The philosophy of Ikigai has been a guiding force for many people looking to find their purpose and meaning in life. It helped me to discover my passion for web designing, which has become my fulfilling career.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, Ikigai is a Japanese philosophy that emphasizes finding your reason for being. It's the intersection of four key elements- what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. The philosophy suggests that when you can find this intersection, you'll be living a purposeful and satisfying life.

When the pandemic hit, and the world was forced to come to a halt, I found myself questioning my career choices. I had always enjoyed designing and building websites as a hobby, but I had never considered it as a career option. I was feeling lost and unsure of what to do next. That's when I stumbled upon the concept of Ikigai. It piqued my interest, and I decided to give it a try.

As I delved deeper into the philosophy, I began to see how web designing aligned with my Ikigai. I loved the process of designing websites and enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of it. Additionally, the world was increasingly becoming digital, and small businesses and entrepreneurs needed to have a strong online presence to survive. Therefore, web designing was something that the world needed. Lastly, I could be paid for my skills, making it a viable career option.

With this realization, I took the leap and decided to pursue web designing as a career. I had the back end software skills from my software engineer days, but needed to enhance my front-end skills. So, I enrolled in online courses, learned the necessary skills, and began building websites for local small businesses. It was challenging at first, but as I worked on more projects, I realized how fulfilling it was to create something that could help small businesses grow.

Today, as a web designer, I wake up every morning excited to work with local small businesses and entrepreneurs on new projects and help them establish a strong online presence. The Ikigai philosophy helped me find my passion and turn it into a rewarding career.

In conclusion, finding your Ikigai can help you discover your purpose in life and guide you towards a fulfilling career. If you're feeling lost and unsure about your career choices, take the time to explore what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. You may find that your Ikigai lies in an unexpected place, just as it did for me with web design.