Ikigai is often visualized as the overlapping center of four circles, each representing a fundamental aspect of a fulfilling life:

1. What You Love: This encompasses your passions, hobbies, and activities that bring you deep joy and make you feel alive.
2. What You Are Good At: These are your skills, talents, and competencies, whether they are innate or developed through practice.
3. What The World Needs: This refers to the problems you can help solve, the contributions you can make, or the needs of others that resonate with you.
4. What You Can Be Paid For: This is about your profession, career, or any means by which you can earn a living by applying your skills and passions.

True Ikigai lies at the harmonious intersection of all four. It's not just about one aspect, but the synergy between them.

The 'What the World Needs' and 'What You Can Be Paid For' aspects of Ikigai deeply connect to the spirit of entrepreneurship and visionary thinking. Entrepreneurs often identify a societal need or a gap in the market and build something to fill it. Their vision, much like the one described by Napoleon Hill in 'Think and Grow Rich,' is a powerful force that, when combined with belief and persistent action, can lead to significant change and personal success. Henry Ford, for example, envisioned a world where automobiles were accessible to the common person, fundamentally changing society. He saw a need (efficient, affordable transportation) and found a way to meet it professionally.

Reflect on these questions in the context of your own potential mission and profession:

• What societal changes do you dream of? What problems do you feel compelled to address?
• How could your unique skills and passions contribute to solving these problems or creating value for others in a way that could also sustain you?
• What kind of 'dent in the universe,' to quote Steve Jobs, do you aspire to make, even if it's on a local or personal scale?

Your Ikigai isn't just about personal fulfillment; it's also about how your fulfillment can contribute to the world around you. Cultivating a clear vision and the determination to pursue it, as highlighted by Hill, is crucial for turning your Ikigai into a tangible reality.

Finding your Ikigai is a journey of self-reflection. PsycheMap's interactive Ikigai assessment (linked below) will guide you through specific questions for each pillar, such as:

Passion (What You Love):

• What activities make you lose track of time?
• What do you do that makes you feel truly happy and energized?
• If money were no object, what would you spend your time doing?

Mission (What The World Needs):

• What problems in the world do you wish you could solve?
• What kind of impact do you want to have on others or your community?
• What causes do you deeply care about?

Vocation (What You Are Good At):

• What skills do people compliment you on?
• What tasks do you find easy that others find difficult?
• What have you learned or mastered throughout your life?

Profession (What You Can Be Paid For):

• What skills or services are currently in demand?
• What kind of work could provide you with financial stability?
• How can your talents be monetized or valued in the marketplace?

Our interactive assessment will help you capture these reflections, and then our AI can help synthesize potential insights.

PsycheMap's Ikigai assessment provides a structured space for your reflections. After completing the questions, our AI will help analyze your responses to identify potential themes and overlaps between the four pillars. This can offer you personalized insights and suggestions for further exploration. Additionally, other PsycheMap assessments can provide complementary insights:

• Understanding What You Love & Are Good At: Assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Big Five Personality Traits, and our upcoming StrengthsFinder (conceptual) can help identify your natural inclinations and talents. Our Motivational Drivers Profile can reveal intrinsic passions.
• Exploring What The World Needs: While this is a broader societal question, assessments like the Core Values Identifier and Ethical & Value Orientation Inventory can help connect with causes and principles that align with your sense of mission.
• Identifying What You Can Be Paid For: The Work Preferences & Environment Profile and tools like the DISC Assessment can help you understand work styles and environments where your skills are likely to be valued and rewarded.

By integrating insights from various PsycheMap tools, you can piece together a clearer picture of your potential Ikigai.

It's important to remember that finding your Ikigai is an ongoing process of exploration and refinement. It may evolve as you grow and change. The goal is not to find a single, perfect answer overnight, but to engage in a continuous journey of self-discovery that leads to a more purposeful and fulfilling life. Small steps, consistent reflection, and a willingness to explore are key.