Purpose and The Ikigai (CORE)

This week’s lesson was on Purpose and the introduction of Ikigai as a possible template we could use to identify our purpose in life. This on the surface looks fine and dandy but underlying the lesson is the assumption that humankind has purpose – mono or multi – and it is to be discovered, assuming one is born unaware of this purpose all humans have. So where did this assumed belief come from and why is it a (presumably) globally accepted belief? I can only answer for myself.

The belief I had purpose was drummed in early in my life as a Christian. Not only did I have purpose but my purpose was predetermined by my Creator, who, when he created me, had a purpose for me to fulfil, a purpose that helped answer the question, “Why was I created and put on planet Earth?” or in more common terms, divine purpose is the answer to man’s perennial question, “Why am I here?”. This belief was clearly highlighted to me by the declaration God made to the prophet Jeremiah, revealing his purpose for this young Jewish man.

Before I formed you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5)

So that was settled. I was created for a divine purpose. But discovering what it was wasn’t so easy – I did not enjoy the luxury of having God speak to me directly and audibly! The next clue came from a sentence the apostle Paul wrote to a Christian congregation in Ephesus. This sentence would eventually be a key guiding verse throughout my life when it came to the question of purpose.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them. (Ephesians 2:10)

Finally, I was getting some insight. God’s purpose for me was related to doing good works! It took some time to unravel what could possibly be in Paul’s mind when he used the phrase ‘good works’ but I boiled it down to three components. It was doing what God wanted (keep his commandments), benefitting other humans (work that was other-centered) and done excellently (doing my best in all I do). So, whatever my purpose was, it would be in line with God’s principles, benefit others and demand my best. Got it.

But there were no specifics yet. I could not say like Jeremiah, “My purpose is to be a prophet to the nations.” This need to be specific as to what actually was my God-given purpose only came about when I left school to serve in the Christian community (Church) full-time. I realized there were many things I could do – preach, feed the poor, teach Sunday School, go to Africa as a missionary etc. – so I inquired from the Being himself as to what his specific purpose for me might be. Raised in a Christian community that believed all communication between man and God was through the Bible, I began to read it eagerly, just as any university applicant would read letters from universities he had applied to, scanning to see the desired answer.

In a very short time I came across a verse (sentence) in the Bible that jumped out at me and I was convinced it was God’s answer to my question: What is your purpose for creating me? It was from an answer the prophet Samuel gave to Israel’s first king, Saul, when he was appointed sovereign over Israel.

I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. (1 Samuel 12:23)

For the next 30 years I spent my life instructing (teaching) Christians on the many facets of their faith and had a blast. Teaching excited me and energized me. I found meaning in what I did and I never grew tired of the whole process required for every lesson to finally see the light of day. But all good things must come to an end. My days of service in the Christian community came to an end and I once again was confronted with the question: Why am I here and what am I to do with my life?

By now, I was married and I remember my wife and I taking a few days to ruminate on this question in our favorite place here in Malaysia – Cameron Highlands. Holed up in a cheap motel, under thick blankets, I pored over a book that promised to help me discover my purpose – What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles – and help me discover a lifetime of meaningful work and career success. There were a lot of exercises requiring much thought and soul searching. The results were disappointing – teaching seemed to be my best option! Duh!

Since that mountaintop revelation I have had opportunities to teach (instruct) in various forms – International School English teacher, English super tutor, certified trainer, motivational speaker, author - to name a few but it all revolved around my now accepted and believed divine purpose – to instruct/teach.

As I continued to manifest my purpose, a new question popped into my mind that demanded an answer – Why was I teaching? What was my ultimate purpose behind every instruction? To find the answer, I just had to look back at all the teaching opportunities I had and identify the shared motivation and/or desired outcome I had for all my students. It was clear. I was teaching with the purpose of assisting my students to excel, to unlock their potential, to be the best they were able to. Then it all made sense. Samuel made a commitment to King Saul to assist him be the best king he could be and so did I for all my students.

Now my purpose began to change, to broaden in scope yet provide me the parameters I needed to always be within my God-given purpose. I came to see and embrace my purpose as follows: to assist others to be the best they can be especially through the many forms of teaching/instruction giving. Today, whatever I finally agree to do and it allows me to fully manifest this purpose, I find myself excited and empowered, fulfilled and fruitful. My purpose has served as a guiding light at every career pivot or when I am overwhelmed by depression or experiencing a sense of ‘lostness’. Reminding myself of why I am here and taking small possible steps towards my purpose always restores stability, hope and energy in me.

I also believe purpose is not so much discovered as created. What is discovered is the many elements that make up the creation of your purpose but finally you are the one who comes to some kind of conclusion and formulate a sentence or two as to what all you discovered seem to say about your purpose. This is why I think almost all the books and articles I have read on ‘discovering’ your purpose end up giving you a bunch of questions to guide you towards what you have and like and what you can do and contribute to society for good (good works). With a clearer and better understanding of yourself and all that makes you unique, you then would be better able to be a contributing human on this planet. Almost all life-purposes I have heard tend to have the elements of linking one’s unique gifting with one’s contribution to the betterment of at least another human.

This then is a good place to comment on Ikigai, a Japanese concept that roughly translates ‘that which gives your life purpose’. It’s similarity to the French concept of “raison d’etre” has sparked accusations that the key writers who created and popularized Ikigai modified or blended this French concept with key ideas practiced by the Japanese (especially those in Okinawa). But putting that aside, Ikigai covers the two key elements of purpose i.e. bringing meaning to your life while also contributing to the good of others. It also shares the belief that everyone has a purpose in life and deep self-reflection effort is required to discover it.

To guide us in discovering our Ikigai, four spheres of life need to be considered:

• What you love – what you do/experience that brings most joy in life and makes you feel most alive and fulfilled
• What you are good at – anything you are particularly good at including talents and skills
• What the world needs – ‘world’ here could refer to humankind in general or a niche group and our assumed or their mentioned need
• What you can get paid for – what someone else is willing to pay you for, depending on the demand for what you offer and the economic state of the people in question

It is clear you will need time to reflect and research to provide relevant answers to all four areas in order for you to piece together the jigsaw and conclude what is the something you are passionate about, good at and the world needs now and for which someone will pay you. I believe in my own pursuit to identify my Ikigai, I have looked at 3 of the spheres – love, good at, needed by the world – but I have rarely if ever considered someone paying me for it. My struggle with imposter syndrome and self-limiting belief that what I offer has very little financial worth has limited me from making money from my Ikigai and has left me struggling financially often.

If I were to embrace this Japanese concept (which I have problems doing due to my aversion to all things related to Eastern ideologies and philosophies) then I think I would need to add the following to my purpose: to assist others to be the best they can be especially through the many forms of teaching/instruction giving and be paid for it.

It is clear then that we have purpose, we discover and create it and our accepted purpose gives us meaning and energy for life. As coaches, I then conclude that coaching should align with our purpose and enabling our clients discover their purpose could be a key factor in assisting them be who they want to be.