Jeepney Press : Arnel Sugay

What is your Ikigai?

By Arnel Sugay

My best friend asked me, through SMS, what I am being busy with. I told him that I am reviewing for my next training and I will be helping another trainer by giving feedback on how the training is conducted.

As I went on with my task, I got another SMS from him asking "Don't you ever get bored of your job?"

In Japan, the word ikigai means your reason for getting out of bed. I remember seeing a commercial of Nescafé using the concept of ikigai. In that commercial, the viewer is asked: "What is your reason for getting out of bed?"

When looking at the concept of ikigai, it begs the question: "What are you passionate about?" In the book "How to Ikigai" by Tim Tamashiro, he posts four things to consider: 1. Do what you love. 2. Do what you're good at. 3. Do what the world needs. 4. Do what you can be rewarded for.

The first two questions will be related to one's interests, talents and skills. Tamashiro calls this half ikigai. Full ikigai is connecting your interests, talents and skills to something bigger like how it will impact

the world and eventually how you will be rewarded by it.

Finding your ikigai is soul-searching. One needs to be alone in reflecting on your purpose or mission.

It took me several months to write down my ikigai. I love calling it My Personal Mission Statement. Attending the workshop, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, compelled me to examine my life and seriously consider what my purpose is. I edited my draft a few times until it was recommended that I keep it to one sentence so I can easily memorize it. Finally I came up with "to facilitate the growth and development of people around me." This is not limited to training employees but it will also encompass the growth of my friends and loved ones.

What is the difference between someone doing a sloppy job and an extraordinary job? When people know their raison d' etre, the passion can be felt by anyone. Because it flows from within, it cannot be faked. If you try to fake it, people will know even if you are a mile away.

Whatever your job is, do not let your job description define you. "You are not your job. It is the person who makes the job," my previous boss used to remind us.

If you have not discovered your ikigai yet, ask yourself as your alarm clock sounds off, "What is my reason for getting up? What is my purpose?" Trust the process and it will come. Or, like Steve Burns of Blue's Clues would do, he would sit on his Thinking Chair armed with his handy dandy notebook.

You can reach me at arnel.sugay@gmail.com

Arnel Sugay, writer