Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to “raison d’être” in French, “a reason for being” in English, or “a reason to wake up in the morning.” It is derived from the words “iki,” (生き) meaning life, and “gai,” (甲斐) meaning worth or value. Ikigai represents the intersection of four key elements: what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When these four elements converge, it is believed that individuals can find a sense of purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction in their lives.
When I reflect back on why I started this coaching journey, I remember I had a strong sense of mission and purpose, an Ikigai to impact more lives through the people I coach. But I didn’t know how to explain this passion or relate it to my goal and passion. This webtorial has shown me a tool, a systematic way to explore and reflect on my passions, strengths, values and contributions.
When I draw these four elements on paper: Passion (what I love doing), Mission (what the world needs), Vocation (what I can be paid for), and Profession (what I am good at), the intersection of these four elements is my Ikigai.
We can apply the Ikigai concept in coaching by guiding our coachee in identifying their passions, exploring their sense of purpose and what gives meaning to their lives, aligning their personal and professional pursuits with their values and the needs of the world around them, and supporting them in setting goals and creating an action plan to achieve these goals. As a coach, we play a key role in guiding our coachee through this process of self-discovery, empowerment, and transformation.
