Ikigai: Japanese Secrets In The Quest For Happiness

In our culture there is no word that defines the meaning of what ikigai represents for Japanese culture. According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai, something like a reason to exist. Some have found it and are aware of it, others have it within them, but they still don’t know it and it may be that they never try or manage to reach this understanding.

Today’s society bombards us with the culture of material goods, of how great it is to have more and more money, the best car or a very luxurious house. This motivates us to work harder and harder, with the goal of getting all these goods. But along this path we end up forgetting about ourselves, our inner well-being. On the other hand, jobs are increasingly precarious and in most cases we find ourselves obliged to carry out a job out of necessity and not out of vocation. Ultimately, this situation becomes a vicious circle from which it is very difficult to escape and which, on top of that, creates great personal dissatisfaction.

In the book  ‘Ikigai, the Japanese secrets for a long and happy life’, Hector García and Francesc Miralles tell the experiences lived by Japanese centenarians in the village of Ogami, where they live a healthy and happy life. In addition, they also describe some tips for each of us to search within us for the reason for our own existence. In this way, our self-esteem could improve as we begin to be more aware of the activities or ways of life that are most pleasurable for us, which lead to a state of greater inner peace.

Here are some key points that help unlock the Japanese secret to finding happiness:

Ikigai, the reason to live life

The reason these Japanese centenarians get up every morning is the foundation or the legitimate reason that justifies being and existing. For them, there is neither the word nor the concept of retirement, they continue to carry out the same tasks until the end of their days, since for them it is a satisfaction to do what is necessary for the good of the community.

“The goal is to identify what each of us is good at, what gives us pleasure while we’re doing it, and what’s more, what makes us aware of the world and making a difference in it. When we have all that, we have more self-esteem because we feel that our presence in the world is justified. Happiness would be just a consequence”, says Miralles.

Foster social relationships

Japanese elderly people are used to offering to collaborate with everything that is happening around them, they feel part of the community and are useful to society.

Encouraging and promoting social relationships is very positive for quality of life. When we interact, the mood improves and we gain a lot in emotional benefits. Relationships help us to be more independent, resolute, and improve our cognitive abilities.

Healthy eating

The food secret of these Japanese is based on eating a wide variety of foods in small plates. Raw fruits and vegetables are an essential part of the diet. They only use sugar directly, and if they do, it is sugar cane grown in their own fields.

They eat fewer calories and, to achieve this, they follow the principle of hara hachi bu , an idea that advocates that we should stop eating when we have more or less 80% of our stomach capacity filled.

think positive

The residents of Ogami lead a life free from stress and anxiety, there is no rush for them. Optimism and smile are the main laws among all the laws that make up ikigai.

Our actions are based on our thoughts. If we change the way we think, we can start to change the decisions we make as well. The human being always seeks personal growth, both physically and emotionally. Practicing positive self-talk can help us take actions that lead to great achievements.

Practice exercises

Every morning there is a group exercise practice before starting the daily routine. These are basic exercises that consist of stretching the muscles and moving the joints. The purpose of this physical activity is to reinforce the spirit of cooperation and unity among all participants.

The search for our own ikigai can be long and deep, but once we find it, we will feel that happiness has invaded us, because we finally found our reason for living, which rests on the four basic pillars of life: passion, vocation, mission and profession.