Discovering My Ikigai: Finding My Purpose as a Multi-Hyphenate

Growing up — and even early in my career — I often felt pressure to "pick a lane."

The world around me seemed to value specialization: Become the best at one thing, and stay there.

Meanwhile, I had big dreams. I was passionate about beauty, business, journalism, community-building, empowerment — simply being a multifaceted creative. I loved a lot of things — and for a while, that felt like a problem.

I worried that having “too many” interests meant I was just "all over the place."

Honestly, I used to feel like that scene in Coming to America —

I had so many passions and skills, but no real way to explain them without sounding like a mess.

Then I discovered Ikigai — and the concept resonated so deeply .

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that loosely translates to "a reason for being."It's the intersection of:

• What you love

• What you are good at

• What the world needs

• What you can be valued for

Your Ikigai is your throughline — the common thread that connects every area of your life.

It’s not about choosing just one passion. It's about recognizing the common thread between them all.

For me, that thread is simple and powerful: Positive impact.

I realized that no matter what I was doing, the projects I loved most always had one thing in common — they created joy, whether for myself or for others.

For example, I eventually stopped doing red carpets and gossip segments.Not because I wanted to leave media — but because I realized the type of media I was creating didn’t align with my spirit.

The “shock jock” energy, the clickbait culture — it didn’t feel true to who I was.I didn’t want to make headlines at someone’s expense.I wanted thoughtful, meaningful conversations — spaces where people could be vulnerable about their deepest truths and feel safe, not ridiculed.

That realization — that desire to create impact, not noise — was my Ikigai speaking to me.

Understanding my Ikigai allowed me to embrace being multi-passionate — not fight it.

Whether I am:

• Developing content that inspires

• Celebrating a stranger’s with a "Yessss, sis!", in the streets

• Enjoying doing makeup — not just for the art, but for what it does to a person's confidence and spirit

• Or simply encouraging a friend to bet on themselves...

  
  

The core is always the same:Helping people feel seen, heard, and celebrated.

Discovering my Ikigai didn't just make me feel more comfortable being a multi-hyphenate — it made me proud. It reframed my narrative from "scattered" to strategically layered.I wasn’t lost.I was living fully in alignment with my purpose.

But the fear of being "scatterbrained" was deeply ingrained in me( and probably ingrained in many of you) — and it was something I had to consciously unlearn.

I remember the old saying echoing in my mind like a warning:

"Jack of all trades, master of none."

It haunted me — especially whenever I felt a new idea stirring, another dream calling me to add it to the already overflowing pot of passions I carried.

But did you know the full quote is actually:

"A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one."

The full version flips the entire narrative. Being versatile, multi-talented, and deeply curious is a strength, not a flaw. (Who ever high jacked the saying was 100% a hater )

If you, like me, have ever felt pulled toward multiple dreams, know this: Your Ikigai already lives inside you.

It's the heartbeat beneath everything you love and do.

You don't have to choose just one passion. You have to listen for the throughline — the thing that makes you come alive no matter where you are or what you're doing.

Your gifts were given to you for a reason.They're not random.They're building you into someone who can touch lives in ways you may not even realize yet.

Keep growing.Keep glowing.Keep flowing. ✨

Want to learn more about finding your Ikigai?Click here to read more.

🎙️ I also explored this journey more deeply on my podcast, The Living List, where I share how embracing Ikigai changed the way I approach my passions, career, and everyday life.Listen to the episode here.