What the Japanese can teach us about living a long and happy life.
Long life , a sense of purpose and deep happiness , what if all three of these fundamental concepts originated from the same place?
Summary of Ikigai explains the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which includes the reason for life , the purpose of life , and the source of your longevity . By finding your Ikiga and following a few simple health tips, you'll discover how you can live a long, full, and happy life.
In the Ikigai book you will learn that:
- What is "flow" and why is it so important?
- How does karaoke keep you young?
- Why is friendship your most important asset?
Having a serious goal in life is the secret of longevity .
Are you interested in living a long, healthy and productive life? Who wouldn't want that?
The secret to doing this can be found on the island of Okinawa, in southern Japan; A place that has the largest population of centenarians in the whole world.
The islanders' secret to longevity can be summed up in just one word: Ikigai , which can be translated as your reason for living or your inner motivation for a particular professional activity .
It can also be described as the intersection of four different elements: what you're passionate about, what you're good at, how you can make money, and what the world needs. Many Japanese believe that everyone has an ikigai or destiny that they were born to fulfill.
However, while some people find their Ikiga quickly, others have to search for it over time. If you belong to the second category, it is important to persevere and keep going; After all , Ikigai will ultimately motivate you to get out of bed in the morning.
This is why Okinawans often achieve a high degree of expertise and meticulous attention to detail in their daily work. For example, at a brush factory in Okinawa, the authors met a master craftsman who had spent his entire life perfecting the art of gluing each strand of hair to a brush. At this stage of his career, he was able to do his job with astonishing force and skill.
In addition, Ikigai is the key to longevity . Therefore, if your Ikiga is your job, you should never retire from your job. If your Ikiga is a hobby that brings meaning and joy to your life, you should never give it up.
Okinawans follow these rules and thus remain active throughout their lives. If they are forced to retire, they still find ways to stay active, for example by gardening or doing other things that their communities provide.
The benefits of this commitment are clear. Medical studies conducted on Okinawan centenarians have shown a very low rate of heart disease and dementia in them.
In the following topics, you will learn how an engaged mind enables a long life.
obility, even in simple forms, is an essential aspect of a long life.
Have you ever met elderly people who seem very energetic despite their age? Well, most likely the reason they lived so long was to maintain physical activity throughout their lives.
In fact, being active in general is important for living a long and happy life, but it doesn't need to be extreme; Observing the residents of Okinawa shows that exercise and fitness are much less important than simple and regular movement.
For example, elderly Okinawans walk their neighborhoods, work in their gardens, and even perform on stage at karaoke bars. The key to their activity is not its intensity, but the fact that it never stops.
But if you don't want to accept their word, pay attention to what modern science says:
According to health expert Gavin Bradley, sitting is bad for your health. He found that after just half an hour of sitting in a chair, the metabolism slowed down and disrupted the healthy digestion of fat. In addition, sitting for more than two hours reduces blood cholesterol levels.
The good news is that standing up for five minutes every half hour is enough to offset these effects; However, most office workers neglect to do this.
Okinawans participate in a more coordinated form of exercise. This practice is called radio taiso (radio taiso), which is a form of initial warm-up for the people of Okinawa and, in general, Japanese natives.
This exercise is done in the morning or during the day, often in large groups. Radio Taiso is very common and some schools, businesses and nursing homes gather in different groups to do these exercises every morning.
Originally, this exercise was also broadcast on the radio, which is why it has the word "radio" in its name. But today, most people do their workouts via TV or online.
These exercises are simple. For example, one move is to lower your arms in a circular motion before bringing your arms down above your head. The purpose of this movement is to slowly warm up the joints and muscles of the arms and shoulders.
Summary of Ikigai book
The key message of the Ikigai book is that:
Living a long, happy, and healthy life depends on eating well and getting plenty of exercise, but longevity goes beyond these simple daily actions. By finding a purpose that drives you every day, you can focus your energy and live many years on earth.
Practical advice, immerse yourself in the beauty of imperfection!
In Japanese culture, there is a belief that only imperfect objects, such as a cracked teacup, can be truly beautiful. This concept is known as "Wabi Sabi" and can help you enjoy your everyday life more. So, try to stop striving for perfection that is so common in life and instead embrace the beauty that lies in life's imperfections. The result will be more energy, less stress and a longer life.
