Ikigai
A simple way to understand
what makes life feel meaningful
What Ikigai really means
Ikigai isn’t about finding one purpose.
It’s about recognising what helps life feel steady, energised, and worth living — especially as things begin to change.
Ikigai is often shown as a Venn diagram — passion, mission, profession, vocation. That can be useful. But it’s not the original meaning.
In practice, Ikigai is closer to a sense that life feels worth living
What the Japanese call Ikigai – kan
Sometimes that shows up as:
• feeling fulfilled
• having meaning and direction
• small moments of joy
• optimistic
• connected
The 7 principles that shape Ikigai
Mieko Kamiya's
7 Principles of Ikigai
© Ellie Warner
I tend to think of the 7 principles as the core areas of life: like buckets. I find these a useful way of understanding which parts of life already feel strong — and which may need more attention.
They are not something to “get right”.
They are simply a way of seeing more clearly what is present, what is missing, and what may be evolving
The 7 Ikigai principles
1. SELF-ACTUALISATION
Being who you truly are
The ability to fulfil your potential and become more fully yourself
2. MEANING AND VALUE
Feeling your life has value
Living in a way that reflects your own ideas, values, and sense of what matters
3. FREEDOM
Having choices in how you live
The ability to make decisions and shape your life without feeling overly constrained by external pressures
4. BELONGING
Feeling connected to something bigger than yourself
A sense of community, connection, and belonging — to people, place, or the wider world around you
5. CHANGE AND GROWTH
Continuing to grow and expand
The need to keep learning, evolving, and challenging yourself. Ageing well and living fully
6. PLEASURE AND LIFE SATISFACTION
Finding joy in ordinary life
A general sense of contentment. The little moments that make you smile
7. A BRIGHT FUTURE
Feeling life is moving in the right direction
Hope, optimism, and a sense that something meaningful lies ahead.
WHAT YOU TAKE WITH YOU
A way to make decisions with more clarity and less noise
Earlier awareness of what’s no longer working
A practical way to reset when things shift
More focused action
Confidence built through evidence, not guesswork
Where to start
You can begin with a simple reflection — or move into a more
structured 8-week coaching and mentoring programme, depending on what you need.
Ikigai Alignment Snapshot™
A short guided reflection
→ see clearly what feels full vs missing
→ optional follow-up via an Ikigai Clarity Call
Ikigai D.R.E.A.M. Method™
8-week coaching and mentoring programme
→ identify your #1 priority
→ work through what’s getting in the way
→ build momentum that lasts
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