Do you feel lost in life? Are you tired of your monotonous routine that you have to keep repeating every day? Do you feel like you don’t have any purposes or you don’t know where your life is going?
Have you heard of ikigai? It’s a Japanese concept indicating a term that gives a person the ability to discover their goals in life, what truly matters to them, and let them help find a reason to live life to the fullest. This term became more famous when Hector Gracia and Francesc Miralles wrote and published a book together called “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.”.
The book started describing how these two fine writers came up with such an interesting self-help book and gave the readers such valuable insights. They were discussing this specific place in Japan called the island of Okinawa, where there are 24.55 people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants- far more than the global average. The purpose of this book is to bring the secrets of Japan’s centenarians to you and give you the tools to find your own ikigai.
What is your reason for being? Everyone has their ikigai, or purpose in life. But if you’re still looking for an answer, try asking yourself these following questions:
- What do you love?
- What are you good at?
- What can you be paid for?
- What does the world need?
If you manage to find the answers, why not try to put it into action?
Whatever you do, don’t retire:
The book has a beautiful story of Hayao Miyazaki, the director of animated films produced by Studio Ghibli. In 2013, he announced his retirement. The day after his retirement, instead of taking a break from work or just idly staying at home, he went to Studio Ghibli and sat down to draw like he never retired. When you’re truly passionate about something, is it even possible to retire?
The eighty percent secret:
There’s a common saying that goes around in Japan: Hara hachibu, meaning “Fill your belly to 80%”. This is why Okinawans stop eating when they feel their stomach reach 80% of their capacity. In this 80% food, they choose a very healthy diet.
Moai: Connected for life:
It’s important to be a part of an informal group of people with common interests who will be there to support you emotionally and financially. This gives people a sense of security, the feeling of belonging, and therefore helps with their wellbeing.
The book later on explains so many interesting things, like aging, escape velocity and longevity. How to turn work and free time into spaces for growth etc. There are terms that you may or may not know about but to understand these, this is a smart choice.
It says that to keep your brain active, you need to face difficult tasks and not cave out. If you continue to do the same things over and over again, you may lose your creativity, and thus you need to engage with tasks that require your mental skills.
Reading throughout the book you will find words of wisdom from the longest living people in the world.
At the end of the book’s epilogue, the writers introduced us to the 10 rules of ikigai:
- Stay active; don’t retire.
- Take it slow.
- Don’t fill your stomach.
- Surround yourself with good friends.
- Get in shape for your next birthdays.
- Smile.
- Reconnect with nature.
- Give thanks.
- Live in the moment.
- Follow your ikigai.
Even when you are lost in life, remember that you have a passion inside you, a talent you are actually proud of, something you excelled at already. If you don’t know what your ikigai is, remember what the Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist Viktor Frankl said: “Your mission is to discover it.”
You can take some time out of your busy schedule to read the book. This book will help you find the meaning of your existence and teach you that you shouldn’t only live because you’re barely existing. It will help you find your purpose and create your own identity. So if you read it, suggest someone else read it as well, so they find the light in a time of darkness in their life.
To read more blogs click here.
Writer
Farzana Binte Rahman Meem
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE