Episode 85: A Life Worth Living | Stop Waiting for Someday and Start Savoring Today with Nick Kemp

Written By Kathryn Sandoe

Episode Snapshot:

What if purpose isn't something you find—but something you practice every day? In this conversation, Dr. Katie welcomes back ikigai expert Nick Kemp to discuss his new book, A Year of Ikigai, and explores how the Japanese philosophy of ikigai invites us to stop living for the weekend and start savoring the small moments that make life worth living.

Summary:

Many people believe that purpose is a destination—a calling to discover or a milestone to achieve. But according to Nick Kemp, that's one of the biggest misconceptions about ikigai.

In this episode, Katie and Nick unpack the Japanese philosophy of ikigai as a way of living rather than a destination. Rather than chasing happiness through promotions, vacations, or retirement, they explore how meaning is cultivated through everyday experiences, relationships, growth, and intentional action.

Nick explains that ikigai exists in the ordinary moments we often overlook: sharing coffee with a friend, walking a loved one to the train station, learning something new, or overcoming a meaningful challenge. He introduces a simple framework of awareness, agency, and action, encouraging listeners to notice what matters, choose how they want to live, and actively engage with life.

The conversation also examines the unintended consequences of modern technology and constant distraction, arguing that fulfillment comes not from passive consumption but from embodied experiences and genuine human connection. Drawing from his new book, A Year of Ikigai, Nick shares why small daily reflections and micro-practices can profoundly reshape how we experience our lives.

Ultimately, the episode offers a hopeful reminder: purpose is not something waiting for you in the future. It is something you choose and cultivate today.

Key Learnings:

  • Ikigai is a way of living, not a destination. Rather than searching for one grand purpose, we can cultivate meaning through everyday experiences and intentional choices. 

  • The small moments matter. We often chase major milestones while overlooking the ordinary moments that make life rich, joyful, and deeply meaningful. 

  • Meaning requires awareness, agency, and action. We must first recognize what matters, believe we can shape our lives, and then actively choose behaviors that align with those values. 

  • Purpose is something you choose. Instead of waiting to "find" your purpose, commit to a role, a cause, or a way of contributing that reflects who you want to become. 

  • Ask yourself one powerful question: "How do I want to use my life today?"
    The answer shapes not only your purpose but how you show up in your relationships, work, and everyday moments..

Resources:

Guest Info:

Nick Kemp is the founder of Ikigai Tribe and a leading voice in bringing the Japanese philosophy of ikigai to a global audience. Having lived in Japan for many years, he has dedicated his work to helping individuals and organizations understand ikigai not as something to discover, but as a daily practice of living with meaning, joy, and intention. Through his coaching, speaking, workshops, podcast, and his book A Year of Ikigai: Finding Everyday Purpose through Japanese Wisdom, Nick invites people to reconnect with the small moments and relationships that make life worth living.

Kathryn Sandoe https://www.katiesandoe.com
Next

Episode 84: The Moments That Change Everything | Life Switches That Spark Purpose, Passion, and Potential with Joel Steele