25 Inspiring Ikigai Examples to Help You Find Purpose

The Japanese concept of ikigai refers to a profound philosophy that explains what it means to live a fulfilling life that is worth living. Translated roughly to “a reason for being,” ikigai represents the intersection of four critical components: what we love, what we’re good at, what the world needs, and what we can be compensated for.

The best thing you can do to discover how the ikigai concept can be used to understand your own purpose of life is by exploring real-life ikigai examples. That’s why I have put together this list of 25 inspiring ikigai examples from real people who live or have lived a life deeply connected to their purpose.

I will also share my own experience of discovering my personal ikigai that has helped me find work that I am passionate about and gives my life a sense of meaning and purpose.

Understanding The Ikigai Diagram

A practical tool for understanding the ikigai philosophy of Japanese culture is the ikigai diagram. Typically, the ikigai Venn diagram is shown with four overlapping circles.

In this visual representation, each circle addresses one of the key components:

What Do You Love? This encompasses your passions, interests, and your favorite things that bring you joy.
What Are You Good At? This includes your skills, talents, and areas of expertise.
What Does the World Need? This reflects societal needs, problems that require solutions, and areas where your contributions can make a difference.
What Can You Be Paid For? This pertains to your professional opportunities and the potential for financial stability.

The sweet spot is the intersection of these four areas. This is where you find your ikigai.

25 Real-World Ikigai Examples

Let’s dig into 25 real-life ikigai examples of people who embody the concept of ikigai. Each of these examples showcase different ways that passions can align with skill sets and professions in order to make positive contributions to the world.

Marie Kondo: By helping people declutter their spaces, Marie Kondo finds joy in tidying up, illustrating how small things can lead to a happy life. Her approach focuses on creating a space of self reflection.
Steve Jobs: A great deal of passion for innovation drove Jobs to create products that revolutionized technology. His relentless pursuit of perfection, design thinking, and commitment to the creative process changed how we interact with technology.
Elon Musk: Musk’s vision to improve humanity through technology exemplifies a true passion that intersects with world needs. His work with Tesla and SpaceX reflects his commitment to sustainability and exploration, showcasing the importance of a sense of purpose in one’s professional life.
Oprah Winfrey: By sharing compelling stories, Oprah inspires change and connection to find the joy of little things in everyday life. Her ability to connect with people and address their struggles shows the transformative power of compassion and authenticity.
Malala Yousafzai: As an advocate for education and women’s rights, Malala shows the power of personal values in pursuing a fulfilling life. Her courage to speak out against injustice highlights the impact one person can have on the world.
Greta Thunberg: Her relentless activism for climate awareness reflects a commitment to world’s needs and the importance of hard work for a sustainable future. Thunberg’s message resonates with youth and adults alike and highlights the important need for urgent action against climate change.
Richard Branson: Branson combines his love for adventure with entrepreneurship and emphasizes the extraordinary journey of life in his career path. His ventures, from airlines to space travel, are driven by a desire to innovate and create memorable experiences in a variety of ways.
J.K. Rowling: As the author of the beloved Harry Potter series, Rowling has inspired millions through her storytelling that focuses on discovering and embracing your true self. Her passion for the creative process and her journey from struggling single mother to bestselling author exemplifies resilience and passion.
David Attenborough: His dedication to educating about nature highlights the profound psychological factors that connect us to our environment. Attenborough’s documentaries inspire a global audience to appreciate and protect our planet.
Hector Garcia: Through his writings on ikigai, Garcia provides valuable insights into the meaning of life and its application in everyday living. His work encourages readers to reflect in greater detail on their own passions and find fulfillment in the present.
Ken Mogi: As the author of The Little Book of Ikigai, Mogi emphasizes how small steps in your daily routines can lead to greater fulfillment. His research bridges the gap between happiness and the practical applications of ikigai in daily life.

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Francesc Miralles: His works on personal growth promote the exploration of one’s true ikigai and the pursuit of self-discovery. Miralles emphasizes the importance of introspection in finding what truly matters to us.
Yoko Ono: Ono embodies the essence of ikigai through personal expression and social impact to use art for peace. Her creative endeavors highlight how art can be a powerful vehicle for change.
Brené Brown: Advocating for vulnerability and courage in New York Times bestsellers such as The Gifts of Imperfection, Brown highlights the importance of personal development in finding one’s ikigai. Her research encourages individuals to embrace their natural imperfections as human beings to see them as a source of strength.

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Jane Goodall: Her commitment to wildlife conservation illustrates how passion can drive a meaningful career and align with the world’s needs.
Tony Robbins: As one of the world’s best motivational speakers, Robbins empowers individuals to discover their purpose through coaching. He emphasizes the impact of professional success and professional development on personal fulfillment. His seminars encourage attendees to unlock their potential and take action.
Maya Angelou: Through literature and poetry, Angelou inspired self-acceptance and resilience, showcasing the source of value in creative expression. Her words continue to resonate, encouraging people to find their voice and purpose in daily life.
Simon Sinek: Sinek emphasizes how aligning with core values leads to organizational success by advocating for purpose in leadership. His concept of “Start with Why” helps individuals and businesses discover their deeper motivations.
Eckhart Tolle: Tolle promotes mindfulness, guiding individuals to live in the present. He argues that this can reveal our true north in life. His teachings emphasize the importance of awareness in uncovering one’s ikigai.
Elizabeth Gilbert: Gilbert’s exploration of the creative process inspires readers to embrace their own ikigai through writing and self-discovery. Gilbert’s narrative encourages individuals to pursue their passions unapologetically.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Ginsburg’s advocacy for justice and equality exemplifies a sense of mission that drives her actions. Her legacy inspires others to pursue fairness and equity in diverse ways in all aspects of life.
Zainab Johnson: Johnson empowers youth as a community leader by showcasing the importance of personal passions in social change. Her initiatives foster leadership skills and community involvement.
Diane von Furstenberg: von Furstenberg champions women’s empowerment through fashion to demonstrate how the creative process aligns with personal growth. Her story is a testament to resilience and the pursuit of one’s dreams.
Chef José Andrés: Andrés is an example of the connection between personal passions and addressing important needs in society. His humanitarian work of using culinary skills to combat hunger highlights the transformative power of food.
My Own Ikigai: After conquering my fear of career changes, I left teaching to become an instructional designer. This new role allows me to combine my passions for education and technology to create engaging content for students. It also offers me flexibility to balance my professional and family life. It sits at the center of my ikigai, where my strengths, passions, and the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause all intersect.

