Your Ikigai & Your 3 Legged Stool
Iki… What??
I know, I know… it sounds kinda ‘icky’ but really it isn’t. It’s frigging amazing!
Ikigia is a Japanese concept I use in my Discover Your Brilliance Course and when working with clients on everything from branding to marketing. Even with money blocks and sabotages.
It’s about bringing together the 4 essential elements for success - your talents, your passion, your mission, and your worth.
And when I say success, I’m talking in business, in life, in love, in health, in community, in… everything!!
'Iki' in Japanese mean 'life' and ‘gai’ describes value or worth. Your Ikigai is your reason for being, your life purpose, your bliss, what lights you up. It's what brings you joy and inspires you to get out of bed everyday.
My mission is to inspire one million women leap out of bed each morning, excited and charged up to share their brilliance with the world.
Ikigai is what I’m talking about!
Your Ikigai is the convergence of four elements:
What you love - your passion
What you’re good at - your talents (BTW - your talents can be vastly different from your passion)
What the world needs - your mission
What you can be paid for - your value & worth
Those who have all four figured out and in balance will live and lead a joyful, meaningful, abundant and fulfilled life.
But wait! There’s more!
To gain and maintain a healthy Ikigai there are 10 daily actions to follow:
Stay active
Don't retire
Take it slow
Get in shape
Live in the moment
Reconnect with nature
Smile
Surround yourself with good friends
Give thanks
Follow your Ikigai
What’s a 3 Legged Stool got to do with it?
If you’re unsure about what your passion, talents, and mission are, that’s where my 3 Legged Stool tool comes in handy. By answering 3 essential questions you can keep your Ikigai in balance. Those answers are the legs of your 3 Legged Stool.
When your business feels out of balance, like a wobbly 3 Legged Stool, look to your answers and remind yourself why you do what you do. Then make the necessary adjustments to get back in balance. Business is not so much staying on track as it is staying in balance.
Here are the 3 questions:
What’s your All About You Why?
What’s your Emotional Why?
What’s your All About Them Why?
Ponder these. Canoodle on them. Even meditate on them. They are essential to staying in balance and in abundance - both in business and in life.
As women entrepreneurs we spend so much time on our business - doing, thinking, dreaming. It should be completely enjoyable, fulfilling, fun, exciting, inspiring and profitable. It should light us up!
Best, Janet
“Get your Ikigai in shape!
Change Your World to Change The World!”
- Janet Hutchens