How Ikigai Leads to a Life of Personal Excellence with Andriana Ubunuki Kalfa

What gives meaning to your life when faced with loss and challenge? For Andriana Ubuduki-Kalfa, the answer emerged at her mother's funeral when a Japanese friend approached her about meeting her daughter, saying simply: "she was your mother's ikigai."

This profound moment transformed Andriana's understanding of ikigai beyond the familiar Western interpretation of four overlapping circles. As a Japanese-Greek performance coach with over 30 years of experience bridging cultural differences, Andriana discovered that ikigai can be found in the simplest pleasures—a morning coffee, a dog's greeting—or in profound connections to people and places that sustain us through life's darkest moments.

Our conversation explores how Andriana blends the Greek love of dialogue (rooted in the Socratic method) with Japanese concepts like mindfulness, kaizen, and kokorozashi (warrior spirit) to help Olympic athletes and executives achieve remarkable results. She shares moving personal stories, including how visualizing a small harbor in the Greek islands became her mental "resting port" during a serious health challenge, carrying her through surgery and recovery with hope and purpose.

Most powerfully, Andriana reveals how reconnecting with our inner child leads us back to our authentic selves—"where real clarity lives." By approaching life with shoshin (beginner's mind) and kokishin (curiosity), we create space for deep observation and reconnection with what truly matters.

Whether you're seeking better performance, deeper meaning, or simply a fresh perspective on life's challenges, this conversation offers wisdom that bridges Eastern and Western traditions in surprisingly practical ways. The insights shared might just help you discover your own ikigai—that special something that makes your life worth living each day.