IKIGAI: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

  

IKIGAI

Ikigai is a Japanese word that refers to a life purpose. Ikigai refers to defining your personal meaning of life in relation to your talents, passions, mission, vocation, and profession, as well as what you can give to the wider world. What you are good at, what you love, what the world news is, and what you can be paid for, are all ikigai.

From Long Therapy to Ikigai

How to live longer and better by finding your purpose

What it really means is you love the process of doing what you want to do. If your love is the title, the money, or the position, you will never find happiness or fulfillment in your work. That only comes from the process. It is the love you have for the doing that ultimately leads to happiness, helps us live longer, and decreases our risk of isolation and depression, and fulfillment. There are 4 reasons to do what you love for a living:

• Feeling fulfilled will make you happier.

You shouldn't view your job as merely a means of earning a living. If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, you’ll end up missing out on your life. It’s not just earning money. In and out of the office, your career should make you feel good emotionally. If you run for your passion and found success doing that, that will be more enjoyable and you feel more fulfilled.

•  Productivity will increase

When you are doing what you love it will make you more productive. You will feel motivated and inspired in your career. “If you are passionate about your job, you are likely to take an active interest in learning every aspect of the business,” said Patrice Rice, CEO, and founder of Patrice & Associates. “This not only sets you on the path toward success, but it also helps you get through the daily grind.”

• Others will be inspired by you.

You know what are you doing. You will help others and motivate others for doing that. A lot of people when afraid to follow their dreams and when they follow they failed many times and get demotivated. Think about what you would say to a friend or your loved one. Would you discourage them from doing what makes them happy simply because it’s risky? When you do take that leap yourself, you become an inspiration to others.

• Success is in your hands

When you go for your passion, a lot of failures come when you go for your dream and you learn and again go for it, you will find success. When you love what you do it well, you are competing with yourself in achieving your vision.

Masters in Building a Strong Network

Nowadays communication skills are very important. If your network is strong, that will make your life easier and it is good for your mental health. Connecting with others can help with an overall feeling of self-worth and purpose. It can lower our stress, help us live longer, and decrease our risk of isolation and depression. 

The Ikigai Diet

Health can be defined as a holistic way of the growth of the human body and mind. A healthy person's body is in complete harmony with his mind. We can practice the art of health and wellness by remembering that our bodies are made of living tissue. Those tissues need nourishment to grow and the food we eat is directly responsible for the nutrients reaching our tissues. With this in mind, we must understand the importance of a balanced meal. As people become more mindful of their physical and mental well-being, they’re starving for content that teaches them a better way to live and manage their emotions.

Find Flow in Everything You DO

Nowadays when we ask somebody “What is your schedule for tomorrow?”. The answer is “BUSY”. “What type of busy?”. The answer is “office work”. We don't have any time for ourselves. That make to fall us into depression. If we only have one schedule “Busy”, that makes our mental health in trouble. Yes, we have to work but also we have to spend time with others too. We have to do everything not just work things. Find which activities in your life make you enter flow. Write all of them on a piece of paper then ask yourself these questions: what do the activities that drive you to flow have in common? Why do those activities drive you to flow?

Flow is mysterious. It is like a muscle the more you train it the more you will flow and the closer you will be to your ikigai.

Conclusion

Our ikigai is different for all of us but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning. Life is not a problem to be solved. Just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who loved you.