Ikigai Discovery Slides Finding Your Why
An Introduction to Ikigai and Your Passion
9th - 12th Grade Life Skills
Warm-Up
"If you could add 8 hours of joy to your day, what exactly would you be doing?"
Think about activities that make time disappear. No judgment—just pure joy.
5 Minutes: Journal in your worksheet
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai (生き甲斐) is a Japanese concept meaning:
"A Reason for Being"
It is the intersection of four primary elements of your life that bring fulfillment and balance.
The Power of Passion
Embedded media
Watch for:
The "8 hours of joy" research.
The four circles Jay Shetty draws on the board.
Pause at 3:30 to discuss the diagram.
The Four Circles of Ikigai
1. What You Love
Your hobbies, interests, and what makes you lose track of time.
2. What You Are Good At
Your natural talents, skills, and strengths others recognize.
3. What the World Needs
Problems you want to solve or value you can bring to others.
4. What You Can Be Paid For
Careers, services, or jobs that society compensates.
Step 1: The Inner Self
10 Minutes
Start here:
Fill in the Love and Good At circles first.
Don't overthink—list anything that comes to mind.
Include "non-career" things like video games, talking to people, or organizing.
LOVE
GOOD AT
Step 2: External Impact
10 Minutes
The Outward View:
Now, look at the World Needs and Paid For circles.
What problems in your community or the world bother you?
What skills do you have that people value or pay for?
WORLD NEEDS
PAID FOR
Where They Meet
Passion
Love + Good At
Mission
Love + World Needs
Vocation
World Needs + Paid For
Profession
Good At + Paid For
Ikigai
The Sweet Spot
Where all four circles overlap. It's not a destination, but a direction.
Reflection & Share
Consider these three questions:
What landed in your "Passion" zone today?
Is there something that exists in all four circles?
If you had to pick ONE small step toward your "Passion" this week, what would it be?
Turn to a partner and share your Passion circle items.
Ikigai Discovery Worksheet Ikigai Discovery
Finding Your Reason for Being
Name:
Date:
"Your passion is more like an environment that you thrive in." — Jay Shetty
Warm-Up: The 8-Hour Rule
If you could add 8 hours of pure joy to your day, what exactly would you be doing? Write freely.
The Ikigai Map
IKIGAI
LOVE
SKILLS
NEEDS
PAID
Sketch your intersections here or identify them using the lists on the next page.
Brainstorming Lab
1. What I Love
Hobbies, interests, moments of flow, topics that excite you.
2. What I'm Good At
Natural talents, skills, strengths, things others ask you for help with.
3. What the World Needs
Problems to solve, causes, gaps in community, things that matter to others.
4. What I Can Be Paid For
Potential careers, jobs, gigs, or value you can create for others.
Intersections
Passion (Love + Skills)
What items appear in BOTH lists 1 & 2?
Mission (Love + Needs)
What items appear in BOTH lists 1 & 3?
Final Reflection:
Pick ONE small action you could take this week to explore your passion circle.
Ikigai Teacher Guide Ikigai Facilitation
Teacher Guide • Life Skills 9-12
Duration: 45 Minutes
Theme: Purpose & Passion
Learning Objective
Students will identify the intersection of their interests and skills to define their 'Ikigai' (Reason for Being) and identify concrete steps toward their personal passions.
Materials Needed
Ikigai Discovery Slides
Ikigai Discovery Worksheet
Jay Shetty YouTube Video
Projector & Audio
Pacing & Facilitation
05min
Warm-Up: The Joy Journal
Display the prompt: "If you could add 8 hours of joy to your day, what would you be doing?"
Teacher Tip: Encourage students to think beyond social media or sleeping. Ask: "What activity makes you lose track of time?"
10min
Video Viewing: Jay Shetty
Watch 0:00 - 3:30 . This section introduces the Ikigai concept and the "8 hours of joy" research.
Pause at 3:30. Have students look at the four circles on their worksheet as you explain them.
20min
Main Activity: Mapping Ikigai
Students populate the brainstorming grids.
Step 1 (10 min): Focus on "Love" and "Good At" (The Inner Self).Step 2 (10 min): Focus on "World Needs" and "Paid For" (The External Impact).
Circulate the room. Help students identify "transferable skills." (e.g., If they love gaming, they might be good at "strategy" or "problem-solving").
10min
Reflection & Connection
Identify intersections. Ask students to share one "Passion" item with a neighbor.
Wrap-Up Question: "What is one small step you can take toward your passion this week?"
Jay Shetty's Intersection Map
Passion
Love + Good At
Mission
Love + World Needs
Vocation
World Needs + Paid For
Profession
Good At + Paid For
