Ikigai is having a moment (again. I first read about it in 2018 when I read Héctor García and Francesc Miralles’ book).
Ikigai is often presented as something to be found: a neatly defined purpose that sits at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what the world needs. That framing is tidy. And I think it’s misleading, to be honest.
In its original sense (and as I understand it), ikigai is less about a singular goal and more about what gives life continuity and meaning over time. It’s not an achievement or a job title. It’s an orientation, a reason to stay engaged with life, even as circumstances change.
So what does this have to do with for futures work?
When purpose is treated as a fixed destination, people often become brittle. They optimise for a particular outcome or identity, and when conditions shift, as they inevitably do, disorientation and cynicism creep in.
But: when purpose is understood as something relational and evolving, it becomes more resilient. It’s shaped through contribution, curiosity, and connection with others. It doesn’t disappear when plans change.
In futures facilitation, I see this play out clearly. Groups that anchor themselves too tightly to predefined goals struggle to imagine beyond them. Groups that stay connected to underlying values, care, curiosity, responsibility, belonging, are far more able to navigate uncertainty.
Perhaps purpose isn’t something we discover once and for all. Perhaps it’s something we practise, in how we stay engaged with what’s unfolding.