For years, I believed that I needed to identify a single, passion that my IKIGAI, or reason for being, was somehow fixed and awaiting discovery like a hidden artifact.
However, after reviewing empirical research on personality development, I realized that we are not static.
Our personality, ambitions, and even our failures constitute an evolving narrative:
One that continues well into adulthood and continually reshapes who we are.
This article is not a personal account; rather, it offers a critical review of self-discovery and purpose, informed by scientific findings.
If you have ever felt disoriented about your future or pressured to find clarity by a specific age, continue reading.
A Lifelong Realization on My 27th Birthday
In reflecting on my journey, I note that I have always been drawn to creativity and driven by a fascination with technology and exploration.
At 10 years old, my curiocity led me to disassemble toys to understand their inner workings, fueling an early aspiration to invent.
During my teenage years, I submitted a paper to the 26th European Contest of Young Scientists.
I later accumulated over 200 subscribers on YouTube.
I explored photography, video and editing.
I tried social media marketing.
And.. I struggled to devote myself to any single pursuit.
I even tried Instagram quotes pages and a clothing brand.
These endeavors met with some success but ultimately failed to hold my sustained interest.
Growth Through Change: A Psychological Perspective
I have since concluded that our personalities and interests are not immutable.
Many individuals grow up believing they should determine a fixed path by their mid-twenties, but this assumption conflicts with established psychological research.
Traditional theories, such as the Five-Factor Model, have long suggested that personality traits become “set like plaster” by age 30 (McCrae & Costa, 1999).
However, more recent findings highlight that personality remains malleable throughout adulthood (Srivastava, John, Gosling, & Potter, 2003).
For instance, Conscientiousness:
The trait linked to self-discipline and responsibility, continues to increase well into one’s 30s and 40s..
Particularly as individuals assume more work and life obligations.
Meanwhile, Neuroticism, characterized by emotional instability, often decreases over time, especially among women, contributing to better emotional regulation (Srivastava, John, Gosling, & Potter, 2003).
Reflecting on my personal evolution:
I see how my capacity to focus, persevere, and refine my skills has strengthened with time, even though I once saw myself as indecisive or easily distracted.
Failure Is Just Data: The Importance of Adaptability
In 2020, I encountered cryptocurrencies and I became obsessed by non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
This emerging domain united my interests in creativity and coding, drawing me closer to what I believed might be my ikigai.
Although I initially experienced financial gains, my limited expertise culminated in yet another setback.
Nevertheless, research underscores that failures and novel experiences drive person-environment transactions, processes wherein individuals shape their environment and are shaped in return (Caspi & Roberts, 1999).
These transactions elucidate why people can develop new strengths and skills throughout adulthood.
Advancing career responsibilities often correlate with increases in Conscientiousness, whereas caregiving or mentorship roles may foster higher Agreeableness by encouraging empathy and social responsibility.
In my case, establishing a company after the NFT setback compelled me to:
- Reevaluate my strategies,
- Refine my competencies, and
- Adopt a more deliberate mindset.
The Fluidity of Identity
Over the past three years, I also pursued artistic endeavors, focusing on interactive installations and sculptures.
Simultaneously, I became a blogger, sharing insights garnered from my multifaceted experiences.
This phase taught me a principle championed by experienced writing instructors:
Rather than following strict rules, we should prioritize readers’ concerns and values.
This applies to life as well..
Identifying and articulating genuine instabilities or tensions can yield authentic contributions to one’s community.
It turns out that what I once perceived as a weakness, my breadth of interests, was simply a reflection of normal personality development.
Evidence indicates that..
Openness to Experience remains relatively stable or slightly declines after age 30, yet this trend does not negate our capacity to learn (Srivastava, John, Gosling, & Potter, 2003).
Instead, it suggests that maturity can bring greater selectivity, prompting us to focus on endeavors that align more fully with our deeper values.
Embracing Change as Part of IKIGAI
In truth, the world we inhabit today differs markedly from the one preceding generations prepared us for.
Many of us were taught to memorize and recite information rather than cultivate critical thinking skills.
Nevertheless, no concerted effort is wasted; every interest, choice, and misstep accrues knowledge and experience, progressively revealing how these elements can intersect.
As Dan Koe observes,
“The first step to becoming an original thinker is to reject any prior belief, ideology, value, or idea, because when you absorbed them, you did not question them”
By questioning established assumptions, we uncover deeper significance in our lives and make meaningful contributions to others.
If you ever feel uncertain about your path, remember that your personality, interests, and values remain in flux.
Like me, you may move from one endeavor to another, feeling as though you lack commitment.
In reality:
YOU ARE EVOLVING!
Research confirms that adults continue to change, and every turn informs a sense of purpose.
Embrace your multidimensional nature, keep learning, and trust that your distinct trajectory will ultimately guide you toward your IKIGAI.
References
McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. (1999). A Five-Factor theory of personality. In L. A. Pervin & O. P. John (Eds.), Handbook of personality: Theory and research (2nd ed., pp. 139–153). Guilford Press.
Srivastava, S., John, O. P., Gosling, S. D., & Potter, J. (2003). Development of personality in early and middle adulthood: Set like plaster or persistent change? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(5), 1041–1053.
Roberts, Brent & Caspi, Avshalom. (2003). 9 The Cumulative Continuity Model of Personality Development: Striking a Balance Between Continuity and Change in Personality Traits Across the Life Course. 10.1007/978-1-4615-0357-6_9.
