Living a life of purpose and fulfillment is something most of us desire, yet few attain. When you discover your mission, you’re energized and empowered at the deepest level. When you know in your bones that you’re making a difference, you’re aligned with your values.
Tips for Becoming More Purposeful
1. Pursue Pride
For one thousand years, shop owners in Japan have sold mochi (rice flour cakes). Each generation is like the next runner in a relay race. Moshi shops have persevered through wars, plagues, natural disasters, and the rise and fall of empires! They strive to create a product that inspires pride. Their focus is on a higher purpose other than profit. A common Japanese tenet is to do one thing very well. Mochi shop owners serve their customers, employees, community, and inspire pride through the outstanding quality of their product.
2. Live Your Core Values
The word for core values in Japanese is kakun. Actually, kakun translates to family motto, family precepts, and the rule of the home. To begin your journey, choose three words that best encapsulate your vision and purpose. Which words express what you’re about in the deepest way? My company, All the Hats We Wear, has joyful, productive, and fulfilled as its core values. What are your core values?
3. Welcome Icky Guys in Your Life!
No, no, no. Not icky guys - you want ikigai in your life. It’s pronounced icky guy and in Japanese it means reason for being. Iki means life, gai means value/worth. You can’t exist in a vacuum, everything is connected. In ikigai, you reach a life of true balance of: purpose, passion, satisfaction, fulfillment, calling, true self, good for society, and your values. You embody ikigai when you balance those elements. In ikigai, you’re not validated by outside recognition, you can only discover and affirm your own ikigai. Wow - how important is THAT for us all?
Learning about ikigai reminded me of the book Blue Ocean Strategy - where your goal is to bypass all competition by being so unique that you cease to compete in typical markets. You must provide a one-of-a-kind experience for others - it’s NOT enough to find a gap and fill it. I recommend the documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, to learn more about service and purpose. You’ll never think of sushi the same! Use these three principles to uncover your purpose, core values, and mission.
What’s something you do everyday that generates pride? What COULD you do? Share it in the comments!
Related links:
https://www.japan.travel/en/au/travellers-blog/ikigai-find-your-passion-and-purpose-the-japanese-way/
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/business/japan-old-companies.html