Are you living sparked?
Click on the image or the button below to download a PDF of the assessment.
Once you’ve completed the assessment, consider which areas you’d like to improve. To discuss your results in greater detail, including the research behind the questions, reach out to Katie for a Sparked Intensive session.
The Living Sparked assessment was developed based on several, proven Japanese concepts, which have been extensively studied by researchers in Japan and beyond as part of the larger ikigai body of work.
Continue Your Journey
Click on the image or the button below to download the “My ikigai” worksheet.
Ikigai is a Japanese word, concept, and philosophy. It translates to “reason for living” or “life worth living”. Every person’s ikigai is unique to them. We all have different sources of ikigai that contribute to the feeling (ikigai-kan) that our life is worth living.
You can think of your ikigai like a fire. There are three key elements of fire that help it to burn brightly without burning out. The same goes for you. You need to focus and nurture all three elements for your light to shine brightly and the warmth of your impact to be felt sustainably.
SPARK - These ikigai sources represent who you are at your core and how you want people to experience you. These include your purpose (kokorozashi or personal mission), values, and roles. These are the things that intrinsically motivate you.
FUEL - These ikigai sources represent what you do. These are the things worth going (yarigai). They include work (hatarakigai which is paid work, but there’s also non-paid work like volunteering), play (asobigai), learning (manabigai), and teaching (oshiegai). Additionally, these ikigai sources include the things that contribute to your bright future. They could be life goals, but they could also be the small things that you look forward to each day (ex: walking your dog on a nature trail, your morning cup of coffee or tea, reading a book by the fire, etc.).
OXYGEN - These ikigai sources represent the environment that helps you thrive. They include the people and places where you feel like you belong (ibasho). It could some special interpersonal relationships, a community of people, or a place where you feel at home. Additionally, an important element of feeling ikigai-kan is peace of mind. The idea is having space in your mind (yutori) where you feel free…to think, create, relax, be present, and enjoy the fullness of life.
Download and print out the worksheet. Take some time to consider the sources of ikigai in your life. Think about the times when you FEEL that this is a “good life” and the times when life is really worth living. What’s happening? Who’s a part of those experiences? What are you doing (or not doing)? Complete the worksheet and reflect on it daily.
Choose to LIVE YOUR IKIGAI every day.
listening
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Looking to briefly explore the concept of ikigai? List to this interview with Nick Kemp, founder of Ikigai Tribe and Katie’s ikigai sensei.
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Looking for a deeper dive into the ikigai body of work? Follow The Ikigai Podcast by Nick Kemp, who offers the only culturally accurate training on this ancient Japanese concept.
reading
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Read more about the Japanese wisdom for a fulfilling and meaningful life by Nick Kemp.
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An exploration of ikigai and how to apply it to your own life to find joy and purpose every day.
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Author and neuro-scientist Ken Mogi introduces five pillars of ikigai to help you make the most of each day and become your most authentic self:
watching
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Japanese neuro-scientist Dr Ken Mogi. explains the philosophy of Ikigai (purpose) and Nagomi (harmony) that he believes can help us find fulfilment, joy, and mindfulness in everyday life.
