How to find your life’s purpose (4 Ikigai Elements)

“The more things for which you develop a fondness, the richer the life you live.” – Dan Buettner

Why it works

Ikigai is an ancient Japanese concept that translates as “reason for being” or “reason to get up in the morning.” It essentially holds that positively impacting others leads to a happier, healthier and longer life. The concept gained widespread attention in the Western world through National Geographic fellow and longevity researcher Dan Buettner (pictured above), who described it in his 2009 bestselling book “The Blue Zones”. 

Blue Zones are regions of the world with particularly high numbers of centenarians (i.e., people 100 years or older). Buettner's research revealed several commonalities among these older individuals, including a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Another commonality is a strong sense of purpose. Fortunately, the connection between purpose and longevity is not limited to Blue Zones. Numerous studies have shown that a sense of purpose improves mental and physical health and longevity.

As it turns out, knowing your purpose also contributes to your daily well-being and productivity. Tasks you aren't passionate about or good at can leave you tired and unhappy. Without a clear sense of purpose, it's easy to fall into the trap of just going through the motions. Here’s how you can use Ikigai to meet real needs, bringing more satisfaction, motivation, and efficiency to your work – and ultimately finding your life’s purpose.

How to do it

1) Reflect on your passions
The Western interpretation of Ikigai often depicts it as the intersection of four elements: what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for (as in the Venn diagram pictured above). If you want to understand your life’s purpose, getting clarity is the first step. So, take time to reflect on each of the four elements of Ikigai. Ask yourself: What do I love? What am I good at? What does the world need? What can I be paid for?

Personally, I went through these questions in the summer of 2021. I found that I love to systematize science-based advice on productivity and personal development. Learn more about how to go through a similar process here.

2) Align goals with purpose
The second step is setting goals that match your passions and strengths, ensuring that they inspire you. Stanford professor Kelly McGonigals’ approach of setting “stress goals” is a great way to achieve this. Stress goals are ambitious, meaningful and difficult. Accomplishing them is challenging and – you’ve guessed it – stressful. And setting them not only adds meaning to your pursuits and struggles, but also reframes and buffers stress along the way.

After learning about my passion for systematizing science-based productivity and personal development advice in 2021, I set a stress goal of writing and publishing 30 weekly posts on that topic until the end of that year. If you want to learn more about stress goals and how to use them, read this article.

3) Simplify your day
The third step is removing tasks that don’t align with your Ikigai to focus on what really matters. An excellent way to get this done is the Eisenhower Matrix. Created by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and popularized in Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, it’s arguably the best tool for determining what’s urgent, important, both or neither. It also offers some valuable tips on how to go about removing what doesn’t matter (notably by delegation).

To make time for my 2021 stress goal around writing and publishing online, I used the Eisenhower Matrix every week to reduce overwork in my role as director of a Berlin-based think tank, which freed up some time each day to work on my posts. Learn more about the Eisenhower Matrix here.

4) Meaningful tasks
The fourth step is to start your day with the tasks that matter most. Make it a priority to focus intensely on that task for 60-90 minutes at a time each day. Use our 30-3-11 rule to time it when your energy and motivation are highest: ~30 minutes after waking, ~3 hours after waking, or ~11 hours after waking. For 75% of us, mornings are best. So eat that frog.

As an early “lark” chronotype, I got up early and wrote for 60-90 minutes each morning starting at 6.30 am. After that early-morning “Ultrafocus” session, I’d have a coffee with my wife at 8.00 am and start my day job at 9.00 am. If you want to learn more about timing and implementing deep work, regardless of whether you’re a morning person or not, read this.

When purpose comes first, everything else follows.

When you love what you do, productivity feels natural.

Don't just let days pass by – but live them to the fullest.

And please share this post with one person who might benefit from doing the same.

Until next week,
Christian

PS: If your Ikigai also includes writing online, I’ve got good news for you

There has never been a better time to become a thought leader through LinkedIn. The platform is growing strongly and allows you to quickly build your distribution, monetization and recognition – thus becoming Ultracreative.

While coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs, executives, and CEOs on sustainable peak performance, my co-author Eric Partaker and I pulled this off in just 12 months. Our results: a 1+ million audience, a 7-figure business around it, and a book deal with Portfolio Penguin.

Most importantly, we’ve deconstructed what it takes to help you become Ultracreative, too — and packaged it into a 90-minute 1:1 coaching call. Learn more and book your call here.

1 more way I can help you

Are you struggling to focus on the important work being busy with urgent stuff? Are you feeling tired throughout the day despite sleeping for 7 or 8 hours at night? Are you having trouble dealing with high stress at work – and “switching it off” at home?

If so, check out our new Becoming Ultraproductive 1:1 coaching program. In it, I help executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs build rock-solid habits for deep focus, deep sleep, and mastering stress – and increase their productivity by up to 10x. That way, I’ve coached 60+ executives, entrepreneurs and CEOs on Becoming Ultraproductive since 2023.

The coaching program includes six 1:1 sessions with me over 12 weeks, tailor-made habit systems and handouts to optimize focus, sleep, and stress – and a guaranteed 100% increase in productivity. It is limited to ten seats at a time. If you’re interested in one of these seats, learn more and get in touch here.