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J. Hayashi

Do you want to find greater clarity about who you are where you want to go? Do you want to develop better habits and mindsets? Are you looking for more joy and fulfillment out of your days? Finding and living your ikigai can help you do all of the above, so you can be the best version of yourself - today and every day.The word “ikigai” is Japanese for “your reason for being.” It has also been translated as your reason for getting out of bed in the morning, the thing that makes your life worthwhile, something to live for, your sense of purpose, and your springboard for tomorrow. Each person’s ikigai is personal and specific to their own lives, values, and beliefs... It just needs to be discovered and awakened.This action-oriented course will help you to find and live your ikigai. It's jam-packed with practical wisdom from Japanese philosophy that you can apply immediately to live a more rewarding, joyful, and authentic life.My course teaches you that you are the designer of your life. It starts with your mindset and attitudes, and is followed by your actions, habits, rituals, and practices. There is no doubt that you can continue to live your life as it is, still finding joy, authenticity, and balance. But learning to discover and pursue your ikigai can help guide you to the next level of self-mastery.And the best part? The course is only one hour long. So skip that TV show tonight or make the most of your lunch break and do something to invest in yourself instead. I promise you it’s worth it and it will set you up for a lifelong journey of growth and fulfillment. As part of the course, you’ll also get access to a number of helpful resources, including:

Read more

Do you want to find greater clarity about who you are where you want to go? Do you want to develop better habits and mindsets? Are you looking for more joy and fulfillment out of your days? Finding and living your ikigai can help you do all of the above, so you can be the best version of yourself - today and every day.The word “ikigai” is Japanese for “your reason for being.” It has also been translated as your reason for getting out of bed in the morning, the thing that makes your life worthwhile, something to live for, your sense of purpose, and your springboard for tomorrow. Each person’s ikigai is personal and specific to their own lives, values, and beliefs... It just needs to be discovered and awakened.This action-oriented course will help you to find and live your ikigai. It's jam-packed with practical wisdom from Japanese philosophy that you can apply immediately to live a more rewarding, joyful, and authentic life.My course teaches you that you are the designer of your life. It starts with your mindset and attitudes, and is followed by your actions, habits, rituals, and practices. There is no doubt that you can continue to live your life as it is, still finding joy, authenticity, and balance. But learning to discover and pursue your ikigai can help guide you to the next level of self-mastery.And the best part? The course is only one hour long. So skip that TV show tonight or make the most of your lunch break and do something to invest in yourself instead. I promise you it’s worth it and it will set you up for a lifelong journey of growth and fulfillment. As part of the course, you’ll also get access to a number of helpful resources, including:

  • Ikigai Discovery Guide

  • Ikigai Wellness Guide

  • Mindset Exercises

  • S.M.A.L.L. Goals Worksheet

  • Hansei Journal

By the end, you’ll feel inspired to live life to your fullest potential, with the clarity to design the life you’ve always envisioned, and with the confidence to develop better habits, boost your positivity, and achieve your goals.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

About Ikigai Inspiration and the Course Overview
About Ikigai Inspiration
Course Overview
How to use the Ikigai Framework to better understand who you are, prioritize your time and energy, and develop a roadmap for the future
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What is Ikigai?
The 5 Pillars of Ikigai
How to Find Your Flow
The 10 Rules of Ikigai
The Ikigai Framework
Future Self
How to cultivate a growth mindset, embrace imperfections through wabi sabi, and practice self-care through kintsugi
What is a Growth Mindset?
Wabi Sabi: Embracing Imperfections
Kintsugi: Resilience, Self-Love and Self-Care
Mini-Challenge: Try Something New!
How to use the practice of Kaizen to build better habits, live a more balanced and healthy life, and set and achieve goals
Kaizen: Continuous Improvement
The 8 Areas of Wellness
The S.M.A.L.L. Goals Framework and the Kaizen Cycle
How to use the art of self-reflection to support your lifelong ikigai journey
Hansei: The Art of Self-Reflection
Parting Thoughts and Conclusion

