A thought experiment to find some balance
✨ Today’s tip: Identify a purpose that has nothing to do with your work.
Thinking of your job as your life’s purpose is often a quick ticket to burnout — or an identity crisis when you outgrow a role you once loved.
To bring shape and direction to your life, the writer Amardeep Parmar suggests instead looking to the Japanese concept of ikigai. “Put simply, ikigai is what brings you joy in your daily life,” he writes. “Knowing how to see it allows you to enjoy what you do, rather than chase what you think you might enjoy.” He notes that in Japan, few people consider their job to be their ikigai: “The others chose friends, family, hobbies, and even pets.”
For many of us, life is pretty stripped down to the basics right now. What’s giving you even the smallest amount of joy? Identify it, and then make room for more of it.
✍️ We want to hear from you. Send us an email at forge@medium.com and tell us about how you find purpose outside of work. We may feature some of our favorite answers on Forge’s Instagram.
📚 More from Forge on finding a sense of purpose:
To Live a Meaningful Life, Remember This One Thing
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The Dream Job Is Dead
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31 Important Things You Should Say “No” To For a Happier Life
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