NICHOLAS KEMP - THE IKIGAI COACH

It is with some reservation that I have taken on the mantle of "The Ikigai Coach". Japan, its people and culture have given me a life worth living. I have learnt so much from Japan that I wouldn't want trivialise one of it's most unique and life affirming concepts.

Yet, coaching the ikigai concept is what I do. With so many self proclaimed ikigai experts, best selling authors, coaches and business leaders willingly or unwittingly misinforming thousands on a truely unique yet universal concept, it is time to debunk the Venn diagram, disprove the romantic myths and move those interested from cultural appropriation to cultural appreciation. 

Ikigai is something that is intrinsically motivating and often tied to your social world. It doesn't require payment

It's not what the world needs from you, but rather what you need - ikigai acts as a coping mechanism for many Japanese who live stressful and demanding lives.

You don't have to be good at your ikigai. For example, if you are learning something new (and not very good at it) but find that life affirming and meaningful, then that can be a source of ikigai.

Ikigai can be something you love, but more often than not, it is something that gives you energy and motivates you to overcome struggles and challenges.

In short, ikigai is something you feel, not achieve. Rather than a sweet spot, ikigai is a spectrum of the people, activities and experiences that make life feel worth living.