpose has a frequency, and it takes time and intentionality to find it. To find your purpose, you’ve got to ask the big whys. “Why do I get up in the morning? Why do I do this particular task every day?”
Ikigai (icky-guy) is a Japanese philosophy that speaks on finding your purpose in life. “Iki” means life, and “gai” means worth, or some people may say it means “reason for being.” Finding a sense of purpose in life is linked to your lifespan, except in cases of unforeseen circumstances.
A US study used the data of about 6,000 people and asked them if they felt a strong sense of purpose in life. For the next 14 years, death rates were recorded, and those who scored lower on purpose in life and positive relationships died earlier in life.
There’s just something amazing about knowing your purpose and having a reason to wake up every day. That’s why we are so passionate about infusing design empathy in all we do. We tackle each project with purpose in mind. It starts with understanding our client’s purpose and vision, and then we work our way through creating tangible and meaningful solutions.
Finding your Ikigai
Ikigai is unique to each person. Right from the moment you were born, they were some gifts that were unique to you. As you grew older, you started to learn new skills, and then, you discovered the ways of the world.
Your Ikigai can change or evolve over the course of your life.
These four quadrants connect you to your Ikigai, namely:
What you love
This involves your passion, interests, skills. These are things that genuinely make you happy or give you joy. Activities that make you get into the flow. For instance, you can love taking photos. When you get to hold a camera, it feels like the world is at your feet. It shouldn’t be too hard to find things that you love. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a skill; it can be something you are passionate about.
What you are good at
This is a skill that is unique to you. When your friends mention your name, what is that quality that comes right after? It could be, “Hey, this is my friend, Tom, and he loves to talk. Now, talking/making speeches could be a good quality, as long as you are quick to hear and slow to speak.
What you can be paid for
Usually, this implies your job or freelance work. You can ask yourself, “What are some of the skills I have that could be paid for?” For example, people can pay for a homemade recipe you made or a really cool graphic art.
What the world needs
It’s a big question. Look around you. What does the world need? This question is unique to you. What is your perspective on what the world needs? If you were to design your perfect world, what would it look like?
Please take note, your Ikigai is not your passion, mission, vocation, or your profession, but you will find it at the intersection of these four. Finding your Ikigai could help you get one step to living a fulfilled life. We’ve found ours at Kingdom Branding, and it influences how we make decisions. As a creative agency, we are passionate about solving problems and helping other problem solvers make the best possible changes they can. This is why we get up in the morning. Why do you get up in the morning? What’s your Ikigai?
