This compendium highlights the Japanese secret of living long and happy, by finding a meaningful purpose of life. The inhabitants of Japan believe that everyone has a purpose of life, we just need to find one — calling it IKIGAI — a reason to jump out of bed each morning.
This word roughly translates into the meaning “the happiness of always being busy”. As the authors Hector Garica & Frances Miracles investigate this Japanese secret, they draw focus to a specific Island — Okinawa, who have people over the age of 100, far more than the global average. The authors arrive there experiencing incredible friendliness among the inhabitants and who talked and laughed at utmost joy amid lush green fields by crystalline waters to interview the eldest residents of the town, only to discover, the uncommon joy flowing in their pleasurable lives is this mysterious work — IKIGAI.
The book draws attention to the various Blue Zones across the earth, where Dan Buettner claims people live much longer than average. Buettner identified five regions as “Blue Zones” —
- Okinawa (Japan)
- Sardinia (Italy)
- Nicoya (Costa Rica)
- Icaria (Greece);
- Loma Linda, California
The book identified that people living in these regions have a similar lifestyle, and he investigated their lives and shared it as first-hand observations, for why these populations live healthier and live longer than the global average.
By making small changes, we can initiate the renewal of our bodies and mind and increase the quality of our life and longevity.
Here are some changes recommended to renew your mind & body —
- Stress is accused of killing longevity, so be mindful of reducing stress
- A lot of sitting can age you, so add a few active ingredients into your everyday life — walk to walk, take stairs, indulge in leisure activities, etc.
- Sleep long and rest yourself. Science shows sleeping is a key anti-ageing tool, as it releases a powerful antioxidant called melatonin offering benefits for preserving youthfulness
- Find flow in everything you do, which is a state of being at pleasure, delight, creative and completely immersed into the task at hand. This is one key ingredient talked about, to have an optimum experience, helping keep our mind “in order”
- A few statements from the interviews from the elderly community —
“Don’t worry”
“Cultivate good habits”
“Nurture your friendships everyday”
“Live an unhurried life”
“Be optimistic”
6. Eat more of vegetables and add a lot of natural antioxidants in your diet
7. Exercises from the East that promote health! These gentle movements will help you lead a longer and healthier life
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Tai Chi
- Qigong
Lastly, breathe better, live longer!
Authors Note: Pursue your passion at work or as a hobby and give it your best shot, without any fear and with the least distractions! Life will throw you under a bus eventually, the way you deal with these difficulties will make a difference to your quality of life. What matters is here & now, in the present, we all humans are short-lived and perishable!
