How Gratitude Can Help You Find Your Ikigai – We all have moments in our lives when we feel lost and uncertain of our purpose. But what if there was a way to find guidance and direction? According to Japanese philosophy, there is a way. It’s called ikigai, and it can be found at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. And gratitude may be the key to finding it.
What Is Ikigai?
Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) is a Japanese philosophy that centers around the idea that everyone has a reason to wake up in the morning. In order to find your ikigai, you must first answer four questions: What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? And what can you get paid for? Once you’ve answered these questions, your ikigai is waiting for you at the intersection. For example, my ikigai is writing. I love writing, I’m good at writing, the world needs stories, and I can get paid for writing them.
How Gratitude Can Help You Find Your Ikigai
Gratitude helps us focus on the positive.
When we’re feeling grateful, we’re automatically thinking about the good things in our lives. This positive focus can help shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance, which is essential for finding our ikigai. When we believe there is enough good to go around, we open ourselves up to new opportunities and possibilities. We start to see the world—and ourselves—in a different light. And that’s when the magic happens.
Gratitude helps us connect with others | How Gratitude Can Help You Find Your Ikigai
Gratitude also helps us connect with other people. When we’re grateful for what we have, we’re more likely to want to share our good fortune with others. We become more generous and compassionate, two qualities that are essential for finding our ikigai. Why? Because our ikigai often has everything to do with making a difference in the lives of others. When we cultivate gratitude, we set the stage for making a positive impact on the world around us.
Gratitude helps us stay present.
Last but not least, gratitude helps us stay present in the moment. When we’re caught up in worry or stress, it’s difficult to see all the good that’s right in front of us. But when we’re grateful, we naturally become more mindful of our surroundings. We start to notice the little things—the things that make life worth living. And that’s when we begin to get clues about what our ikigai might be.
Your ikigai is out there waiting for you. It’s the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for. And gratitude may be the key to finding it. When you’re feeling lost and uncertain of your purpose, take a step back and look at all the things you’re grateful for. This could be your family, your friends, your health, your job, or anything else that brings joy to your life. Once you start looking for the good, it’s easier to see all possibilities in front of you—including your ikigai.
If you find that you’re feeling stuck more than often, or you’re noticing that your anxiety is especially high during the fall season, know that you’re not alone, we encourage you to reach out. Our counsellor here at Bliss Counselling & Wellness Centre have experience working with anxiety, stress, grief, trauma, depression, and so much more. We offer both in-person and online services. To learn more, reach out to us at 431-302-8803, or go here and fill out an online form!
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