At the OneHope Florida office, we recently said farewell to a cohort of more than 20 summer interns – bright students and new graduates eager to use their learned skills for the benefit of the ministry. These young adults represent a larger cohort who serve global teams throughout the year.
A question I often receive from young people in their life stage is, “What do I do with my life?”
If you’re a Christ-follower, this question should be met with time spent in earnest prayer, seeking the Lord for guidance and direction. Asking trusted friends and mentors to shed light on your particular strengths and weaknesses would also be a good next step. I invite you to consider a practical tool that can also assist you on your journey. One of my good friends introduced me to a helpful tool that can help illuminate the sweet spot between passion and purpose.
Whether someone is newly off to college or faced with a sense of unease or dissatisfaction in their life direction, a variation of the Japanese concept of ikigai serves as a strong foundation for further reflection. Ikigai doesn’t have a literal English word translation, but generally means ‘a reason for being.’
With so many options for opportunity, growth and learning, it can be difficult to differentiate between talents that are more suited to be hobbies versus a pathway to a fulfilling career and life. Ikigai is the intersection of what you love, what you’re paid for, what you’re good at, and what the world needs.
An ikigai chart isn’t a resource that will tell someone exactly what they should major in at college, which skilled apprenticeship they should enroll in, or whether they should start to update their resume, but it does allow practical introspection. Then, if you’re a Christ-follower, this leads to prayerful conversations as you reflect on who God has designed you to be and where you can make a difference.
Perhaps you look at this chart and feel encouraged by the steps you’ve taken to help align yourself more in the center. Or you could be noticing it may be time for a shift, to take one step in a different direction. Change can take place at any stage of life!
Invite people into your life who will encourage you to pursue excellence and growth in all spheres of life.
Rob is President of OneHope, a global ministry committed to catalyzing a movement to engage every child in the world with God’s Word. Rob is also Chair of Come Near (He Gets Us.) and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Come and See Foundation (The Chosen). His mission statement in life is to “build young leaders and serve great leaders.”
For more Good News, read the GOOD NEWS September 2024 issue at: https://digital.goodnewsfl.org/2024/september/#1
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