If you’ve ever jolted awake at 3am, mind racing through a hundred different “what ifs” about your life, career, or the world in general, I would often ponder about the what ifs till 3am. You’re not alone.
These days, uncertainty feels like a default. Pandemics, AI, war, tariffs (ikr!) when can we get a break from the volatility of the world we live in? Some of us manage it well, some of us, well, turn off the news.
Anxiety is the natural response. It’s your brain’s way of saying, “Hey, something feels out of control!” And honestly? It’s not wrong.
I think it’s easy to spiral out of control amidst of what’s happening in the macro environment, but hear me, you do not need to (of feel like you need to) control the chaos. You just need to find your anchor.
And that’s where Ikigai comes in.
Graduates wonder if their degrees will still matter in five years. It was the same when I was looking for a job after my degree, I believe it’s the same for many of graduates now too.
Mid-career professionals ask if their jobs will even exist in ten, because the rhetoric is increasingly becoming more like you need to constantly be on your toes, be ready to upskill or reskill or be rendered obsolete. Honestly, it’s a scary world out there. This uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re failing at life.
It just means you’re human.
Anxiety
As someone who used to and (still at times, ngl) struggle with anxiety, I understand. All these uncertainties, don’t mean you’re failing at life. And that’s what many of us fear, are we useless? Are we a failure?
Positioning Ikigai as your anchor
Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.” (And I’ve talked a little bit more in this earlier post)
It’s not about having one massive life mission printed on a motivational poster.
It’s about finding small, meaningful reasons to get up in the morning.
How Ikigai Helps Calm the Anxiety Monster
When the world feels overwhelming, and our Ikigai quietly reminds us to:
Focus on what you can control
You can’t control global events, but you can control how you show up today.
Find meaning in small actions
Purpose isn’t about grand gestures. It’s found in tiny moments of connection, creativity, and care.
Shift from fear to curiosity
Instead of asking, “What if everything falls apart?”
Ikigai invites you to ask, “What is still true for me, even now?”
Build emotional resilience
When you know what matters to you deep down, you become less shaken by things you can’t control.
Ikigai doesn’t promise certainty but it offers stability inside uncertainty.
How to Start Finding (or Strengthening) Your Ikigai
You don’t need to book a silent retreat (but we can always have a chat or play session) or hermitify yourself in the mountains. You can simply start where you are.
Here are 3 simple ways:
- Notice moments of aliveness
When do you feel a spark or a smile you didn’t force?
Those are Ikigai breadcrumbs. Pay attention to these micromoments. - Ask small questions
Instead of “What is my purpose??” (cue existential crisis) - Allow yourself to be messy
Ikigai isn’t a clean, linear journey.
It’s a series of small experiments, reflections, and small wins.
You don’t have to be fearless.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just need to find a few things worth waking up to, and keep moving towards them, one small step at a time. (I’m so tempted to say baby steps here)
In a world full of noise, uncertainty, and endless headlines, Ikigai whispers: “You are here. You have purpose. Keep going.”
Final Thoughts
I hope the article provided a greater understanding of ikigai and its anchoring role it plays in a world of mess, and I wanted to leave you with a free Purpose Framework worksheet so you can have a go at mapping yours.
You can absolutely work on this worksheet on your own or if you’re feeling stuck and want to talk it out with someone, book a KoPlay Discovery Play Session with me at david@saltnpepper.sg.