Ikigai

My understanding of Ikigai has changed from my initial contact with the concept. I recently came across two articles by Dave Pollard that explain his take. I resonated with his views more than I did with other explanations. Below is Dave's synopsis. I highly recommend reading the articles linked for a better understanding.

From What Makes Your Life Worthwhile and What It Means To Be Human by Dave Pollard.

• Your Values
  • What you care about
  • What you are grateful for
• Your Pleasures
  • Things that bring you delight
  • When / where you are joyful
  • Things that spark your curiosity
  • Things that spark your interest
  • How you like to play
• Your Community
  • Who / what / where / how you belong
  • Who / what you relate to
  • Your tribe
  • Your true place / home
• Your Way of Being
  • What you notice / pay attention to (within yourself & in the outside world)
  • How you are present in the world
  • Your true nature

Your Ikigai is not that the intersection of these quadrants; it is everything in any of these quadrants. It is not what you think should be true; it is what is actually true, for you. It doesn't tell you what you are 'meant' to do, or how your are 'meant' to be, but rather it provides some self-knowledge and self-application so that you can be your authentic, fulfilled, unique self.