A Modern Take On Ikigai: A Japanese Classic That Helps Me Find My Purpose In Life
Along with explaining what ikigai is, I’ll also share a simple diagram that makes it possible
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that helps people find their purpose in life. It guides them to discover what they love, what they’re good at, what the world needs, and how they can get paid for it.
However, what holds most people back is finding a way to get paid for what they love. This is often the missing piece.
That was definitely the case for me growing up. It was only when I fell in love with scuba diving that everything changed.
In the beginning, I just wanted to learn as much as possible and have the best time but then I discovered I was a natural at it so I began taking steps to become a professional.
“Figure out what you’re good at without trying, then try.” — Isabel Unravelled
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could one day teach scuba diving and travel all over the Caribbean doing what I love but that’s exactly what happened.
I didn’t try and fall in love with anything, though, it just happened. Then once I discovered a passion for it, I worked hard at making a career out of it.
“You’ll never get tired of doing what feels fun and easy to you, so why not *try* to make what you do indefinitely (your vocation) something you would do forever, with pleasure?” — Isabel
I’ve been following her advice ever since.
Having friends who inspire me has been one of the greatest gifts
I have some of the coolest friends and most of them show me that anything is possible.
Some of them make pots for a living. Others work in the film industry and create epic movies. Some lead foraging tours and cook dinner for their guests while others run breathwork and yoga retreats. Some even host plant medicine ceremonies that I frequently attend.
All of them have combined what they love with what they’re good at and have found a way to get paid for it. And because of that, they’re some of the happiest people I know.
As a kid, these “jobs” never existed in my mind. They couldn’t because no one believed they were possible.
It took me becoming a scuba diving instructor to realise that anything is possible. And once I believed it once, I never stopped.
Today is a little different but I’m working on it
My life has changed a lot since then. It turned out that being a scuba diving instructor during the pandemic was one of the worst industries to be in because along with all the travel bans, the thought of sharing mouthpieces was a little too much.
During this time, I had to pivot and adapt so I started writing online. This then led me to become a full-time writer. So much of my time nowadays is spent behind a screen crafting my next story.
I love what I do and I feel so blessed to be able to express myself in the way that I do. (It has become my way of serving the world.) However, I do recognise that other parts of my life have taken a back seat (namely adventure and time in nature) so I have to balance things out with activities and hobbies.
I’m lucky to live in Cape Town where there are beautiful mountains and oceans. So, when I’m not writing I’m hiking with friends, freediving or scuba diving, foraging in the ocean, playing music, and cooking around a fire.
These make me feel alive and give life meaning.
“People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I don’t think that’s what we’re really seeking. I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonances with our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.” — Joseph Campbell
Our purpose in life is often closer than we think
Over dinner last night, my girlfriend reminded me of a question she asks herself when she’s lost or confused. And it’s what I’d like to leave you with today.
“If you have three jars and each one is filled with something you love, what would each one contain?”
She then said, “For me, it’s relationships, wilderness, and sacred time. I know I’m on purpose when these three core values meet.”
Below are my three.

Now it’s your turn.
“If you have three jars and each one is filled with something you love, what would each jar be filled with?”