If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. What if you don’t hate Mondays and you just hate your job?

Steve Jobs (no puns intended) reminds you that your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.

So, how to know if what you’re doing is truly fulfilling? The Japanese concept of Ikigai is here to help you!

Ikigai – The Secret To A Meaningful Life

The term Ikigai comes from the Japanese words iki (meaning ‘life’) and kai (meaning ‘an effect’ or ‘a result’).
It is believed that one of the reasons for the longevity of the Japanese people is their ability to apply the philosophy of Ikigai in their daily life. In short, do what you love and let yourself be guided by your mission. Do what the world needs and you’ll find your vocation. Find out what you can be paid for and you’ll know your ideal profession. Finally, don’t forget what you are good at and you’ll connect to your passion.

It looks simple, yet we make it complicated. Perhaps that is why simplicity is one of the most cherished things in Japanese philosophy. 

I could have given you an example of a Japanese philosopher explaining Ikigai, but I would prefer not to. Instead, I’ll let you hear what Jim Carrey, that insanely woke comedian, has to say on the art of finding your true vocation:

What is your Ikigai?  😍 Let me know in the comments! 👇