My Ikigai Map生き甲斐 · free & private

Free · no sign-up · private

Find what makes your life worth living.

Ikigai (say “ee-kee-guy”) is an old Japanese idea about your reason for being. This simple tool turns it into a picture: answer four easy questions and see where your life is in balance, and where it could grow.

Start my map, it's freeHow does it work?

About 10 minutes. Your answers stay on your device.

Passion (Love + Good at) — You enjoy it and you're good at it, but it may not pay the bills or help others yet.PassionProfession (Good at + Paid) — You're good at it and it pays, but it may feel empty if you don't love it.ProfessionVocation (Paid + Needed) — It helps people and it pays, but it may not feel like your own if it doesn't excite you.VocationMission (Needed + Love) — It feels meaningful and you love it, but it may be hard to live on without income.MissionWhat you love4.5 / 5What you're good at4.0 / 5What the world needs3.0 / 5What you can be paid for4.0 / 5
An example map. Each circle grows with your answers; the glowing centre is your Ikigai.

How it works

Three easy steps

  1. 1

    Answer four questions

    What do you love? What are you good at? What does the world need? What can you be paid for? Write a few words, or tap one of our ideas.

  2. 2

    Give each answer stars

    One star means “a little true”, five stars means “completely true”. Be honest; nobody else sees it.

  3. 3

    See your map and your result

    The circles grow and move together. You get a simple score, your strongest area, and one small next step.

Where the idea comes from

An old Japanese word for a good life

Iki (生き) means life. Gai (甲斐) means worth or value. Together, ikigai means the things that make your life feel worthwhile, from big goals to small daily joys like a morning coffee or time with family.

The four-circle picture is a popular modern way to explore the idea. We didn't invent Ikigai. We made a simple, free tool so anyone can try it, measure where they are today, and grow from there.

Understand yourself

See in one picture what gives you energy, what you're good at, and where things feel out of balance.

Make better choices

Use your map when you think about a new job, a course, a hobby or a side business.

Watch yourself grow

Come back every few months. Your map remembers past versions, so you can see how you've changed.

The four circles

Four questions, one picture

What you love

The things that make you happy and give you energy.

Doing more of these keeps you motivated and helps you avoid burnout.

  • What makes you lose track of time?
  • What do you enjoy talking or reading about?
  • What would you do even if nobody paid you?

What you're good at

Your skills and talents: things you learned, and things that come naturally.

Using your strengths makes you feel capable and confident.

  • What do friends or family ask you to help with?
  • What do people often praise you for?
  • What have you practised for years?

What the world needs

Ways you can help other people, close to home or further away.

Helping others gives life meaning and keeps you connected to people.

  • What problems around you bother you?
  • Who would you like to help?
  • What would make your street or town a better place?

What you can be paid for

Work or services that people are happy to pay for.

Earning from what you do lets you keep doing it for the long run.

  • What do you get paid for today?
  • What could you charge for with a little practice?
  • What do people around you spend money on?

Where circles meet

Why you need all four

Two circles together are good, but something is still missing. Tap each one to see what.

Good to know

Common questions

Ready to draw your map?

Free, private and about 10 minutes. No account needed.

Start my map