When it comes to finding your path, your calling, or your soul purpose, its easy to get lost down the rabbit hole of doubt, confusion, unworthiness, and all the emotions that come with trying to figure out something that feels so big.
I’ve been down this path many times in search of mentors, elders, guidance counsellors, courses, choosing my major in university, and all the books and resources I could get my hands on.
At the end of it all, I found that (get ready for the cliche) the answers are actually all around you, within you, if you know how to look.
When I got to the point of creating my own take on a few different methods I’d tried, I knew I had to do something totally different.
After all my experience along my journey searching for purpose, I created a spin on the famous Ikigai chart from Akihiro Hasegawa.
Ikigai is a Japanese concept with no direct English translation. Essentially, it means your reason to wake up in the morning, to get through a rough period, something to live for and to be in service to.
Japanese people believe that the sum of small joys in everyday life results in more fulfilling life as a whole
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170807-ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-work-and-life
I sat down and really looked at all areas of my life. I was happy in some ways, but so unhappy in other areas of my life. I kept wondering “is this just how it is?”.
It was during a period of confusion and imbalance, as most times of radical change comes. I was also starting to meditate a lot. I was searching for clarity in the chaos, asking my spirit guides for signs, and literally doing whatever I could to learn something about myself. Astrology, personality tests, strengths tests, aptitude tests–you name it, I’ve tried it.
I started to dig deeper and ask bigger questions than ever. Talk about an existential crisis! So, naturally, I journaled my way through it.
I have always kept a journal for self reflection, but when I looked back on things I had written down about my ambitions in my career and work life from years before, I realised they were so varied. That just made me more confused, and I felt like burning down everything I thought I knew about myself to the ground, and really start fresh.
It was around that time that I discovered the term multipotentialite. I felt so seen! Then, I came across Marie Forleo’s take on being multipassionate. I wasn’t the only one! Hallelujah!
From there, I felt a sense of hope. I knew that having a big heart was an asset and not a liability, but I just couldn’t figure out how everything fit together.
With an open heart, and no specific ideal in mind, I cleared my thoughts, poured some coffee, put on some chill tunes, and got to brainstorming. I used 4 separate sheets of paper to give myself enough space (what can I say, I’m old school like that), and dedicated each sheet to a category.
- What your strengths are
Natural strengths that you notice other people always point out about you, even if you don’t think they’re that special.
- What people will pay you for (What skills you have)
It helps to look back at past jobs, and see what kinds of skills you would put on your resume.
- What you love
Anything from loving animals, to loving spreadsheets, to the feeling you get when you walk out of the salon. Whatever makes you feel that tiny rush of joy–write it down.
- What the world needs (problems you see in the world that you would like to fix)
This is where it gets interesting and looks really different for everyone. We all see the world through our own lens, and its also where our true passions show through. Maybe you have a deep love for the environment and want to save the whales or bring a recycling program to local schools. Maybe you absolutely hate the foster care system and want to help kids feel loved and valued. Maybe your thing is bringing a community garden to inner city food deserts. These are all problems you see in the world that you feel passionate about finding a solution for or being part of it somehow. Write down as many problems and solutions as possible here. Don’t hold back, money is not an issue, education/experience is not an issue. Imagine you had a magic wand to do anything you wanted in the next 2 weeks to make an impact on the world before going back to your “normal” life. What would you do? Write it down!
I wrote as many things as I could on each sheet of paper, making sure I didn’t doubt myself, and let whatever came to mind flow. No judgement, not second thoughts, just writing whatever came to mind.
The whole process took me all afternoon, but by the end, I was actually surprised what I came up with.
Now, my challenge for you is to do the same. Spend some time on this and really be honest with yourself.
You may have to do this a few times in a year because we all change and evolve faster than we realise. That’s ok! It took me a total of 4 times to see a pattern before it hit me like a ton of bricks one day.
I share this with you because it is the most tried and true method I’ve ever done, in combination with inner self awareness, an open mind, and surrender.
That, and all the personality assessments, strengths tests, and astrological insight I’ve learned over the years.
I truly hope you find this inspiring and useful, and I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.
I’d love to hear about your experience with this, so feel free to leave a comment or drop me an email to let me know about your experience. I read them all!
As always–
Enjoy the Journey,
Nikki
