Ikigai – the reason for being or to jump out of bed each morning is a Japanese philosophy now unravelled to the world for propelling human longevity and happiness. Ikigai derived from the word ‘IKI’ meaning life and ‘KAI’ meaning the realisation of hopes and expectations.
Authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Mirales stumbled upon each other and decided to write a book on the natural therapeutic miracle of this philosophy under the same name. The authors transport the reader into the Japanese island of Okinawa. Okinawa falls under the ‘Blue Zone’ location and houses the largest population of centenarians in the world. Blue Zone a term coined by Dan Buettner, are those regions in the world where people live much longer than the average. There are in all 5 such blue zones all over the world.
· The Italian island of Sardinia.
· Okinawa, Japan.
· Loma Linda, California.
· Costa Rica’s isolated Nicoya Peninsula.
· Ikaria, an isolated Greek island.
The research on Ikigai has been referenced in the book with the lifestyle and people living in Okinawa. The authors dismiss the notion of a retirement age for individuals as the core principle of Ikigai. For what you love doing can never cease. One must first identify with what they love doing the most without an external force. Then submerge totally into the act and bring excellence into each thread of the act that is meaningful to the world and creates value.
Ikigai is the intersection between what you are good at, what you love doing, what the world needs and what can you be paid for. The ‘being good at’ part does not refer only to the money you make. But emphasizes on the output and quality of doing it. The book illustrates countless examples on how the citizens of Okinawa celebrate and live life by this philosophy. Right from a door man to a potter to someone tending to their garden. Stature or your nature of work does not matter. Everyone is connected by the same bonds of the culture.
The authors further accentuate on harboring some stress in life with respect to what you do that acts as an elixir. Contrary to the popular belief that you must be devoid of all forms of stress and thinking for a longer and happier life. They say we must not burden ourselves too much and carry undue stress about matters, yet we must be habituated to short springs of strain to remain agile. At the same time, slow down with the mad rush in life. Allow things to bloom and avoid going against the laws of the nature.
The description on achieving your own ‘flow’ in the task you choose is well elaborated and riveting. Once assigned to a task we achieve the highest gradient of focus, discipline and quality that envelops into a flow. Flow that remains central to the underlying core of Ikigai. While writing this blog, I have attained a flow which keeps my thought at bay from distractions and deeply focused into my content.
Alternatively, the authors emphasise on the virtues of eating right, being involved in some form of daily exercise, displaying gratitude and being amicable to all. They touch upon the ritual of collective birthday celebrations of the aged and how even the 90- and 100-year olds participate with flair in the revelry. All of which adds to the happiness quotient of individuals.
The book however is obscure to an extent that it did not bring out the deep essence of Ikigai. Why should one turn to Ikigai? how can one adopt to the philosophy and stitch it to their DNA? There was much stress on the location and the blue zones than narrating how Ikigai could be a widespread movement and way of life. Additionally, the emphasis on food types digressed the narrative. Yes, eating the right nutrients is directly related to longevity. But it would be of less value to people living in areas where the specific nutrients stated in the book are inaccessible.
To round up, the learning from the book would be insightful for the ones who have never immersed into meditation, mindfulness and the essence of chasing their passion. For a seasoned practitioner nevertheless, the book might not be completely enlightening and hence can be skipped. This however should not be confused with the philosophy of Ikigai and should be researched in detail beyond the realms of this book, which can be referenced as a starting point.
Good to know about blue zones!
Yes, should be visited!
It’s great philosophy of good life, Ikigai.
It is indeed 🙂