🎙️ Listen to Episode 6 Here
Have you ever wondered what truly drives you? That deep sense of purpose that makes you excited to get up in the morning? In Japanese culture, there’s a concept for this—ikigai, which translates to “a reason for being.”
Ikigai is the intersection of your passions, your skills, your purpose, and what the world needs. It’s a powerful framework that has completely reshaped how I approach my crochet business, and it might just change the way you see your own creative journey too.
🌸 The Meaning and History of Ikigai
The word ikigai combines iki (life) and gai (value or worth). At its core, it represents the joy and fulfillment found in living with purpose. Unlike many Western ideals of success, ikigai isn’t about chasing big milestones, wealth, or external validation. Instead, it’s about finding satisfaction in the small, meaningful rhythms of daily life.
In Okinawa, Japan, which is home to one of the world’s highest populations of centenarians, ikigai is deeply woven into the culture. Researchers believe that having a strong sense of purpose is one of the reasons for their extraordinary longevity. The Netflix documentary Secrets of the Blue Zones explores this in depth, showing how ikigai—along with community and active living—contributes to both health and happiness.
For Okinawans, ikigai might be something as simple as tending a garden, practicing a craft, or cooking for family. It’s not about ambition for its own sake—it’s about showing up every day with joy in your heart.
🔎 Visualizing Ikigai
Ikigai is often represented as a Venn diagram with four overlapping circles:
● What you love (your passion)
● What you’re good at (your vocation)
● What the world needs (your mission)
● What you can be paid for (your profession)
The sweet spot in the center, where all four overlap, is your ikigai—your unique reason for being.
Dr. Iza Kavedžija, a Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Exeter, describes ikigai as being less about personal happiness and more about contributing to something greater. It’s about being immersed in meaningful activities, not just about achieving a singular goal.
For me, this was a revelation. Crochet isn’t just about making a plushie or selling a pattern. It’s about the joy of creating, the way it connects me to other makers, and the sense of fulfillment that comes from seeing someone else light up when they complete their first project.
🧶 How Ikigai Transformed My Crochet Business
Last year, I joined Cathy Heller’s program and did an ikigai exercise that shifted everything for me. It helped me align my crochet business with my deeper sense of purpose and gave me clarity on where I wanted to go next.
If you’re curious about discovering your own ikigai, here’s the exercise I used—and it only takes a few minutes.
✍️ Ikigai Exercise: Finding Your Reason for Being
Grab a pen and paper, set a timer for 30 seconds per question, and jot down the first thoughts that come to mind. Don’t overthink it—go with your gut.
● What do I love? (The hobbies, activities, and moments that make me lose track of time)
● What am I good at? (The skills others compliment me on)
● What does the world need? (The problems I could help solve or the value I can provide)
● What can I be paid for? (The ways I could turn my skills into income)
Now, review your answers. Look for common themes or overlaps.
When I did this, I realized that creativity was at the center of everything I loved—whether through crochet, photography, writing, or building a business. Even more importantly, I saw how much the world needs creative spaces. That clarity gave me a renewed sense of purpose: through Simply Hooked, I could help provide those spaces and empower others to discover their own creativity.
💡 Turning Ikigai Into Income
Finding your ikigai isn’t just about fulfillment—it can also be the foundation of a sustainable business. Once you’ve identified the themes that light you up, ask yourself how you could share them with the world.
Here are some ways I’ve aligned my business with my ikigai:
● Selling my crochet patterns and handmade products
● Teaching crochet through courses, workshops, and YouTube tutorials
● Sharing my journey and expertise through my podcast and blog
● Offering encouragement and community for other creative entrepreneurs
And here are more ideas you might consider for yourself:
● Sell your handmade work—crochet plushies, blankets, accessories, or home décor
● Teach others through online classes, local workshops, or video tutorials
● Offer services like freelance design, editing, or consulting
● License your work through publishing or brand collaborations
● Build a community through memberships, Patreon, or group events
The key is to think beyond the obvious and align your business with what excites you most. Your expertise is valuable—even if you don’t have formal credentials. If you’ve spent years learning and improving, you have something to share.
