Breakthrough Career Reinvention For Women Over 50: Ikigai And The New Definition of Success

It’s My Time Now: Kavita Ahuja

For most of my career, I measured myself by outcomes, like titles, metrics, and praise. While this approach can motivate us for a time, it can also leave us quietly depleted. 

Do you ever ask yourself: what is the best measurement of my “worth”?

I recently received a definitive answer to this question. This past June, I attended a retreat in Zermatt, Switzerland called “Ikigai in Nature”, where I had the honor of interviewing Francesc Miralles, co-author of the bestselling book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, for my podcast The Midlife Reinvention.  

A simple truth clicked for me during my conversation with Francesc, and I share it with you now: The best measurement of self-worth occurs when it’s rooted in fulfillment, not outcomes. 

Ikigai And Career Reinvention For Women Over 50: A Mindset Shift Toward Fulfillment:

So how, then, do we reach this fulfillment, if our self-worth relies on it? Achievement is largely external, and it often depends on outcomes and other people’s approval. Fulfillment, on the other hand, is internal. It depends on alignment with your values, energy, and contribution. When worth leans only on achievement, every win fades and the chase begins again. When worth leans on fulfillment, you feel solid even as life shifts.

When your days line up with what truly matters to you, and how you can contribute to others, you don’t need constant proof or validation. You actually feel it.

Ikigai, Simply Put:

So what is this secret, lived by the Okinawans in Japan? Ikigai is your reason for being. It is the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what abundance you can bring into your life. When you tap into this and bring it into your life, fulfillment is a natural outcome.

It isn’t a single job title. It’s a direction you can express in work, relationships, creativity, and service. And it evolves. As our seasons change – empty nests, caregiving, new health realities – your Ikigai can express itself in new ways. That isn’t failure; it’s growth.

What Francesc Confirmed For Me:

As Francesc shared his story and wisdom, he confirmed three ideas which continually guide me and my clients:

1. Purpose Changes With Life:

You can have more than one expression of Ikigai over time, even at once. Give yourself permission to update it.

2. Follow Your Flow:

Notice where time disappears in a meaningful way. Those moments are important clues and breadcrumbs leading to your purpose.

3. Small Habits Matter:

Like the Okinawans did, sleep well, move your body, eat a little lighter, and invest in close relationships and community. These practices lead to a long and happy life. 

Two Small Practices:

How can you practically apply these concepts in your own life? Try this:

1. The 90-Second Fulfillment Pause:

Once a day, ask yourself: What am I doing right now, and why does it matter to me? If you can’t answer, adjust the task or your approach so it serves a value like learning, service, creativity, or connection.

2. Write One Line Of Ikigai:

Fill in the blanks: 

“I exist to contribution by using my strengths to support people or causes that matter to me.” It doesn’t have to be perfect, and can be revisited weekly, monthly, or yearly, as your insights grow. 

Keep Your Goals. Change The Scorecard:

This doesn’t mean that ambition isn’t important. Ambition is welcome, but track more than just outcomes. In addition to results,  notice four things:

Alignment with your values; Energy gained or drained; Contribution to someone’s day; Growth in a skill or perspective. As these rise, achievements tend to become steadier and more meaningful.

Choosing Worth First:

So, my friend, here is the quiet shift I brought home from my conversation with Francesc in Zermatt. Decide you’re worthy before you seek the thing – the launch, the promotion, or the applause. 

Once you’ve realized you are worthy, you can express your Ikigai in small and consistent ways. It can be sharing an idea that helps someone, setting one boundary that protects your energy, or spending twenty focused minutes on a craft you love. 

These small actions build up to realizing that, indeed, you are living your reason for being. Midlife gives us editing power. We get to keep what’s essential and let the rest go. When worth is sourced from fulfillment, reinvention stops feeling like a risk and starts feeling like a return – to yourself.

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