Imagine someone asks you, “What is your reason for being?” Would you have an answer? That’s what the Japanese concept of ikigai is all about—finding what gives your life purpose, joy, and meaning.

If you find this question difficult to answer, don’t worry. Not everyone can name their ikigai right away. But learning how to find it can help you connect more deeply with what matters most to you.

When you discover your ikigai, it brings clarity, motivation, and a sense of fulfilment that can truly change how you live every day. 

If this sounds like something you want in your life, then read these stories from our TerraYou colleagues. They share how they discovered their own personal ikigai—and how it’s transformed and enriched their lives.

What is ikigai?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that means “a reason for being”—the thing that gives your life meaning and makes you excited to start each day.

The word itself has no direct English translation, as it expresses a deeper, philosophical idea about living a fulfilling and meaningful life. It comes from the Japanese words “iki” (life) and “gai” (value or benefit).

In recent years, ikigai has gained popularity in the West, alongside other Japanese lifestyle concepts. What they all share is the message to slow down, be present, enjoy life with all your senses, and seek long-term happiness.

Let’s look now at how some of TerraYou’s team has internalized Ikigai’s message.

How has ikigai transformed the lives of our team members?

To answer this question we asked our colleagues at the TerraYou office to reflect on their own ikigai. Their answers reveal how it shaped lives in deeply personal and inspiring ways.

When we asked Mandy about her ikigai, she told us about the role personal growth plays in her life:

I absolutely love discovering new things and learning every day. I’ve found the perfect way to combine that passion with my favorite hobby: reading. I share my thoughts and impressions through my Instagram account, and I never expected it to be this fulfilling! I do what I love, and I get to spread positive vibes into the world.

Mandy also revealed the rewarding aspects of her ikigai:

This hobby lets me express myself creatively, support authors, and share my love of books with others. And the cherry on top? I’m rewarded with kind words, lovely feedback from the community and authors, and sometimes even with free review copies.

Gaia feels that her ikigai is the connections she makes with the people in her life:

I might not be the most outgoing person. It usually takes me a while to truly open up to others, and I enjoy spending time on my own to recharge. That said, the people I’m close to who I love and trust are incredibly important to me. No matter what, they’ll always come first. Even though I might not always show it right away, I care deeply about the relationships I build and do my best to keep them strong and genuine.

Emily also values connection and how it’s the small things that matter:

I love the concept of ikigai. I’ve never identified with large life goals, so the idea of finding small everyday joys that give my life meaning is something that really speaks to me. My ikigai is “personal connections,” and that’s something that’s been true my whole life. I’m not a big networker, but I love building relationships.

Emily’s ikigai has shown itself through the responsibilities that come with raising children.

Right now, it’s raising my daughters that brings me joy (and pure exhaustion). The experience changes every day because they do. Discovering who they are as people and learning to troubleshoot new problems with them on a daily basis as they grow has given me a whole new perspective on the world.

Kseniia, experiencing tough times, looks to personal development to keep her focused on the things that matter.

I’m going through a very tough period in my life, and focusing on personal development has actually helped shape me into the person I am today. It has forced me to face my inner fears and insecurities, but at the same time, it revealed my strengths — what I am truly worth and what I’m capable of.

She also told us about the specific aspects of her personal development that help her maintain this strength of spirit.

Personal development is the key to all of this: more sport, more traveling to the places that inspire me, more books to read, more quiet moments at the lake to think, more things to learn, more things to try.

Finally, our designer, George, takes social responsibility seriously and believes it will always play a big role in his life.

I like to live in a way that respects others around me. I believe in teamwork and enjoy collaborating on projects with others who can cover my blind spots. Close relationships take priority in my life and I'll seek to be there, especially for my family. Being close with family ensures that all of life can be enjoyed or endured with great people alongside you.

Finding your own ikigai

As you can see, ikigai takes many forms. Whether small or large, daily or long-term, the point is that ikigai resonates deeply with the individual.

Would you like to learn how you can uncover your ikigai? Take our test to find out the specific form your ikigai takes. Once you know what it looks like, these steps can help you add specificity to your ikigai shape by getting you to think about its presence in your daily life.

Start small: Take a moment in the evening to reflect on your day. At which points did you feel happy? What made you smile? What did you make time for, even if it meant giving up something else? In these small moments are clues to the things that really matter.

Widen the lens: Consider these moments in the context of a full week. Did these things make you happy all week? Did you find time for them every day? Were you sad when you couldn’t make time for them? Patterns will begin to emerge that suggest what your ikigai might be.

Look ahead: Now, decide whether these things or others will still be important to you in the future. What do you hope to be still doing in five years? In ten? What or who inspires you to stay healthy and live long? If you can see that something will continue enriching your life in the future, you may have begun to see the shape your Ikigai takes.

This kind of reflection can help you take those first few steps towards finding your ikigai. With patience and attentiveness, it will make itself known to you.

Further resources to explore:

• Once you’ve found your Ikigai, consider taking our test to discover the level of Ikigai in your life.

• Try one of our other balance tests to nurture greater emotional and mental harmon

• If you are ready to take your personal growth to the next level dive into the power of Shadow Work article and uncover what’s been holding you back.