🌱 Ikigai as a Journey, Not a Destination
One of the most freeing aspects of ikigai is that it’s not about achieving a single goal and stopping there. It’s about the ongoing journey of aligning your work with what brings you joy and meaning.
Your ikigai might evolve as you grow, and that’s okay. When I first started crocheting, my focus was on selling finished items. Over time, I discovered a love for designing patterns, teaching beginners, and building community. My ikigai has shifted with me, and yours will too.
Embracing ikigai means approaching each day with intention. It means asking: how can I use my skills and passions to serve others while staying true to myself?
🪡 Practical Ways to Apply Ikigai to a Crochet Business
If you’re wondering how to bring this concept into your own crochet journey, here are some practical starting points:
● Take inventory of your favorite crochet projects. Do you love making blankets, designing amigurumi, or teaching others? This points to what you love.
● Ask friends what they see as your strengths. Sometimes others notice your talents before you do. This highlights what you’re good at.
● Look at the market. What are people asking for? Baby gifts? Beginner patterns? Crochet kits? This shows what the world needs.
● Explore ways to monetize. Could you sell on Etsy? Create a course? Start a YouTube channel? This answers what you can be paid for.
By layering these four areas, you’ll begin to see the unique overlap that forms your ikigai.
📖 Case Study: My Own Ikigai in Action
For me, ikigai has shown up in several ways in my crochet business:
● Passion: I love designing adorable amigurumi patterns and teaching beginners how to crochet.
● Vocation: I’ve developed strong design and business skills that others now look to me for guidance on.
● Mission: I believe the world needs more creativity, joy, and handmade connection. Crochet is a beautiful way to provide that.
● Profession: I’ve been able to monetize my crochet business through patterns, courses, digital products, and collaborations.
When these four overlap, I feel most aligned with my purpose. And every time I start to drift, revisiting this framework helps me course-correct.
🌍 Why Ikigai Resonates With Creative Entrepreneurs
As creative people, we often face pressure to either keep our craft as a “hobby” or turn it into something purely profit-driven. Ikigai offers a healthier, more balanced perspective.
It reminds us that we can:
● Build businesses rooted in joy and authenticity
● Contribute to the world by sharing creativity
● Make money while staying aligned with our values
● Enjoy the journey instead of chasing constant hustle
For crocheters and other makers, ikigai provides a framework for blending artistry with entrepreneurship.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
● Is ikigai the same as finding your dream job? Not exactly. Ikigai isn’t about one specific role—it’s about the overlap of passion, vocation, mission, and profession.
● Can ikigai change over time? Yes! Your ikigai evolves as your skills, passions, and life circumstances grow.
● How do I know if I’ve found my ikigai? You’ll feel a sense of alignment. Work feels meaningful and exciting, even if it’s challenging.
● Do I need to monetize my ikigai? Not always. Some people find fulfillment in hobbies or volunteer work. But if you want to turn it into income, there are plenty of ways.
📥 Final Thoughts: Embracing Ikigai Through Crochet
Ikigai isn’t just a Japanese philosophy—it’s a practical tool that can transform how you live and work. For me, it has reshaped my crochet business, helping me align with what I love, what I’m good at, what the world needs, and what I can be paid for.
If you’ve been searching for deeper purpose in your creative journey, I encourage you to take a few minutes to do the ikigai exercise. Reflect on your answers. Explore what lights you up. And then take small steps toward building a business or hobby that reflects your unique reason for being.
Ikigai isn’t a destination—it’s a way of living. When you align your passion with purpose, you not only create joy for yourself but also share something valuable with the world.
So, what’s your ikigai? How can you use your unique talents to craft a life and business that bring you true fulfillment?
I’d love to hear your story. Share your reflections with me, and don’t forget to 🎙️ listen to Episode 6 of my podcast for more inspiration.
🎙️ LISTEN TO EPISODE 6 HERE 🎙️
About the Author
Marcy Gardner is the crochet designer behind Simply Hooked, where she creates beginner-friendly amigurumi patterns that help makers of all skill levels create adorable, giftable plushies.
With over 13 years of crochet experience, Marcy has taught hundreds of crocheters through her patterns, kits, and online courses.
