Click on the image or the button below to download the worksheet.

Ikigai is a Japanese word, concept, and philosophy. It translates to “reason for living” or “life worth living” (no, it’s not the Venn Diagram that you might find online). Every person’s ikigai is unique to them. We all have different sources of ikigai that contribute to the feeling (ikigai-kan) that our life is worth living.

You can think of your ikigai like a fire. There are three key elements of fire that help it to burn brightly without burning out. The same goes for you. You need to focus and nurture all three elements for your light to shine brightly and the warmth of your impact to be felt sustainably.

1. SPARK - These ikigai sources represent WHO you are at your core and how you want people to experience you. These include your purpose (kokorozashi or personal mission), values, and roles, both personally and professionally. These are the things that SPARK you - they intrinsically motivate you.

2. FUEL - These ikigai sources represent WHAT you do. These are the things worth going (yarigai). They include work (hatarakigai which is paid work, but also non-paid work like volunteering, play (asobigai), learning (manabigai), and teaching (oshiegai). If you’re looking to discover what type of work fuels you, I recommend taking the FREE Sparketype Assessment).

   Additionally, these ikigai sources include the things that contribute to your bright future. They could be bigger life goals like completing a marathon, your child getting married, writing a book; but they could also include small things that you look forward to each day like walking your dog, hiking in nature, enjoying a morning cup of coffee or tea, reading a book by the fire, holding your grandchild, etc.

3. OXYGEN - These ikigai sources represent the oxygen that helps you thrive. Having all the spark and fuel is pointless if your fire suffocates. These ikigai sources include the people and places where you feel like you belong (ibasho). It could special interpersonal relationships like your family or close friends, a community of people like church or hobby group, or a place where you feel at home like at your favorite coffee shop or vacation spot.

   Additionally, an important element of feeling ikigai-kan is spaciousness in your mind (yutori). This is more of a state of being where you are worry free and have the cognitive and emotional space to think, create, relax, be present, and enjoy the everyday moments of life. There are different sources of ikigai that create yutori for you like forest bathing (yes, it’s a real thing!), yoga, meditation, journaling, praying, going digital-free for a day or week, etc. You find yutori in stillness or in movement. The point is to allow your mind to be free and have white space.

Download and print out the worksheet. Take some time to consider the sources of ikigai in your life in each of the three area: SPARK, FUEL, and OXYGEN. Think about the times when you FEEL that this is a “good life” and the times when life is really worth living. What’s happening? Who’s a part of those experiences? What are you doing (or not doing)? Write down those sources of ikigai and how they make you feel. Keep this near you and reflect on it daily.

When you are feeling that your fire is dwindling, revisit this worksheet and consider which parts of your fire needs attention. Remember, you need to tend to your ikigai just like a fire or you will burn out again.

Choose to LIVE YOUR IKIGAI every day.