Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being.” The word “ikigai” is usually used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. The word translated to English roughly means “thing that you live for” or “the reason for which you wake up in the morning.”
As Sofiri education experts connect with future international students, in many cases, it is clear that aspiring students are not sure about their study plans. Motivations are not simple, and this is why chatting with an expert education counsellor will always be a good idea.
How to know what your academic future should be or should go?
According to Japanese culture, your ikigai lies at the centre of four interconnecting circles:
- Mission: What you love
- Vocation: What the world needs
- Profession: What you can get paid for
- Passion: What you are good at
Each of these elements helps contribute to your happiness, health, finances and intellectual pursuit; all four are crucial for you to find “the reason to wake up in the morning.”
If you are really interested in having an ikigai, then your study options should rely on much more than only having a career (Vocation) or getting paid (Profession). At the same time, Mission and Passion aren’t enough to sustain you financially if you don’t know how to turn it into a paying job.
What is preventing you from finding your ikigai?
- you do not want to take risks in life
- you do not know what your passion is or someone told you that does not equate to a job
- Someone else is making your life decisions
- you are not asking for help
- you do not know what career prospects are
How to find my ikigai then?
You are here, and that is the first step, second, it will be to connect with a Sofiri education expert. Third, go through our bot chat experience, it will help you narrow the search for a person to assist you; choose from our various education counsellors. Once you are connected, you can chat about:
- What do you love to do?
- What comes easily to you?
- Create your statement of purpose
- Let your education expert guide yourself
How to get started?
To connect with a Sofiri education expert to start a discussion about your ikigai and how that connects to your study plans, you just have to register and choose an education expert to guide you and resolve any concerns you might have, as well as advise you for free on the process.
