Why You Are Not Living Your Dreams and How To Find Them

The Inevitability of Mortality We all have that moment when the reality of mortality dawns upon us. It could be the death of a loved one or a solitary moment of reflection. This realization offers a choice: Live for pleasure, or live for achievement?

As a teenager, I chose the former. However, with time, a weight of unfulfilled potential weighed on me. My endeavors to change were met with frequent failures. And when I finally embraced the path of achievement, I found it devoid of joy.

Ikigai: The Third Way I realized there exists a balance—a third way. Ikigai, a Japanese concept, stands for a life worth living. It's not about mere survival or chasing societal standards. It's about aligning passion with purpose.

While some might derive their Ikigai from their job, others might find it in their hobbies or in moments of solitude. The challenge is to find that intersection of what you love, what the world needs, what you can be paid for, and what you're good at.

The Journey to Purpose Reflect on Musashi's principles or the Ikigai diagram, but remember they are guides, not answers. Your journey to purpose is deeply personal. It's intertwined with your past, present, and dreams for the future.

For some, like a dedicated teacher, their Ikigai might be in blending their love for art with their teaching skills, creating an art studio where they can teach, earn, and express freely.

Discovering your Ikigai isn't about reaching a destination, but about understanding the journey. Some paths may lead to dead-ends, but they bring clarity about what's not meant for you. Embrace every step, every stumble. For in the quest for purpose, there's no failure, only learning.