You Should Own a Coffee Shop!
Or so people tell me all the time.
Living into my Ikigai recently at one of the 50 best coffee shops in the US down by Lake Michigan.
I love coffee, specifically espresso. I have had a million people tell me I should open a coffee shop because of my love for coffee.
I have a passion for drinking good coffee. Not selling it and not running a store.
Something to think about when pondering the connection of your passion to your purpose.
Distinguish between passions that are best expressed as interests and passions that become careers.
The difference between the professional and the amateur is that the amateur only wants to do the fun stuff. Professionals love all of it, or at least the combined experience of all of it.
In this case, I am an amateur coffee lover.
What excites me would be in helping the shop owner discover their purpose and guiding them in linking it to their business.
That is not to say a love of coffee isn't in alignment with my Ikigai, it most certainly can be, and for me, it is. Where and how I express, that passion is what makes the difference.
Some of your passions and interests are 'professional', and some are 'amateur', and EITHER or BOTH can be your Ikigai.
Yes, David! It can seem to others that our passions are squarely aligned somewhere when they're not quite in the same order of priorities on our own list. Listening inside (deep dive) before deciding on what's right for us is most important. I've found that when I am following my true passion (even when others don't get it at first) they come around (or not)... in the end I'm busy living into my purpose and making connections, which drive the next action.
Love this post. This is so true. Often, well-meaning individuals give advice on what they believe the right course of action should be for someone else, based on what they perceive the person to be good at or 'passionate' about.
However, being good at something does not mean that I will be happy doing it always! Nor does it mean that I should even do it (as a career!)
Similarly, until we are sure about the 'why' of our passion, it is difficult to really understand what is that true purpose we want to pursue..