Ikagai

I keep coming back to Japanese concepts to steer my thinking. This week, I was remembering a popular one: ikagai.

Ikigai means “reason for being” — blending two words: “iki” meaning “to live,” and “gai” meaning “reason.”

It’s the intersection of passion (what you love), vocation (what you’re good at), mission (what the world needs), and profession (what you can be paid for).

I love that the word considers all forces — versus a narrow approach of impractical dreams or boring drudgery. Many of us are thankful to have at least a few spheres, but the ultimate goal is to find the middle of Fantastic 4.

What a wonderful world it would be to see everyone at the center of their ikagai.