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At some point in our conversation, the mysterious word ikigai came up. This Japanese concept, which translates roughly as “the happiness of always being busy,” is like logotherapy, but it goes a step beyond.
Because those who discover their ikigai have everything they need for a long and joyful journey through life.
Our ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires a patient search.
our ikigai is the reason we get up in the morning.
Whatever you do, don’t retire!
Okinawa holds first place among the world’s Blue Zones.
According to scientists who have studied the five Blue Zones, the keys to longevity are diet, exercise, finding a purpose in life (an ikigai), and forming strong social ties—that is, having a broad circle of friends and good family relations.
Recent studies by nutritionists reveal that Okinawans consume a daily average of 1,800 to 1,900 calories, compared to 2,200 to 3,300 in the United States, and have a body mass index between 18 and 22, compared to 26 or 27 in the United States.
Presented with new information, the brain creates new connections and is revitalized. This is why it is so important to expose yourself to change, even if stepping outside your comfort zone means feeling a bit of anxiety.
Research into the causes of premature aging has shown that stress has a lot to do with it, because the body wears down much faster during periods of crisis. The American Institute of Stress investigated this degenerative process and concluded that most health problems are caused by stress.
They found that stress promotes cellular aging by weakening cell structures known as telomeres, which affect cellular regeneration and how our cells age. As the study revealed, the greater the stress, the greater the degenerative effect on cells.
Achieving mindfulness involves a gradual process of training, but with a bit of practice we can learn to focus our mind completely, which reduces stress and helps us live longer.
Science has shown that sleep is a key antiaging tool, because when we sleep we generate melatonin, a hormone that occurs naturally in our bodies.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
“He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.”
“To be able to concentrate for a considerable amount of time is essential to difficult achievement.”
We often think that combining tasks will save us time, but scientific evidence shows that it has the opposite effect.
Concentrating on one thing at a time may be the single most important factor in achieving flow.
If we’re not truly being challenged, we get bored and add a layer of complexity to amuse ourselves. Our ability to turn routine tasks into moments of microflow, into something we enjoy, is key to our being happy, since we all have to do such tasks.
Training the mind can get us to a place of flow more quickly. Meditation is one way to exercise our mental muscles.
“The secret is smiling and having a good time.”
“The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”
“The secret to a long life is not to worry. And to keep your heart young—don’t let it grow old. Open your heart to people with a nice smile on your face.
Cultivate good habits
“The key to staying sharp in old age is in your fingers. From your fingers to your brain, and back again.
“Working. If you don’t work, your body breaks down.”
“To live a long time you need to do three things: exercise to stay healthy, eat well, and spend time with people.”
“My secret to a long life is always saying to myself, ‘Slow down,’ and ‘Relax.’ You live much longer if you’re not in a hurry.”
a concept known in Japanese as hara hachi bu. It’s easy to do: When you notice you’re almost full but could have a little more . . . just stop eating!
Drinking green or white tea every day can help us reduce the free radicals in our bodies, keeping us young longer.
STUDIES FROM THE Blue Zones suggest that the people who live longest are not the ones who do the most exercise but rather the ones who move the most.
movement and breath—help us to bring our consciousness in line with our body, instead of allowing our mind to be carried away by the sea of daily worries. Most of the time, we are just not aware enough of our breathing.
Resilience is our ability to deal with setbacks. The more resilient we are, the easier it will be to pick ourselves up and get back to what gives meaning to our lives.
Our ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning. When we spend our days feeling connected to what is meaningful to us, we live more fully; when we lose the connection, we feel despair.
Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering.
