How I Found Joy And Purpose In Work And Defeated Anxiety

Ikigai revealed: navigating a fulfilling professional path.

A few days ago, my daughter Emma told me one of the most beautiful and meaningful things that could be said to me: “ Dad, I observe you, and I see that you are never anxious”.

This was a true joy for me because it’s a goal I’ve been working towards for years, and now those closest to me can see that I’ve managed to achieve it.

The primary source of anxiety for me has always been work.

And I’ve always believed it was an inevitable thing.

To live, you need to work, and to work, you need to be anxious.

An immutable and eternal equation, like the Pythagorean theorem or the laws of thermodynamics.

It took years of reading, psychotherapy, and discussions with family and sincere friends to understand that it’s not true. It took years to untangle the intricate web that ties work, anxiety, salary, social status, and personal fulfillment and finally have a clear vision.

Because, in the end, for me, the fundamental factor is awareness.

Awareness of what we love to do, what we are good at, what the world needs and is willing to pay us for.

Oh yes, I’m talking about Ikigai. I wish I had discovered it earlier; perhaps my journey to well-being would have been shorter!

For those who don’t know it, “ Ikigai” is a Japanese concept that combines the two words “ iki”, meaning life, and “ gai”, meaning worth.

In simple terms, it’s about finding joy and satisfaction in life through a balance of four elements:

The intersection of these four aspects is your Ikigai — the sweet spot where your personal fulfillment and the world’s needs meet. It’s like a roadmap to a happy and purposeful life.

It is very interesting to see the intersections between these four elements.

• What you love + What you are good at: This is where your love for something aligns with your skills. It’s what you’re good at and what you enjoy. However, it might not necessarily be something the world needs or is willing to pay for.
• What you love + What the world needs: This is where what you love intersects with what the world needs. You might not be particularly skilled at it, but your enthusiasm and commitment can drive positive change.
• What you love + What you can be paid for: This intersection involves doing what you love and finding a way to make a living from it. While it may not address a specific need or align with a mission, it allows you to derive satisfaction from your work and enjoy earning a living.
• What you are good at + What the world needs: Here, your skills meet a need in the world. You can make a positive impact, even if it’s not something you’re passionate about. This could lead to a sense of responsibility and contribution.
• What the world needs + What you can be paid for: This intersection involves addressing a need in the world and making a living from it. While you may not be passionate about it, you find purpose in contributing to something meaningful.
• What you are good at + What you can be paid for. This is where you are engaged in work that aligns with your skills and abilities and, at the same time, allows you to make a living. While you may be proficient at what you do, and it provides financial stability, there might be a lack of a deeper personal connection or a sense of higher purpose.

I found myself in the last intersection for many years. I was engaged in a corporate job that aligned with my skills and allowed me to make a living. While I was proficient at what I did and had financial stability, there was a lack of a deeper personal connection or a sense of a higher purpose. And that was precisely my primary source of anxiety.

Then, I found my Ikigai working at Bibisco, the novel writer software I created.

At Bibisco, all four elements are present. In addition to performing the job well and getting paid, working at Bibisco truly makes me happy because I can combine my passions for literature and information in a project that can contribute positively to the world.

Because writing means thinking, imagining, reasoning, and understanding. Things we desperately need.

And you? Have you already found your Ikigai? Let me know in the comments!

I’m Andrea from Bologna, Italy. I write about life, beauty, empathy, and lessons learned. To see my stories pop up on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me (Andrea Feccomandi). And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to The Warm Lasagna, my weekly newsletter.

Originally published at https://warmlasagna.substack.com.