069: Living on Purpose or Merely Living?
"Ikigai" or "Plan De Vida?"
You might already be ahead of me and know their meaning.
Or I realize you might not be acquainted with either the Japanese or Spanish translations so I'll clue you in.
"Ikigai" is a Japanese word that translates to "a reason to live" or "a reason to jump out of bed in the morning."
"Plan De Vida" is the Spanish equivalent with a Costa Rican vibe that means: "life plan," or a deeper reference to one's "soul purpose" or "why I wake up each morning."
Let's carry those two words into our broader discussion here about what we will call - your "purpose."
Something gets you out of bed in the morning.
If you're on the younger side of the second-half era you might say, "I gotta get up and get out the door to work."
Or if you're in the middle of the second-half pack you might think, "I'm retired so today's adventure awaits..."
And if you're on the older, more legacy-conscious side of the second-half crowd you might be thinking, "I welcome each sunrise as another golden day to be alive.
Purpose is like that: it follows you throughout your life - whatever era you're in.
But the deeper question: is your purpose truly compelling?
When aging lures you into lethargy its essential that you tap into a compelling purpose or you'll risk wasting what could be the best years of your life
A clear and compelling purpose enables you to live beyond merely existing or surviving.
- Start doing what you love
- Keep growing in what you do
- Create something memorable
Do what you love
This isn't one of those coffee mug or T-shirt phrases.
It's way more fulfilling than a "pursue your passion" meme or statement.
By the time you reach mid-life you've likely ground through a major list of likes and dislikes.
Now's the time to narrow it down to what you actually love doing.
I've been a professional writer since 2006.
I began then to truly "like" what I do.
Now, all these years into it full time I can actually say I "love" the craft of writing.
I've done it for pay, have earned a good living (not always the case...but thankfully here I am), and still get paid to do it.
I would say I've entered a new zone or era of love for my skill (and not just because of the pay - though that's a major perk).
Does it get me out of bed in the morning, yes, because I still have clients who rely on my love for writing.
And I have other outlets (like what you're reading) that stoke my passion for writing.
There's purpose to what I do that exceeds merely liking it.
The Ikigai/Plan De Vida element compels you to ask some probing questions whatever aging era you're in.
- What do you love doing?
- What part of "do" is the most challenging or compelling for you?
- What are the rewards for your action?
Let those questions introduce you to what could become the purposeful love-of-your-life.
Grow in what you're compelled to do
Personal growth relies on the actions you're compelled to take.
It's difficult to grow when you're unmotivated, idle, or inactive.
This is why a major theme in my content is movement.
Not just any, random movement - but rather intentional movement - physically, mentally, emotionally.
This begs the question about our previous point of "doing what you love": are you getting better...are you growing in what you love doing?
Baked into the Ikigai/Plan De Vida mindset is the idea of consistent, purposeful growth and improvement.
- Take a course, subscribe to an online MasterClass, invest time on YouTube channels that are themed around your passions, interests, or hobbies.
- Refuse to believe you've arrived or have acquired all the useful skills you need.
- Stay insatiably curious about life, opportunity, and new ideas.
Create something lasting and memorable
Your purpose is in essence a creative process.
Living on purpose should naturally lead to beneficial outcomes.
Not only do the benefits compel your ongoing creativity but they flow outward into your legacy-stream.
As I've aged, I'm deeply aware of my legacy - that what I do, my personal growth initiatives, and my creative pursuits have the potential to extend way beyond my years.
That thought is one of the core reasons I create this newsletter each week.
This is one of my evergreen creations that I choose to publish as it reflects my perspective, growth, and experience.
It's a legacy-stream I'm sending out into the world.
I'm not suggesting you follow my path.
But I am challenging you to give thought to your own personal opportunities to create something of lasting value that will outlive you.
- Journal your experiences or write a memoir
- Take more photos of meaningful people, places, and moments.
- Mentor someone who shares your "do-what-you-love" theme or someone who could benefit from your earned wisdom.
- Live in creative-idea mode - believing that there's always a new and better way to do something.
You'll rest when you're done living...for now get up, get out of bed, and get moving...on purpose!
- Start doing what you love
- Keep growing in what you do
- Create something memorable
Press on...
Eddie