According to a quick google search “Ikigai” is a Japanese concept that describes ones’ purpose for being and is derived from the words “Iki” meaning life and “Gai” meaning purpose. The book, Ikigai aims to teach this Japanses concept and the ingredients to living long, healthy lives according to Japan’s most ancient citizens.
Although published in 2016, it took me a while to finally pick it up to read despite being very familiar with its’ aesthetic cover. It seemed to be the going trend for a while because of its’ cute exterior – even though we aren’t meant to judge books this way. Whether you’re interested in finding purpose and longevity in life or not, pop one on your bookshelf for some cute interior decor – afterall, isn’t what they’re for anyway 😛
All jokes aside, this cute little book boasts some great tips for living better and is also a lovely little read.
The Basic Premise
Ikigai is a Japanese word that is all about finding balance and harmony between passion, mission, profession and vocation. Think of it like a niche for combining your purpose with profession. Whether you’ve heard of ‘Ikigai’ or not, I’m sure you’re familiar with this Venn diagram (or a variant of it):
Even in school we were often told “do what you enjoy and what you’re good at”. Which makes sense but in reality, is actually pretty hard to put into practice. If you’re like me then you’re probably wondering; “What is it that I want to do with my life? What am I even good at let alone what am I passionate about, I struggle enough just to know what day of the week it is”.
For me, I love details. I like to receive advice that is so comprehensive, that it’s tangible. If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide to finding your Ikigai, this book isn’t it. In fact, I’m not sure there is one. Finding your Ikigai probably comes with life experience and exploring different paths (I haven’t found mine yet either – but never lose faith that you will).
The best advice you’ll probably get from any random stranger on the internet will be something like this: learn through trial and error. It’s easier to find your mission in life through a process of elimination then by getting it right with the first place your dart lands.
Lack of crash-course to finding your purpose aside, Ikigai also endeavors to uncover the secrets to a long and healthy life by learning from those who have done just that: Japan’s many Centenarians. From this perspective, the book is valuable and provides methods to living better that you can immediately implement into your habit repertoire. Of these teachings, the most impactful for me were as follows.
Social connection and laughter
We are all human, so we all know that feeling alone is less than ideal. We work better in herds, in a community, with support. So, it makes sense that one of the secrets to longevity is to weave yourself into a tight-knit community. One thing that almost all centenarians interviewed in the book share is their routine of socialising. Every day they share a meal, a drink, conversation and laughter with their close friends. Feeding your soul with the company of good people is like nutrient-rich soil is to plants, so start nurturing your circle today.
Laughter and light-heartedness is also a worthwhile lesson delivered by the book which I personally have seen the fruits of, firsthand. Not long ago, I went to the 90th birthday of my dear friend’s grandma who just so happens to be one of the most smiley and genuinely positive people I have come across in a long time. She confirmed that to live a long life, one must endeavor to be happy and I believe her. Positivity is uplifting and energising while being negative is draining so it makes sense that having a positive demeanor will lead to better health. Increase the vibration of your cells my friends!
never stop pursuing meaning and usefulness
Boredom leads to laziness, so never stop ‘working’. Retirement should not mean sitting in a rocking chair and twiddling your thumbs for the next 30 years. According to those living long, happy and healthy lives in Japan (and all over the world, I’m sure) your purpose doesn’t end until the day you die. So, keep those hands busy and fruitful!
Eat well and to 80% of stomach capacity
Obviously, we should eat balanced, wholesome diets this is easy to know (and harder to practice) so I won’t labour the point. However, the book suggests that for longevity, we should care for our digestive systems by not forcing it to over-work itself. This means, don’t eat until you’re so stuffed you feel like a snake after it has eaten an animal triple its’ size. Instead, eat until you are only 80% full and thus increase your life expectancy and digestive well-being.
Green tea
Coming from Japan, it is not a surprise that green tea is a featured ritual in the life of these centenarians. But apparently it has a bunch of antioxidants that detoxify and cleanse your body which all sound pretty good. Hop on this train if you’re after some natural purifiers. Important Note: Not all green teas were made equal so make sure you’re consuming the high quality, un-processed tea leaves and not the mass-produced dregs (sorry Lipton).
Move your body gently
Unless you are living under a rock, chances are you’ve had the notion that ‘physical exercise is important for your health’ drilled into you. You probably are also wrapped up in the wave of fitspo, lift bros and #gymlife that is the ‘gymstagram’ era. Every man and his dog is apparently hitting the gym before 6am and pumping iron for 3 hours a day. But rejoice in knowing that those living to be triple digits vouch for the slower, more gentle approach to physical activity.
In every local park one is bound to find a congregation of old people doing synchronous, slow-motion, karate moves. Otherwise known as Tai Chi, it is apparently wonderful for your health due to its’ low-impact nature. I am also a lover of low-impact exercise but prefer to sweat it out in a yoga studio than at a retirement village. The book also suggests a walk every morning as one of the first things you do (I can confirm, this is a wonderful way to start your day). Whether you choose, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, walking or some other Eastern practice, just make sure its’ not high impact on your joints (At least, if you want to live to be 100).
Final Thoughts
Of all the things this oracle teaches, seeking purpose and positivity is my favourite. It is no surprise that I am a big fan of living mindfully (or at least talking about it – I ain’t perfect). It’s because I truly believe that to feel satisfied with life, you have to master your own mindset and attitude. You ain’t gonna get to the end of a life that was fulfilling if you spent the whole time feeling grumpy and hard done-by. To add salt to the wound, chances are you’ll get there before turning the big 100 too.
So perhaps the biggest lesson is to be grateful and to turn that frown upside-down.
Until next time,
Ana Luisa
