IKIGAI—The Japanese Secret to a Long Happy Life—Book Review
Many of us indeed struggle and asks these questions: Why do we exist? What do we live for? What is our intention in life? Assuredly, those questions are laborious to answer and of course, are a description of our endless search for the meaning of life; on both a group and individual level. Yet, when we're at workplaces, we desire whatever we're doing to hold something that not only gives us money; but also happiness, passion, and a feeling that we are fulfilling our ends.
Henceforth, the Japanese people developed a term named: IKIGAI—"The happiness of always being busy, the art of staying young while growing old". Which means (y)our purpose to live. (Y)our goal in life. Something that makes you get up and get working every single day. In short, Ikigai deciphers to “reason for being”.
However, the Japanese notion: IKIGAI gained global attention after the publication of a very inspirational book; Which is titled: IKIGAI—The Japanese Secret to a Long Happy life; Authored by Hector Garia and Francesc Miralles.
So, In this blog, I am maintaining to review my learning from the book, which I freshly concluded.
To begin, IKIGAI examines various aspects of life—which can assist us accomplishing a happy life, not all the time but, it should be as a pathway to steer the tough times; leading us where we would eventually want to be.
The book is essentially concerning the philosophical living style, staying active, the culture, and the mystery of longevity of the people in Okinawa island—the smallest and least populated of the five main islands of Japan, where 24.55 people are over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants.
Now, little about the authors of the book. Hector Garcia is a software engineer, and after this book, he is also the author of A Geek in Japan—a best-seller in Japan. On the other hand, Francesc Miralles is an award-winning author who has written numerous bestselling inspirational books.
The book provides ten Ikigai rules:
1-Stay active; dont retire.
2- Take it slow.
3-Don't fill your stomach.
4-Surround yourself with good friends.
5-Get in shape for your next birthday.
6-Smile
7-Reconnect with nature
8-Give thanks.
9-Live in the moment.
10-Follow your Ikigai.
The chapters of the book
The book consists of 9 chapters small, each with its freakish and mysterious nature. The first chapter of the book covers the way of remaining young while growing up and the causes of early ageing in our modern life, with starting what French philosopher distinguished''—a raison d'etre''—means (Y)our reason for being; and then provides a source of five Blue Zones in the world, where inhabitants of these places live longer than average and the philosophical secrets of their long life.
The five blue zones are as follows:
- The Italian island of Sardinia
- Okinawa, Japan
- Loma Linda, California
- Costa Rica’s isolated the Nicoya Peninsula
- Ikaria, an isolated Greek island
The following sections of the chapter examine the life habits of Blue Zones communities; for instance, according to the book, the segments of these communities are well time managed, eat little meat, do not do exhausting exercise but walk like working in their gardens.
The next part of the chapter, which also the final section, is concerning the two terms "Hara Hachi bu" and "Moai", which means "fill your belly to 80 per cent". Stop eating when you notice you are almost full but could have a little more. Whereas the second one is "connected for life" close relationships within local communities, the members of a moai have a common interest—volunteerism for the community is one of their ikigai.
The second chapter of the book illustrates antiaging secrets and how stress—a lot sitting adds up to your age and reduces your life duration.
According to the book, in Western countries, sedentary behaviour has caused many different diseases—hypertension and obesity—which side affects the longevity of the people. In addition, also the book argues that taking too much time to seated at work or (y)our homes raises appetite and curbs the desire to be active in any activities. The most notable of this chapter is that it says little stress is same time good for us!
The third chapter of the book covers logotherapy, which assists in finding the purpose to live.
Here, the approach is towards purpose and meaning—spiritual dimensions; and this chapter explains a few key ideas to live through logotherapy. The next section of the chapter focuses on Morita therapy and its basic principles like accepting your feelings, do what you should be doing, and discovering (y)our life purposes. And then its finals sections illustrates phases of Morita therapy.
The fourth chapter is concerning finding flow in whatever we do.
Flow is a state in which people are so engaged in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable.
Find out what you like to do and enjoy, do challenge tasks that lead to a flow.
Have a clear and concrete objective. Having a clear purpose is significant in achieving when it comes to flow. Also, Learn to take enjoyment in (y)our work and the routine task is essential and concentrate on a single work. Research shows that working on various things at one time reduces our productivity. Moreover, the book addresses the fourth chapter some excellent methods to practice which may assist (y)our achieving the flow.
Chapter fifth is about Words of wisdom from the most longest living people around the world. In this chapter, the authors interviewed Okinawa people and international champions of longevity or what by Norris Mc Whirter, the editor of Guinness Book of the World Record called supercentenarians. According to the book, they are people who live to 110 years of age or more. In addition, it mentions, today there are approximately 300 to 450 supercentenarians in our world.
Here are some of their quotes:
Misao Okaw, 117 years old
"Eat and sleep, and you will live a long time. You have to learn to relax"
Maria Capovilla, 116 years old
"I have never eaten meat in my life"
Jeanne Calment, 122 years old
"Everything is fine "
Walter Breuning, 114 years old
"If you keep your mind and body busy, you will be around a long time"
Alexander Imich, 111 years old
"I just have not died yet"
In chapter sixth the authors have addressed about lessons from Japan’s centenaries traditions for happiness and longevity.
They interviewed longest living people and they shared about their happy and long life.
Here are some tips:
—They always pursuing their ikigai but never in a rush.
—Learning new things would help us to find our ikigai.
—Not to worry and keep your heart young.
—Open your heart to people with a nice smile on your face.
—Cultivate good habits.
—Keep your fingers busy.
—Slow down and relax.
—Enjoy little things.
—Be optimistic.
Chapter seventh in the book explains the Ikigai Diet.
This chapter explains the diet of Okinawa people, which is one of the secrets of a happy, healthy and long life of Okinawa people.
Some of these foods are:
Eat a wide variety of foods especially, vegetables.
Include grains in your diet like oats, wheat, rice.
Green Tea.
They rarely eat sugar.
They eat fish three times per week.
Fill (y)our stomach only up to 80%. Eat less to live longer.
Fasting at least one or two days per week.
Chapter eighth is mainly talking about soft exercises as entitled "Gentle movements, longer life." Physical activities or Exercises, which improves health and longevity, like Yoga, Qigong, meditation and Tai chi, which are original from the East.
Source: beokinawaChapter ninth, which of course, the last chapter of the book about resilience and wabi-sabi.
How to face life’s challenges without letting stress, and worry age you.
First, the chapter explains resilience, wabi-sabi and Ichi-go Ichi-e
Resilience for the book is (y)our ability to deal with setbacks. So, the more we are resilient, the easier it will be to pick ourselves up.
On the other hand, Wabi-sabi, according to the book, is a Japanese notion that explains to us the natural changes and imperfect nature of our world. Beauty may found in things that are flawed and incomplete. Therefore, most Japanese hold that only imperfect, incomplete and fleeting things are beautiful because they resemble nature.
To conclude, the book is inspiring and full of beneficial contents for our life. I was charmed by the purity and calming tone the book gives, and it captured my concentration till the end. It is one of the excellent books I have read so far. A little read, with succinct tips. The book supported me to able to think about life in a broader understanding, with significant steps to find my Ikigai. Finally, If you are looking for a light dose of influence in your life, Ikigai can be a charming pick.
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