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Use the Ikigai Framework to Design and Live Your Best Life with these activities:
Review Principles of Goal Setting
Solidify your understanding of effective goal-setting techniques to better apply the S.M.A.L.L. Goals Framework.
Browse courses on SMART Goals
Show steps
  • Review the principles of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).
  • Reflect on past goals and identify areas where you can improve your goal-setting approach.
  • Practice setting S.M.A.L.L. goals for different areas of your life.
Review 'The Little Book of Ikigai'
Gain a broader perspective on Ikigai by exploring a different author's interpretation and insights.
View Think Like a Stoic on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read 'The Little Book of Ikigai'.
  • Compare and contrast the author's perspective with the course material.
  • Identify any new insights or perspectives that resonate with you.
Review 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life'
Deepen your understanding of Ikigai by exploring real-world examples and practical exercises.
Show steps
  • Read the book 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life'.
  • Identify three key takeaways from the book.
  • Reflect on how these takeaways relate to your own life and goals.
Four other activities
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Practice Hansei Self-Reflection Exercises
Develop a habit of self-reflection using the Hansei method to identify areas for improvement and growth.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific event or experience to reflect on.
  • Ask yourself questions about what went well, what could have been better, and what you learned.
  • Document your reflections in a journal or notebook.
  • Identify actionable steps to improve in the future.
Create a Personal Ikigai Mind Map
Visually represent your Ikigai by creating a mind map that connects your passions, talents, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm your passions, talents, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
  • Create a mind map with these four elements as the main branches.
  • Connect related ideas and concepts within the mind map.
  • Reflect on the intersections and potential Ikigai points.
Create a Personal Wellness Plan
Develop a structured plan to improve your well-being across the eight areas of wellness discussed in the course.
Show steps
  • Assess your current level of well-being in each of the eight areas of wellness.
  • Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for each area.
  • Identify actions and strategies to achieve your goals.
  • Create a schedule for implementing your wellness plan.
Design Your Ideal Week Based on Ikigai Principles
Apply the Ikigai framework to structure your week with activities that align with your purpose and values.
Show steps
  • Identify activities that align with your passions, talents, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
  • Allocate time slots for these activities throughout the week.
  • Prioritize activities that contribute to your overall well-being and fulfillment.
  • Review and adjust your ideal week based on your experiences and feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Use the Ikigai Framework to Design and Live Your Best Life will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Life Coach
A life coach guides individuals in making improvements in their lives in order to achieve goals and improve their overall well-being, which closely aligns to the purpose of ikigai. A life coach often helps clients identify their values, strengths, and passions, and then assists them in creating a plan to achieve their goals and live a more fulfilling life. This course may be useful in teaching the skills of self-reflection and goal-setting. The course's exploration of Japanese concepts such as Kaizen, Wabi Sabi, and Kintsugi may offer new perspectives to incorporate into one's coaching practice.
Wellness Consultant
The work of a wellness consultant involves helping people improve their overall health and well-being through personalized strategies. This course may be directly applicable, as it uses the Ikigai framework to understand an individual's reason for being and how to prioritize their time and energy. A core element of the work is teaching better approaches to wellness. The course offers insights into Japanese philosophy, such as Kaizen for continuous improvement and Kintsugi for self-care, which may enrich the consultant's toolkit for guiding clients.
Personal Development Trainer
Personal development trainers lead workshops and seminars that focus on helping individuals improve their personal and professional lives. This course explores the Ikigai framework, which is a valuable tool for understanding purpose, setting goals, and improving overall well-being. Topics such as cultivating a growth mindset, embracing imperfections, and practicing self-reflection, as discussed in the course, may be useful tenets of a trainer's methodology. This course's practical wisdom may directly enrich training modules.
Career Counselor
Career counselors assist individuals in making informed decisions about their careers. The Ikigai framework specifically addresses helping individuals find clarity about who they are and where they want to go, which is a core aspect of career counseling. By exploring the 5 Pillars of Ikigai and the 10 Rules of Ikigai, as covered in this course, a career counselor may gain valuable tools to help clients discover their passions and align them with their professional paths. The Hansei method, for example, may also be useful for assessing career goals.
Human Resources Generalist
A human resources generalist helps to manage a company's employees and ensure their well-being. The insights offered in this course may assist in developing employee wellness programs that aim to improve employee engagement and satisfaction. Concepts such as Kaizen for continuous improvement and the emphasis on self-care through Kintsugi may be integrated into HR initiatives. By understanding the principles of Ikigai, the HR generalist may be empowered to create a more supportive and fulfilling work environment for employees.
