Pursuing the Best Next Step
The art of self-exploration in a world that values outcomes and answers over process and wisdom.
The right answers for living life to your fullest rarely come from waiting for answers in the same place. Waiting to figure out all the answers before you get started will keep you standing still.
Change one thing, and other things will change…along with your perspective.
In the search for perfection, or making sure we get this next step right, it's easy to get paralyzed and feel trapped where we are. The fear of getting the next step wrong keeps us stuck, analyzing options and avoiding action. We worry about making another wrong move. We press pause each week on pursuing change (upgrading your leadership style, deciding on a new career, building community, or even finding a new hobby) for fear that it won't turn out the way we hope. And then if it doesn't turn out the way we hope…what will have been the point?
Explore
When you feel the desire for change in your life or career, and you're holding back on action until you know exactly what the destination is, the experience of exploring through action will help you discover the destination.
While traveling in Japan, I explored the concept of Ikigai (roughly translated as your “reason for being”) in conversations with professionals throughout my journey.
Inspired by Japanese professionals who talked about the concept of Ikigai as your soul, or your way of being. As a coach, I've seen time and time again that connecting with your Ikigai isn't about creating a 10 year plan…it's not a treasure chest with an accompanying map that will get you exactly what you're looking for. There is no map, and no one "moment" when you find connection with your calling.
Ikigai is roughly translated to mean “reason for being”. (Image credit: Toronto Star)
The secret to discovering your Ikigai lies in your past and what you’ve done, not in making one singular, pivotal life altering decision about your future. The path you've traveled is rich with sticks and stones, flowers and growing foliage - all things you didn't expect to be there. And with each encounter, you learn a little bit more about what you like, and what you don't like. And with each step forward, your perspective shifts.
You make choices along that path - you get to move in the direction of the things you find most beautiful, and as you go, you discover glimmers of joy, fulfillment and meaning.
While life doesn't give us a map to one small treasure chest, with each step towards the meaningful glimmers, you get closer to your Ikigai.
Action
The way to find your Ikigai, is to take action.
By taking small steps forward away from what you don’t like, and towards things that interest you, you get closer to figuring out why you’re on this earth in the first place, and your perspective on yourself, your community and the world around you, will shift with each step forward.
The process of discovering your truest self along the way, is a rewarding one, and it can be challenging for high-performers to take action without knowing the final destination. So I'll offer this: the point of taking action is the learning that comes with it. That new challenge that interests you? It might not be that interesting once you’ve gotten into it. But there may just be a small part of that challenge that ignites a passion inside you, and helps you find a strength you didn’t even know you had. No matter what, you'll have more knowledge, greater perspective, and be more attuned to your own interests as you journey forward.
Journey
The journey of self-discovery and exploration is one worth pursuing.
So instead of thinking you have to know your destination or Ikigai before taking that next step, consider that your Ikigai is already inside you, waiting to be found as you journey step by step, and explore your experience along the way.