“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.” -Henry Ford
I have this quote next to my bed on the bedside table.
It’s something I look at often.
Henry Ford was arguably one of the most brilliant men in history and had many sayings that have infiltrated into our society as thought provokers.
We know he became one of the wealthiest men of his time.
The above quote is one of my all-time favorites.
One of my buddies used to use it as his voicemail. He now uses Enthusiasm: Don’t leave home without it.
The reason I find it so good is that it promotes a deep look at how you are going to think.
Our neuroscientific modus operandi is our MO thinking-wise.
Neuroscientifically, it is essentially our thinking and is influenced by our past and the current, and dare I say “Possible Future,” which creates our biases and how we react to situations.
Our mind and our thoughts are not tangible, and currently, there is no widely accepted scale or unit to quantify the “intensity” or “complexity” of a thought.
Except for when you feel like shouting, “ There is no more room in my head to think of any more thoughts” or something like that.
So, whether you think you can or you think you can’t, it suggests that you have already decided what your future is going to be.
Keeping in mind, “With our thoughts, we create our world.” If the action we are about to take is surrounded by the following
- Lack of Clarity: Goals that are vague or poorly defined can lead to confusion and lack of direction.
- Unrealistic Expectations: Setting goals that are too ambitious or unattainable can lead to frustration and discouragement.
- Procrastination: Delaying action can hinder progress.
- Insufficient Planning: If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.
- Lack of purpose
- Someone else’s goal.
It is more likely that the mind will think, “I can’t do this,” and the fear of failure will jump into action.
However, if your thoughts are driven by the following thinking, then it is more likely you will jump into action.
- Clarity: clear Goals that are detailed and well defined
- Realistic Expectations: Setting achievable goals
- Let’s get started: No delays. Action straight away
- Planning: detailed action plan broken down into easily achievable actions.
- Purpose aligns to proposed action
- Your thoughts, your action.
This thought process can happen in seconds or days, even months, depending on what the action is you’re considering.
Using the Ikigai concept to find your purpose, you will find, during the process, you will uncover most of these roadblocks and be able to remove them to create a clear path for you to walk.
Finding your Ikigai is designed to align your purpose with your values, which helps to remove friction in your life.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your Ikigai is.
There are four main elements in finding your Ikigai
The Use of Ikigai in Daily Life
Finding you Ikigai isn’t merely about philosophical musings; it’s about practical application. Here’s how ikigai can manifest in your daily life:
- Work: By aligning your profession with your passions and strengths, work becomes less of a chore and more of a joy.
- Relationships: Ikigai emphasizes interconnectedness, urging us to nurture meaningful connections that bring mutual support and happiness.
- Personal Growth: Identifying your ikigai can serve as a compass, guiding you toward goals and decisions that resonate with your core values.
- Health and Well-being: Purpose-driven living has been shown to reduce stress, improve mental health, and contribute to a longer, healthier life.
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t is really up to you.
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Founder of Modern Ikigai, inspiring modern living through Ikigai.
Change your thinking.
Certified Ikigai Coach: Passionate about guiding people to their purpose
Author of Ikigai: Purpose Filled Life, ikigaipurposefilledlife.com
Find your Ikigai.
