Find Your Ikigai (With a Little Help from AI)

At Pop CoLAB, we believe everyone has a purpose — something that lights them up and contributes to the world in a way that feels good. That sweet spot has a name: Ikigai (生き甲斐).

Your ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept that means "a reason for being" — the thing that gives your life meaning, joy, and motivation.

It’s where what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all overlap.

✨ And here's the thing — you don’t need to meditate in the mountains for a year to find it.

To help you find your ikigai, ask a few reflective questions:

1. What do you love doing?

What activities make you lose track of time?
What topics are you naturally curious or passionate about?

2. What are you good at?

What skills or talents come naturally to you or have been developed over time?
What do others often ask you for help with?

3. What does the world need from you?

What change do you want to see in your community or the world?
Who do you feel compelled to help or uplift?

4. What can you get paid for?

What services, products, or skills do people already pay you for?
Are there ways to turn your talents or passions into income?

You can start with one simple AI prompt.

🧠 IKIGAI DISCOVERY PROMPT:

"Help me discover my Ikigai by asking me reflective questions and using my answers to identify the overlap between:

What I love doing
What I'm good at
What the world needs
What I could get paid for

Guide me step by step, and help me summarize my Ikigai in one powerful sentence or theme by the end.

🌱 Why This Matters

Whether you're launching a business, exploring a new chapter, or simply curious about what really lights you up — this exercise can spark insights. And when you’re aligned with your Ikigai, your work becomes more joyful, your energy more sustainable, and your ideas more magnetic.

You might uncover a new direction. Or just confirm what you already know in your bones.

📍Need Space to Explore It?

Come to Pop CoLAB. We’re a playground for grown-ups — a space to try things, make things, workshop ideas, and be around others who are figuring it out too.

Not sure where to begin? Book a creativity hour, join a workshop, or drop into one of our DIY stations. Your Ikigai might just be hiding in a button-making session. 😉

💬 Let Us Know What You Discover!

If you try the prompt, we’d love to hear your Ikigai sentence or your “aha!” moment. Share it with us on Instagram @popcolab, or stop by and tell us in person.

Let’s keep building a community where people come alive — on purpose.