
Do you want to hear a secret? And I promise it’s a good one—one that I just learned a couple of weeks ago. In Japanese culture, there is a concept known as Ikigai. I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I speak absolutely no Japanese, so this term was like speaking French, or better yet, Japanese to me. The name aside, I listened to a video discussing this concept, and my mind was completely blown. If you’ve looked at my website or heard me speak, I’m always passionately talking about purpose. The concept of Ikigai is just that—a way to find purpose by aligning one’s life through four pillars: doing what you love, doing what you’re good at, doing what you can get paid for, and doing what the world actually needs.
When we answer yes to these four questions: Am I doing what I love? Am I doing what I’m good at? Am I doing what I can get paid for? And am I doing what the world actually needs? We find ourselves living out our dreams instead of waking up each morning weighing our options of whether to go to work or calculating the number of years you’d receive if you became a scammer and got caught.
The Four Pillars of Ikigai

What You Love (Your Passion):
If it doesn’t light your soul on fire, what’s the point? When you’re doing what you love, work feels more like play. For me, as a mental health counselor, I’m all about helping people tackle anxiety, stress, and life’s curveballs. Watching my clients transform? That’s what I have found to be my "ministry."
What You Are Good At (Your Talent):
Let’s be real—we’re not good at everything. At least I know I’m not; please do not ask me to carry a tune, perform open-heart surgery, or train athletes. But when your natural talents line up with what you love, magic happens. For example, I’d say I’m pretty good at listening, empathizing, and problem-solving, which comes in handy as a counselor.
What You Can Be Paid For (Your Profession):
No matter how much I’d like to say it does, passion doesn’t necessarily pay the bills unless you’re strategic about it. Find ways to turn your skills into a paycheck. For me, offering specialized services like career counseling helps me earn a living, and I’m not ashamed to say this. Who wants an underpaid, burnt-out, overworked, and overstimulated counselor? Not me. Yes, I’m referring to myself in the third person, but let’s normalize paying our helping professionals. Okay, I’m off my soapbox. That said, this helps me to love what I do even more.
What the World Needs (Your Mission):
Here’s the truth: the world’s a hot mess, and it needs you. When your work solves real problems, you’re making an impact. Addressing mental health in underrepresented communities? That’s my lane, and let me tell you, it’s fulfilling work that I hope adds value to my community one client at a time.
The Magic of Ikigai
When you get all these elements to align, that’s Ikigai. Here’s how it breaks down:
Passion: What you love + What you’re good at.
Profession: What you’re good at + What you can be paid for.
Vocation: What you can be paid for + What the world needs.
Mission: What you love + What the world needs.
When these overlap, the real transformation happens—a life that doesn’t just pay the bills but fills your soul.
Strategies for Finding Your Ikigai
Now, let’s talk strategy. Finding your Ikigai isn’t about waiting for a sign from the universe (although if you get one, great—and also give us a shout-out if you can). It’s about understanding the assignment and doing the work. Here’s how:
Engage in Self-Reflection:
Ask yourself the big questions: What makes me lose track of time? What am I naturally good at? What’s wrong with the world that I want to help fix?
Pro tip: Journal it out or discuss it with a mentor or therapist. Sometimes, you need an outside perspective.
Identify Your Strengths and Talents:
Take a skills assessment or think about your past wins. What do people always say you’re great at?
For me, it was realizing my creativity and ability to empathize with others.
Research Professions and Niches:
Google is your best friend here. Look into industries where your skills and passions align. Find a gap and fill it.
For example, I found my groove by blending creativity with traditional counseling.
Experiment and Adapt:
Don’t be afraid to test-drive your ideas. Volunteer, start a side hustle, or network like a pro.
I started with a side hustle of opening my private practice, and guess what? Through self-advertising, my clients found me.
Seek Mentorship and Guidance:
Find people who’ve been there, done that, and can help you develop your roadmap. Bonus points for culturally sensitive mentors who understand your struggles.
Align with the World’s Needs:
Stay informed about what’s happening in the world. Your unique perspective can address problems others overlook.
My Journey to Ikigai
Listen, my path wasn’t some Instagram-worthy, vlog-perfect journey. As a military spouse and mom, I juggled relocations, grad school, and toddler tantrums (mine and theirs). But through it all, I realized I love empowering people, especially during transitions. Add in my flair for creativity—and a niche was born.
Embrace Your Ikigai
Here’s the deal: Ikigai isn’t some unattainable dream. It’s about aligning your passions, talents, income potential, and the world’s needs. With a little self-reflection and a lot of grit, you can uncover your unique path. So, grab that journal, pour another cup of coffee (or wine), and get to work. Your Ikigai is waiting—go claim it.
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