• By Daniel Robledo
😁 The Science-Backed Way to Thrive in Work and Life
read time: 4 minutes
Welcome back to The Checkpoint, a newsletter where, every Monday, we pause, reflect, and level up our lives.
☑️ Today's Summary:
- The concept of ikigai - a Japanese idea that blends what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can get paid for.
- Studies showing how having an ikigai can improve not only your career but also your health.
- Some practical exercises to start discovering your ikigai, integrating it into your life, and enjoying the journey along the way.
🌺 The Concept Of Ikigai
Hi Reader!
I'm so glad to be back! These past couple of months have been a whirlwind: I got laid off, shifted my content to English, and even had surgery — but don’t worry, everything is fine now! I’m back with more energy and excitement than ever.
During my unexpected free time, I finally dove into something I’d been meaning to explore for ages: philosophy. (Stay tuned for some recommendations later.) I went deep into Buddhism, Zen, and Stoicism, and wow — those ideas hit me hard.
The concept I want to share today is the Japanese idea of ikigai — your "reason for being." It’s a simple yet powerful framework to help you find purpose in your life and work.
What is Ikigai? Ikigai is divided into four overlapping areas:
- Passion: What you’re good at and enjoy
- Profession: What you’re good at and can be paid for
- Mission: What you enjoy and the world needs
- Vocation: What you can be paid for and the world needs
Okay, this might sound a bit “woo-woo,” but hear me out. Data backs this up: a study from the University of Derby found that having a sense of purpose significantly boosts career satisfaction and even lowers the risk of developing functional disabilities and dementia by nearly 35%.
From my own experience, integrating ikigai into my life has been transformative. I’ve noticed a surge in my overall happiness, health, and satisfaction. Here’s how my ikigai looks right now:
- Passion: Creating
- Profession: Programming
- Mission: Guiding
- Vocation: Teaching
How I’m aligning my life with my ikigai:
- Pursuing a part-time teaching position
- Mentoring more often
- Letting go of the business side of my content (and the stress that comes with it!)
Making changes to align with your ikigai can be daunting. It might mean leaving money on the table or starting something completely new. But let’s be honest: those big, scary leaps are often the most rewarding.
💡How to apply this concept TODAY:
If you’re curious about finding your own ikigai, here’s a quick exercise:
What do you truly enjoy doing? Think about the activities that make time fly and put you in a state of flow.
What do people often say you’re good at? Consider the compliments you receive or the skills people seek your advice on.
What jobs or roles make you think, “I could totally do that”? Trust your instincts.
What problem in the world can you help solve? This could be something big or small — the key is finding something meaningful to you.
Make sure to reply to this email with your answers 😁.
💯 Pro Tip: Keep your answers broad and abstract. Getting too specific can feel restrictive and stressful. The goal isn’t to rigidly define your ikigai but to integrate its elements into your life wherever you can.
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✍️ Week's Quote
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“
Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something
— Jake The Dog
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❤️ Favorites Of The Week
🕹️Videogame
Nine Souls
This game is the result of Sekiro and Hollow Knight matching on Tinder. Go play it.
Start playing
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📕Book
Good Work
This book encapsulates everything we've talked about today in such a beautiful way that I want to cry.
Start reading
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🎙️Podcast
The Motivation Of Grind
Apparently, I'm not the only one looking for more purpose in his life. This conversation is great because it has a real-sour flavor to it which makes it so real
Start listening
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👀 When Game Development Is Not Your Ikigai
📹 The Identity Crisis in Game Development
You may have noticed that I didn't mention any single time videogames as part of my ikigai...
Well, that was a conclusion harder to accept than I expected.
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Thank you for being here every week, Reader.Talk to you soon <3
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