Find Your Ikigai: Spring Cleaning for The Soul
Book: Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francis Miralles
Hello and Happy Spring,
If you haven’t already, check out the first blog in this series: Decluttering: Spring Cleaning with Intention
Spring is a season of renewal — not just for our homes, but for our hearts, minds, and lives.
After decluttering my space and realigning my priorities, I take time to sit with my goals, my present, and my vision for the future. I sit with my body, the voices in my head, and allow myself to feel all the feels and think all the thoughts.
When I allow true silence, the tears usually follow. That happened this week — I sat on my sofa and shed tears, real, deep, soul-stirring tears.
My body needed it.
My mind needed it.
My spirit needed it.
But why? I asked myself the following questions:
Was I on the right path?
Was I doing too much — and for the right reasons?
What was I truly striving for?
Was I truly calling my inner self forward or was I operating from a place of ego?
Was I seeking Divine Guidance? And… was I ready to receive it?
This is where Ikigai came in.
Ikigai (pronounced ee-kee-guy) is a beautiful Japanese concept meaning “a reason for being.” It’s the intersection where your passions, talents, values, and contributions to the world meet. It’s the quiet but powerful why behind everything you do — the reason you get up in the morning feeling alive and fulfilled.
Though I’ve done it before, I revisit my Ikigai each spring. This week, as part of my inner “cleansing,” I took myself through the process again — and it was deeply transformative.
Today, I want to share the steps with you, so you too can begin clearing away the mental noise and reconnecting with your path.
Step 1: Reflect Deeply
Ask yourself these four powerful questions:
What do I love? (What activities make me lose track of time?)
What am I good at? (What skills, talents, or gifts come naturally to me?)
What does the world need? (Where can I make a meaningful difference?)
What can I be paid for? (What passions or skills hold real-world value?)
Take your time. Journal your thoughts freely and without judgment. Your answers might seem scattered at first — trust the process.
Step 2: Look for Patterns
After your initial reflection, step back and notice the connections:
Are there threads linking what you love and what you're good at?
Do overlaps emerge between what excites you and what the world needs?
Can you imagine combining your passions and talents into something sustainable?
Your Ikigai lives in the overlap. It may not be obvious right away, but stay open — your path will begin to reveal itself.
Step 3: Clarify Your Core Themes
Distill your insights into 2–3 core themes or guiding pillars.
For me, they looked like this:
Empowering others to grow
Creating clarity through storytelling and strategy
Helping people align their inner truth with their outer expression
These themes helped me see not just what I can do, but what I’m called to do. This year, I’ve committed to continuing the release of what no longer serves me and deepening my alignment with what — and who — feels right.
Growth only happens in alignment.
Alignment with what, you ask?
For me, I call it God. Sometimes Universe. Sometimes Source. Sometimes simply Divine Guidance.
This isn't about religion or whether you believe in a spiritual entity. For me, it’s the belief that I’m not alone — that I belong to something greater, something interconnected with you, with everyone, with everything. And when I am aligned with that presence, I feel grounded. Affirmed. Trusting of the journey.
What are the deeper themes behind your passions and talents? Write them down.
Step 4: Define Your Ikigai Statement
Bring everything together into one clear, inspiring sentence.
It might sound like this:
"My Ikigai is to inspire and empower women to align with their highest potential through storytelling, strategy, and soul-centered growth."
Yours will be different — and that’s the beauty of it. Your Ikigai is as unique as your fingerprint.
Why Finding Your Ikigai Matters
When you live aligned with your Ikigai, life feels richer. Decisions become easier. You stop chasing things that aren't meant for you.
Ikigai isn't about overnight answers or grand gestures. It's about daily alignment — small, steady choices that honor who you are and why you're here.
But this simple exercise? It’s a powerful place to begin.
This spring, as you clear your home and mind, I invite you to clear your soul, too.
Find your Ikigai — and plant new seeds for a life of deeper meaning, joy, and purpose.
Because growing through it means not just surviving — but thriving. Not just doing — but being.
You deserve to live in full bloom.
Call to Action:
If you enjoyed this post and want more step-by-step reflections and prompts, stay tuned — I’ll be sharing a free Ikigai Reflection Guide soon!
In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you:
Have you explored your Ikigai before? What small clues are leading you toward it now?
Drop me a message — your story might inspire my next post. Let’s have a conversation.
Let’s grow together.
With love and encouragement,
Mery
P.S. Click below for the Ikigai Reflection Guide
About the Author
Mery Vieira is the founder of The LGLP Journal, a soft but strong space for healing, evolving, and stepping into your power. As a writer, brand strategist, and legacy builder, she shares honest reflections and practical tools to help women grow through life’s challenges and become the best version of themselves. Join the circle and connect on Instagram @theLGLPjournal