And, let’s face it, none of us have any time or energy to waste. We need to fully understand what our pursuit is and embrace it. This concept of a professional pursuit links to a Japanese word kokorozashi.
What is kokorozashi 志? In short, it translates from the Japanese language as “the heart of a samurai”. It also has been more modernly referred to as a personal professional mission one embarks upon for their lifetime. It is not simply setting goals it is much bigger than that.
For me, I have been reflecting a lot on what that is for me personally over the past few weeks as I enter 2022.
I have spent the better part of the last two decades working in the process improvement space. I have come to realize that there is a need for me to shift my focus with regards to the service that I am providing.
For a long time, I thought that my focus should be on helping manufacturing and industrial type businesses improve their processes and systems so that they can see the goals and visions that they have come true.
Although that is a noble pursuit, and one that I will likely continue to help with because I am good at it and like, it is not going to be my most important focus moving forward.
I am shifting my focus to helping fellow continuous improvement professionals reduce the feeling of burn out and decision fatigue through helping them discover their ikigai and their kokorozashi. I believe that through that process that you can find more work/life harmony.
Working in this type of role can feel lonely at times, and at other times you might start thinking that you are going crazy because no one else seems to understand what you are talking about.
It is easy to slip into feelings of depression, anxiety, burn out and overall lacking some life directionality. So what do you do? You jump jobs and companies thinking that you will find what you are looking for somewhere else.
We always like to think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, which at times it can seem that way. But as a mentor of mine once told me, the grass might be greener but you still have to mow it.
It is better to get clear on your life direction and find your meaning for your life, then no matter where you find yourself you will be content. The storm could be raging around you, but you will remain solid.
Have a listen to a short clip from a workshop I did a little while ago about kokorozashi, and if after listening you would like to learn more send me a DM and let’s chat.
#kokorozashi #harmonyinbusiness #worklifeharmony #continuousimprovement #ikigai
Steve Beauchamp 