When Life Shifts, So Does Our Ikigai
Posted on September 03, 2025 by Susan Fong, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Life transitions aren’t detours. In this article, I explore how ikigai, our reason for being, evolves with every turn in life.
I used to think purpose was something you “figure out once” and then hold on to forever, like a golden compass pointing to your one big why. But life taught me otherwise, you don’t find purpose and keep it forever. Instead, it bends, reshapes, and grows as you do.
Seven years ago, I packed two luggage, boarded a flight to Beijing, and stepped into a leadership role with an international organization. I thought I was just starting a new job. What I didn’t realize was that I was stepping into one of the biggest transitions of my life, one that would challenge who I thought I was, and completely reshape how I understood myself.
Back then, “ikigai” wasn’t even in my vocabulary. But looking back now, I can see how that move rewired my sense of purpose. It wasn’t only about career growth. It was about learning to lead in uncertainty, building resilience in a foreign land, and rediscovering what mattered to me beyond titles and achievements. That transition didn’t just change my job, it changed me.
Ikigai, the Japanese concept of “reason for being”, is often imagined as a perfect overlap of passion, talent, mission, and income. But real ikigai is alive. It shifts when life shifts. It deepens every time we choose the brave path, weather a setback, or follow an inner pull.
That’s what transitions do. They shake us up and ask hard questions:
• Who am I now?
• What really matters to me?
• What do I want to contribute?
Those questions can feel uncomfortable, but they’re actually gifts. They help us realign with our authentic purpose, not someone else’s checklist. What lit you up at 30 might not be enough at 40. What once felt like “the dream” might feel hollow later on. And that’s okay. Transitions aren’t derailments. They’re invitations to grow.
So next time life shifts, instead of asking, “What did I lose?”, try asking, “What does this season call me to become?” Ikigai isn’t a single destination. It’s a living compass that moves as you move, and you get to redraw the map.
Looking back at my transitions, I see how each one refined my inner compass. They taught me not to wait for certainty to move forward. They taught me that discomfort isn’t a stop sign, it’s proof you’re growing.
Your ikigai isn’t a one-time find. It’s something you shape, reshape, and rediscover again and again.
So, what transition are you in right now? And how might it be pointing you toward a new chapter of your ikigai?
#Ikigai #LifeTransitions #PurposeDriven #PersonalGrowth #CareerTransitions #Resilience #Leadership #Wellbeing #AgingGracefully