Guidance Counselor
Guidance counselors work in schools to help students with their academic, personal, and social development. The course's focus on Ikigai, which involves finding one's purpose and reason for being, directly relates to the goals of guidance counseling, as guidance counselors work with students to help them be the best version of themselves. The course’s Ikigai Wellness Guide and information on the growth mindset may be useful in helping students develop strategies for well-being and academic success.
Motivational Speaker
Motivational speakers deliver speeches designed to inspire and encourage audiences to take positive action in their lives. The emphasis on finding one's Ikigai and living life to the fullest potential may directly align with the goals of a motivational speaker, as the speaker works to uplift others. The course's practical wisdom from Japanese philosophy, such as the 10 Rules of Ikigai and the practice of Kaizen, may provide valuable content for a motivational speaker's message, instilling confidence and building positivity.
Team Building Facilitator
Team building facilitators design and lead activities that help teams work together more effectively. The principles taught in this course about individual purpose and well-being translates to a team dynamic. Understanding the Ikigai framework assists in developing team-building exercises that focus on aligning individual values with team goals. Concepts like Kaizen and the pursuit of a growth mindset may be useful in cultivating a collaborative and supportive team environment, making it easier for team members to work together effectively.
Employee Engagement Specialist
Employee engagement specialists develop and implement programs to improve employee satisfaction and productivity. By understanding the framework of Ikigai, which is the focus of this course, an engagement specialist may find new ways to connect employees with their work and the company's mission. The insights from Japanese practices, such as the emphasis on resilience and self-care through Kintsugi, may be integrated into the specialist's strategies for fostering a positive and supportive work environment.
Social Worker
Social workers provide support and assistance to individuals and communities facing challenges. The course may be helpful by providing the knowledge with which to assist clients in discovering their purpose and improving their overall well-being. The course's exploration of Ikigai and related Japanese concepts may offer insights for helping clients navigate difficult situations, build resilience, and find greater meaning in their lives. Self reflection, cultivated in the Hansei portion of the course, may be particularly useful.
Health Educator
Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness. This course may be useful by providing a framework for understanding overall well-being through the lens of Ikigai, which may translate to helping others develop a greater sense of purpose. By exploring the 8 Areas of Wellness and the principles of Kaizen for continuous improvement, health educators, empowered by the course material, may enhance their ability to guide individuals toward healthier lifestyles.
Retreat Leader
Retreat leaders organize and facilitate immersive experiences focused on personal growth and well-being. This course's focus on finding one's Ikigai can be useful for developing retreat themes and activities centered around self-discovery. Participants may value the course's teachings on Japanese practices such as Wabi Sabi and Kintsugi, as they encourage participants to embrace imperfections and practice self-care. The Ikigai framework may provide a structured approach to helping retreat attendees identify their values and passions.
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer coordinators recruit, train, and manage volunteers for nonprofit organizations. This course may be useful by providing a framework for understanding purpose and motivation through exploration of Ikigai, which may contribute to increased volunteer engagement. The course's focus on finding one's reason for being can assist the coordinator in connecting volunteers with meaningful opportunities that align with their values, thus improving volunteer retention.
Museum curator
Museum curators are responsible for acquiring, managing, and exhibiting artifacts and artwork. While seemingly disparate, a course focusing on Ikigai may be useful, as the curator may use its exploration into Japanese schools of thought to offer new meaning and context to exhibits that feature related artworks. By incorporating philosophies such as Wabi Sabi and Kintsugi into exhibit descriptions, the curator may enrich the visitor experience and provide new insights into cultural appreciation.
Copy Editor
Copy editors review and correct written material to ensure accuracy, clarity, and consistency. While the connection is not immediately obvious, this course may be useful in understanding the underlying purpose and tone of a text. The course may help improve the editor's sensitivity to the author's intent, ensuring that edits enhance rather than detract from the intended message. Also, practices explained in the course may help with mindfulness.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Use the Ikigai Framework to Design and Live Your Best Life.
Practical guide to understanding and implementing the Ikigai framework in your own life. It provides real-world examples and actionable steps to help you discover your purpose and live a more fulfilling life. It expands on the concepts introduced in the course and offers a deeper dive into the philosophy behind Ikigai. This book is commonly referenced when discussing Ikigai.
Provides a concise and accessible introduction to the concept of Ikigai. It explores the five pillars of Ikigai and offers practical advice on how to find your own reason for being. It serves as a great starting point for those new to Ikigai and complements the course material by providing a different perspective. This book is valuable as additional reading.

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