There’s a beautiful word in Japanese that has been quietly making waves across the world: ikigai. It doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but roughly it means your reason for being. Your spark. The thing that gets you out of bed in the morning, even when the alarm clock feels like the enemy.

The idea sounds simple yet it is a life-changing concept: when you find your ikigai, you stop living on autopilot and start living with purpose.

What Does Ikigai Really Mean?

The word ikigai combines “iki” (life) and “gai” (worth). It’s about the value of living, the things that make life feel worthwhile. Unlike some Western ideas of purpose, which are often tied to career success or achievements, ikigai can be found in the small, ordinary moments as well as in big ambitions.

For someone, it might be creating art or running a business. For another, it might be walking their dog every morning, cooking for family or tending a garden. In Japan, ikigai is not seen as something lofty or unreachable. It’s a natural part of living well.

The Four Elements of Ikigai

Ikigai isn’t about chasing money, success, or a never-ending to-do list. It’s about harmony. Imagine four circles overlapping:

1. What you love – your passions and joys

2. What you’re good at – your skills and strengths

3. What the world needs – ways you can contribute or help others

4. What you can be paid for – work or activity that sustains you

When these areas overlap, you find your ikigai, that sweet spot where personal fulfilment and practical living meet.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about balance. Maybe your day job pays the bills but your evenings spent painting, writing, or volunteering give you the real sense of fulfilment. That’s still ikigai.

Why Ikigai Matters

Modern life often pushes us to chase productivity, achievements and external rewards. But without purpose, those things can feel empty. Ikigai offers an alternative. It reminds us that fulfilment comes not just from what we achieve, but from how we live day to day.

This idea is more than philosophy. In Okinawa, Japan one of the regions with the longest-living people in the world, ikigai is often cited as a reason for their health and longevity. Their purpose isn’t always tied to careers, it could be growing vegetables, practising traditional crafts, or teaching grandchildren.

Here’s the thing: without purpose, life feels flat. You can be busy all day long, yet feel strangely empty inside. Sound familiar?

Ikigai offers a way out of that cycle. It helps you:

• Make clearer choices about where to spend your energy.

• Enjoy your work (even the less glamorous parts).

• Feel connected to something bigger than yourself.

• Stay resilient when life gets tricky.

How You Can Find Yours

Finding ikigai isn’t about waiting for lightning to strike. It’s about curiosity and patience. Here are a few steps to spark the process:

1. Ask the four questions
   What do I love? What am I good at? What does the world need? What can I get paid for? Write it down. Patterns often appear.

2. Dig into your past
   Childhood passions and forgotten hobbies are often goldmines for rediscovering your spark.

3. Experiment
   Don’t overthink. Try a pottery class, volunteer at a shelter, start a blog. Ikigai reveals itself when you do, not just when you think.

4. Notice the small stuff
   Sometimes ikigai isn’t a grand career move. It might be the way you bring joy to others, the rituals that ground you, or the creativity that spills out when you’re lost in the moment.

How I Found My Ikigai: A Personal Journey

I was doing my day job, ticking boxes and climbing the corporate ladder, but inside me I felt dead. Every day felt like moving through a fog, busy, unhappy and exhausted. That heavy Sunday-night dread had become my constant companion.With little savings and a lot of uncertainty, I took a leap. I quit my job and decided to learn graphic design. It was so scary to change my career completely at 25, but it was also life-changing.

From the moment I started, something clicked. I discovered I was truly happy in a creative environment. I didn’t even feel like I was working, even when pulling twelve-hour days in front of my laptop. The hours vanished as I lost myself in designing, experimenting, and bringing ideas to life. That joy, that energy, told me I was onto something real.

Working in a creative environment transformed me. I was energised, inspired and driven in a way I hadn’t been for years. I started freelancing, and over three years, I collaborated with incredible brands, each project teaching me something new. It wasn’t just about making designs; it was about telling stories, solving problems, and creating products that mattered.

And that spark grew into something bigger. That spark became Faye Co Papier, a space where creativity meets purpose, built from passion, courage and the joy of helping people feel better every day.  

Looking back now, I see clearly that moment was my turning point. That was when I found my ikigai.

The concept of ikigai teaches us that a meaningful life isn’t built only on achievements or wealth. It’s built on a balance of joy, contribution and sustainability.

Sometimes, your ikigai might be a lifelong passion. Other times, it might be something as simple as enjoying a conversation, caring for a loved one or pursuing a creative spark.

Finding your ikigai won’t make life perfect. Bills will still exist. Bad days will still come. But with ikigai, those challenges don’t define you. You carry a spark that keeps you moving forward.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, pause and ask yourself: what makes me come alive? That simple question might just be the doorway to your ikigai…