Finding Your Ikigai

Embarking on the ikigai journey requires self-reflection and a willingness to explore various paths to discover your ultimate sense of fulfillment and your life purpose. It requires patience and persistence as you seek to uncover the unique combination of elements that bring fulfillment and purpose to your life.

To begin your ikigai journey, your first step should be to start with a self-reflection exercise. Take time to explore your passions, strengths, and the impact you want to have on the world.

Ask yourself questions such as:

What activities make me lose track of time?
What do others often seek my help with?
And what issues in the world resonate with me?

Next, explore your interests by trying new activities, volunteering, or enrolling in courses that help you uncover hidden talents and passions. The more you expand your horizons, the clearer your ikigai will become.

Once you have a sense of your interests and talents, the next step is to focus on identifying opportunities to weave these passions into your daily life or career. Whether it’s pursuing new job roles, launching a personal project, or volunteering for causes that align with your values, spending time looking for ways to build a path that allows you to express your true purpose is important.

As you move forward, set clear and achievable goals that align with your ikigai. Break down larger goals into smaller steps to help maintain focus and momentum. While the path to discovering your ikigai may not be linear, each step you take will bring you closer to your ideal life.

It’s important to embrace challenges and each tough time you face along the way. Recognize that setbacks can lead to valuable lessons and personal growth. Stay resilient and open to change, understanding that your ikigai may evolve as you learn more about yourself and the world around you.

The last step is to make sure that you reflect on your progress regularly. Assess what you’ve learned, what works, and what doesn’t. This reflection will help you adjust your course as needed and celebrate your growth along the way. The journey to finding your ikigai is ongoing, but each step forward brings you closer to living a life filled with meaning and purpose.

Use the free ikigai test workbook below to guide you throughout the process of finding your ikigai!

Reflective Questions for Self-Discovery

To help you engage more deeply with the concept of ikigai, consider the following reflective questions:

What activities make me feel most alive and fulfilled?
How do I define success for myself, beyond societal expectations?
In what ways can I contribute to my community or the world that align with my passions?
What are the small things in my life that bring me joy and fulfillment?
How do my core values guide my choices and actions?

Answering these questions can help clarify the unique elements of your ikigai and guide you on the path to a more fulfilling life!

Practical Exercises to Discover Your Ikigai

If you’re ready to take a deeper dive, try these practical exercises to uncover your ikigai:

Create Your Ikigai Diagram: Draw a diagram with four overlapping circles labeled: What you love, What you’re good at, What the world needs, and What you can be paid for. Fill in each circle with your thoughts and analyze the intersections to identify your ikigai.
Gratitude Journaling: Keep a daily journal where you write down three things you’re grateful for each day. This practice will help you focus on the good things in your life and deepen your understanding of what brings you joy and satisfaction.
Ikigai Meditation: Set aside time each week to meditate on your ikigai. Visualize a life that aligns with your passions and values. Imagine how this life looks and feels, and allow yourself to fully explore these emotions.
Talk to a Mentor: Seek out a mentor or life coach who can guide you in your journey to discover your ikigai. Their experience and perspective can offer valuable insights and encouragement as you navigate this path.
Volunteer: Engaging in volunteer work can help you better understand the needs of your community and how your skills can make a difference. This experience can provide clarity on your purpose and connect you with a broader sense of meaning.

Embracing Your Ikigai in Your Daily Life

In a world that constantly adds more demands to our time, the concept of ikigai is an important Japanese secret that can help you stay grounded and focused on living a healthy life that is focused on passion, purpose, and life satisfaction.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your daily responsibilities and the societal pressures to succeed, my hope is that you find these ikigai examples encouraging as you start discovering your own pathway toward a life that is rich with meaning and purpose.

When you discover the essence of ikigai, you will find not only a path to personal satisfaction but also a way to contribute positively to the lives of others.

Each of the components of ikigai leads to personal growth, enhanced well-being, and a deeper sense of belonging within the larger tapestry of life.

As you reflect on the stories of these individuals and your own journey, consider your own ikigai. What brings you joy? How can you align your passions with the needs of the world? Remember that finding your ikigai is a personal journey that requires patience and self-exploration. It’s about discovering what matters most to you and taking steps toward a life filled with purpose and fulfillment.

By understanding and embracing your ikigai, you can find a rewarding career, a happy life, and a sense of deep passion that inspires both you and those around you.

Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family on social media! If you know someone who is struggling with finding their passion and purpose, these ikigai examples could be just what they need!