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What You Are Good At ?
- Give full expression to your skills, uncover previously hidden talents and seek mastery in everything
you apply yourself to.
Attention To Details
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A natural aptitude for a particular activity will take you so far, but to fulfill your potential requires
extra commitment. Once you reach a high level of competence, it is harder to make improvements
and any advances are less marked. Slight adjustments you make may or may not be noticed by others -
but your efforts are never wasted. Being endlessly inquisitive and insistent on the highest standards
will expedite your search for ikigai. “If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” - Colin Powell
Win when you are losing
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We live in a competitive world in which a sharp line is often drawn between winners and losers. The
beauty of ikigai is that 'winning' is something everybody can achieve. It is within your scope to find a
niche that offers you an inner sense of satisfaction, regardless of structural measures of success or
failure. Pay attention to your inner voice and define success on your own terms. None of us are winners or losers; we are all just human.
Other Voices
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Although locating your ikigai is ultimately your own very personal business, seeking the opinions of
those who know you well may expedite your journey. Sometimes the things that are most familiar to
us we take for granted, even our own abilities. Ask trusted friends, family members or work
colleagues what they think are your best qualities. What they say might simply reinforce your own
instinct and give you more confidence to follow it. But perhaps their comments will surprise you by
highlighting an attribute you had underplayed and it will open your mind to new possibilities.
Failure is the best way to learn
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Just because you are good at something doesn't mean you won't fail. In fact, if you challenge your
ability, failure is inevitable. Failure is the foundation of success. So long as you learn from it, failure can be your friend on your ikigai journey.
Mastery
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Ikigai is linked to a sense of mastery. By choosing options that deeply motivate you, you will be
imbued with the energy and discipline required to make the most of your ability. Whatever the task
you set yourself, consistent, concentrated application to every step of the process will give you the
greatest chance of excelling.
“We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” -Aristotle, ancient Greek philosopher
Nothing is too simple
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Remember that your ikigai does not have to be something ostentatious. It may be that your talents
lie in performing more humble, everyday tasks that might not inspire awe in others, but are still
valuable. Perhaps you are a good organizer of people, which allows them to make the most of their
time. Or you are an empathetic listener who is always available to lend a friendly ear. You might not
be a leader by nature, but still be an able member of the supporting cast. Doing ostensibly simple
things well can be fulfilling.
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What You Are Good At ?