Why do you wake up in the morning? As it turns out, the answer to this question largely determines the quality of human life - the presence in it of wealth, happiness, health and longevity. Ikigai – the meaning of life with a Japanese accent. Nowadays they often talk about it, draw beautiful diagrams and write motivational posts. However, I have not yet seen that somewhere the essence of ikigai is clearly explained, step by step, how to find and master it. This article will fill these gaps. Your ikigai is already waiting for you - let's go! The key to ikigai is whether your life's work (your main occupation - work, business, or staying at home) meets each of the four criteria.I. Do you love doing this?II. Do you know how to do this (according to independent experts)?III. Are you getting paid for this?IV. Do people need this? If you confidently answered “Yes” to each of the four questions, then congratulations - you already have ikigai. However, this is only one of sixteen options. Now we will analyze each of them in detail. 1 – Ikigai (I love it, I can do it, I get paid, I need it) – you have found and taken your place in life! What to do: Tell us in the comments how it worked out for you. 2 – “It wasn’t useful...” (I love it, I can do it, they pay me) – satisfaction, but uselessness. For example, you run a corporate website. With love and skill. The boss pays you for this. But no one needs this site: neither clients, nor employees. Even for the boss, it’s purely for show. What to do: Either improve your activities so that these people need them. Or do it for other people - for those who need it. 3 – Volunteering (I love it, I can do it, I need it) – delight and fullness of life, but poverty. What to do: Start getting money for it “from below” (clients) or “from above” (sponsors). 4 – Swindle (I love, they pay, I need) – courage and pleasure, but (self) deception. Alternatively, you have a monopoly - you are the only psychologist or welder in the entire village. Inept, but there’s nowhere else to go anyway. What to do: Repent and learn. Or simply retrain as a building manager. :) 5 – “Go away, you hateful…” (I can, they pay, I need it) – in general, they have settled well, but there is emptiness or disgust in my soul. What to do: Quit “someone else’s” business and find your own – your favorite! 6 – Passion (I love it, I can do it) – a personal hobby such as philately or graffiti. What to do: Can this generate income in principle? Has anyone succeeded or managed to make money from this? If yes, then start sharing the results of your business on the Internet so that they become in demand, and then monetize the hobby. 7 – Scholarship (I love it, they pay) – an on-the-job training situation. Or you have a philanthropist (private/state) - “Let's support the amateur symphony orchestra of the village of Zububennye Debri!!!” What to do: Learn, achieve mastery. 8 – Mission (I love it, I need it) – perhaps this is what you were born for. All that remains is to check it out... What to do: Achieve mastery, perfection in your business, and then start making money on it. 9 – This is a job (I can do it, it pays) – by the way, many people live like this... What to do: Do ​​your favorite thing. 10 – Corvee (I can, I need to) – it looks like you don’t work, but constantly carry out obsessive, unpleasant orders from distant relatives and like-friends. What to do: Learn to say a firm “No!” and finally do something interesting and profitable. 11 – Boring vocation (paid, necessary) – you have found and taken your place in life! What to do: Learn, gain some skills, and then, you see, you’ll like it. If love doesn’t arise after that, then it’s best to get out of there. 12 – Slavery (needed) – no comment...What to do: Fight for freedom! 13 – Sinecure (paid) – ah, that sweet word “through connections”! What to do: Escape from the swamp into real life. 14 – Clockwork (I can) – indeed, it is more like not a living person, but a mechanism that was started once, and it works and works out of habit. What to do: Wake up before it’s too late! The world is amazing and diverse. 15 – Have a good time (I love it) –!!!