In Sunday’s Stillness, I Found my Ikigai - Sunbeam School Ballia

Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend an online session hosted by My Good School, and it turned out to be such an enriching experience. The session focused on understanding Ikigai — the beautiful Japanese concept of finding one’s true purpose in life. Although I joined a little late because I was caught up with some household chores, the moment Shahar Ma’am messaged us, I rushed to log in without a second thought. I’m so grateful I did!

The host introduced a unique method of finding our Ikigai by drawing a tree and analyzing our strengths, opportunities, and ways to contribute to society. It really made me reflect deeply. We also learned about Emotional Quotient (EQ) and how it is different from Intelligence Quotient (IQ). I even got a chance to answer a question about EQ, which made me feel really connected and engaged.

What truly inspired me the most was Mr. Sandeep Dutt Sir’s personality — his passion, wisdom, and simplicity left a lasting impression on me. It wasn’t just a session; it felt like a journey into self-discovery. I came out of it feeling motivated, thoughtful, and genuinely excited to explore my own Ikigai.

Shaurya Pandey

Sunbeam School Ballia

 

It was a fabulous experience—one of the best sessions I’ve ever attended. It wasn’t just a session, but an impactful imprint on me. The valuable insights, skills, and knowledge shared truly enhanced our understanding and opened new avenues for personal development.

Today, I found a new best friend—Ikigai. It brings together our interests, skills, strengths, and joy. It also helped me gain clarity about my values, and better understand both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The best part was planting our very own Ikigai tree, which will guide us in building confidence in our interests, skills, and overall growth.

We explored what we love, what we are good at, what the world needs, and what we can be paid for. It was such a meaningful and supercalifragilisticexpialidocious session—something that doesn’t just belong in books, but in our lives.

Ashish Verma

Sunbeam School Ballia

My Good School, Sunday the 27th April 2025

Sunday School # 186

Discovering IKIGAI with Ms. Komal Khetal

The session, led by Ms. Komal Khetal, focused on the concept of Ikigai—a Japanese philosophy that helps individuals find purpose and meaning in life. She explained how aligning our daily choices and chores with our core values can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. By identifying our Ikigai, we can make better decisions, stay grounded, and approach challenges with clarity. Ms. Khetal emphasised that when we face difficulties, acting in line with our values allows us to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.

🌟 Finding Your Ikigai: A Journey to Purpose & Joy!

We had a fantastic session led by Komal Khetal from Dreamtime Learning School, where we dove deep into the beautiful Japanese concept of Ikigai—your reason for jumping out of bed in the morning!

🔑 Big Ideas That Stuck With Us

• Ikigai is about blending what you love, what you're great at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for

• Your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) plays a bigger role in success than IQ ever could

• Doing things because you enjoy them (intrinsic Motivation) beats doing them just for rewards or praise

• Self-reflection is the first step to building a life and career that truly fits you

💡 What We Explored

✨ Welcome to Ikigai

• Ikigai = "reason for being"

• It's about waking up excited and motivated

• Passion + Skill + Purpose + Livelihood = Ikigai!

🧠 The Power of EQ

• 90% of success? Yup, that's EQ talking!

• Understand yourself + connect with others = win-win

• Empathy, resilience, and adaptability are key in the real world

🎯 What Drives You?

• Intrinsic Motivation = Doing it because you love it

• Extrinsic Motivation = Doing it for the reward

• The first one lasts longer and feels way better!

🌳 The Ikigai Tree Activity

You all created your personal Ikigai trees! 🌱

• Roots = What you love

• Trunk = What you're good at

• Branches = What the world needs

• Fruits = What you can be paid for

⚖️ Passion vs. Practicality

• We talked about turning dreams into real-life plans

• Tips on having open conversations with parents about careers

• You can follow your passion and be practical—yes, both!

🚀 Be Future-Ready

• AI is changing the world—so how do we stay relevant?

• Build skills AI can't copy: creativity, empathy, and curiosity

• Stay flexible and open to new paths!

📌 What's Next?

• Complete your Ikigai trees 🖍️

• Reflect on your passions, values, and strengths.

• Join us for more My Good School sessions like MAP (Music, Art & Poetry) 🎨🎶

• Keep exploring who you are and what lights you up

📬 Ready to reflect? Reflection means taking a pause to look inward, thinking about what you felt, learned, and how it connects to your own journey. It's a powerful way to grow and discover more about yourself 🌱

We'd love to hear what sparked your curiosity in this session! Share your thoughts, insights, or even your Ikigai tree with Manisha via email- mk@learningforward.org.in. Your story might just inspire someone else too 💌✨

Celebrating World Book Day

The Valencian writer Vicente Clavel Andrés came up with the idea for World Book Day to honour the famous author Miguel de Cervantes (known for Don Quixote), whose birthday is April 23.

 

Students from Dehradun Hills Academy recently embarked on an exciting adventure at The English Book Depot! They had the incredible opportunity to host a podcast with the captivating Sandeep Dutt. During this engaging discussion, they delved into the world of books, exploring the joys of reading, the thrill of learning, and the fascinating history of this 100-plus-year-old bookstore. Don't miss out on Part 1 of this enthralling podcast, now live on their YouTube Channel in celebration of World Book Day!

Reflective Minds, Creative Hearts 💭❤️: Lotus Petal Foundation

Lotus Petal Reflections MGS by Learning Forward India Foundation

Please view the presentation, read the posts by the students, appreciate their creativity, and share your comments below.

🌸 Reflect to Grow! 🌸

At Good Schools Alliance, reflection boosts both critical and creative thinking. After our recent Sunday session, students of  Lotus Petal Foundation engaged in reflective writing—a powerful way to process learning, explore ideas, and grow.

What makes it even better? Collaboration! Reading and responding to each other's reflections deepens understanding and sparks new perspectives.

🧠 Reflective writing + peer sharing = stronger thinking and self-awareness.

Proud of our young thinkers!

Happy reading and reflecting!

Lotus Petal Foundation has over 11 years of grassroots-level expertise in handling challenges faced by underprivileged children and transforming their lives through education, nutrition, skill development, and & livelihood support. The Foundation focuses on the holistic development of children, thus preparing them to integrate into mainstream society and leave a long-lasting impact on the lives of students and their families. 

Join the Retreat, Embrace the Shift - Subeam Suncity

Sunbeam Suncity MGS April 2025 by Learning Forward India Foundation

 It’s always uplifting to hear words of appreciation.

Thank you, Sunbeam Suncity, for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Your encouragement strengthens our resolve to keep creating meaningful learning experiences. We’re grateful for your support and excited to keep growing together.

"Reflect. Reconnect. Rise Higher – Be a Part of the Next My Good School Retreat!"

Want to know more about our upcoming retreat? Reach out to us at mk@learningforward.org.in – we’d love to hear from you!