How can Japanese philosophy help to lead a happy life? — Learning4persona
The meaning of Ikigai is the “value of being alive,” Understand the value of being alive. Ikigai is essentially about finding your purpose in life. In Japanese, Ikigai is written by combining the symbols that mean “life” with “to be worthwhile.”
Considering that Japan is known for having some of the longest-living citizens in the world-87 years for women and 81 for men per the country’s Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, the BBC reported- Ikigai could also be the secret to longevity.
Why Ikigai is important for you
Many sociologists, scientists, and journalists have researched and hypothesized the usefulness and truth behind this particular phenomenon, and they’ve come to a number of very interesting conclusions. One particular theory is that Ikigai can make you live longer and with more direction.
In September 2017, the popular Japanese TV program Takeshi no katei no igaku partnered with a group of scientists to conduct research in the small town of Kyotango in Kyoto, a place which prides itself in having a population that has three times more residents over the age of 100 compared to the average of the rest of the country.
And the result they found was interesting. And was that all seven people had exceptionally high figures of DHEA, a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that many believe may be the miracle “longevity hormone.”
Women and men in their late 90s of these areas were seen spending a few hours every day a hobby they practiced that they were really into. Women were carving Japanese traditional masks, another man painted, another went fishing daily.
While the correlation between having a hobby you love and the increase of DHEA is yet to be proven scientifically, the program suggested that having this one thing that keeps you interested, focused, and gives you a sense of satisfaction in life may boost your youth DHEA hormone, thus leading to a longer and happier life.
Identify your Ikigai
“There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself until the very end.
Ikigai is often associated with the following elements overlap:
- What you love (Passion)
- What you are good at ( Vocation)
- What the world needs ( Mission)
- What you can be paid for (Profession)
“Our Ikigai is different for all of us, but one thing we have in common is that we are all searching for meaning. When we spend our days feeling connected to what is meaningful to us, we live more fully; when we lose the connection, we feel despair.”
“Our Ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires a patient search. According to those born on Okinawa, the island with the most centenarians in the world, our Ikigai is the reason we get up in the morning.”
“Once you discover your Ikigai, pursuing it and nurturing it every day will bring meaning to your life.”
“They have an important purpose in life or several. They have an Ikigai, but they don’t take it too seriously. They are relaxed and enjoy all that they do.”
“One thing that everyone with a clearly defined Ikigai has in common is that they pursue their passion no matter what.”
The 10 Rules of Ikigai
- Stay active; don’t retire.
- Take it slow.
- Don’t fill your stomach.
- Surround yourself with good friends.
- Get in shape for your next birthday.
- Smile.
- Reconnect with nature.
- Give thanks.
- Live in the moment.
- Follow your Ikigai.
The 5 fingers that help you to take your Ikigai.
There is another layer to the Ikigai concept: It is much easier to feel Ikigai when we create social connections. This explanation is perhaps due to the ingrained social connections that Japanese society promotes and is conditioned to seek.
Ken Mogi, a neuroscientist and author of Awakening Your Ikigai, advises us to focus on what he labels the five pillars, which are:
1. Starting small
2. Accepting yourself
3. Connecting with the world around you
4. Seeking out small joys
5. Being in the here and now
Your Ikigai is there with you, Identify it.
To make the most of the five pillar method, Mogi suggests incorporating this mindset in the first couple of hours after you wake up to start your day on the right foot and get your brain accustomed to this way of thinking.
Keeping the five pillars in mind, take 10 minutes to ask yourself those four core questions. Be honest in your answers and see what you come up with.
Over the next several weeks, set aside time to ponder these questions. You might even consider journaling your answer and thinking about how your answers change over time. Revisit them a month from now. Six months. A year.
We cannot expect to find our Ikigai overnight. Ikigai is an understanding of our own unique life mission, and for most, that takes many years — and it often changes. However, the more determined you are to find your Ikigai, the more quickly you will do so.
Originally published at http://learnering4persona.com on October 7, 2020.