{"id":6254,"date":"2017-08-10T17:11:40","date_gmt":"2017-08-10T17:11:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/?p=6254"},"modified":"2017-11-02T17:25:38","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T17:25:38","slug":"the-power-of-ikigai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/fall-2017\/the-power-of-ikigai\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Ikigai"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Secrets of Japanese Elders for a Long and Happy Life<\/em><\/h4>\n

By Hector Garcia (Kirai) and Francesc<\/p><\/p>\n

A<\/span> new anti-aging concept is sweeping the Western world. It\u2019s Ikigai<\/em><\/a>, which is also the title of our inspirational introductory book that has already been translated into 33 languages and has now been\u00a0published for the first time in the U.S. and UK.<\/p>\n

Ikigai<\/em> is a Japanese word that can be translated as \u201ca reason for being.\u201d In the original language, the word is composed of the characters iki<\/em>, meaning “life\u201d and kai<\/em>, meaning \u201cresult\u201d or \u201cmeaning (of a certain action).\u201d Therefore, ikigai<\/em> can be interpreted as living in a way that brings positive results and meaning to our actions for ourselves and our loved ones.<\/p>\n

We discovered the deep meaning of this concept in Ogimi, a village on Okinawa that has the highest rate of 100-year-old persons in the world. Women, in particular, live longer here and have fewer diseases than anywhere else in the world. After hearing about this place, which is known as \u201cthe village of the centenarians,\u201d we decided to travel there to investigate.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that Ogimi holds first place among the five regions of world (places where the world’s longest-living people live) that are identified and analyzed by Dan Buettner in his book The Blue Zones<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The five regions identified by Buettner are:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sunset on the rocks in Okinawa , Manzamo. Photo: Deposit Photos, Leungchopan<\/p><\/div>\n

1. Okinawa, Japan<\/strong> (especially the northern part of the island). The locals eat a diet rich in vegetables and tofu, typically served on small plates. In addition to their philosophy of ikigai<\/em>, the moai<\/em> (or close-knit group of friends) plays an important role in their longevity.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Sardinia. Photo: Fototeca ENIT<\/p><\/div>\n

2. Sardinia, Italy<\/strong> (specifically the provinces of Nuoro and Ogliastra). Locals consume ample quantities of vegetables and wine. The close-knit nature of these communities is another factor directly related to longevity.<\/p>\n

3. Loma Linda, California<\/strong>. Researchers studied a group of Seventh Day Adventists who are among the longest-living people in the U.S.<\/p>\n

4. The Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica<\/strong>. Locals remain remarkably active after 90, and many of the region\u2019s older residents have no problem getting up at 5:30 a.m. to work in the fields.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Aerial image of Ikaria, Greece. Photo: Deposit Photos<\/p><\/div>\n

5. Icaria, Greece<\/strong>. One of every three inhabitants of this island near the coast of Turkey is over 90 years old (compared to less than one percent of the population of the U.S.), a fact that has earned it the nickname \u201cthe island of long life.\u201d The local secret seems to be a lifestyle that dates back to 500 B.C.<\/p>\n

In our field work, we interviewed over 100 elders living in the village of Ogimi, located in the north of Okinawa. After two years of research and writing, we decided to publish the profoundly beneficial lessons of ikigai<\/em> to help people improve the qualities of their lives.<\/p>\n

The most surprising thing that we discovered was that there wasn\u2019t one big secret, but that it was important to cultivate several daily life habits crucial for longevity and well-being. This is why we focused on the lifestyles of the elders of Ogimi as our guides. From our journey, we\u2019ve detailed the following 10 rules for a long and happy life through the wisdom of the Ogimi elders:<\/p>\n

1. Stay active, don\u2019t retire.<\/strong>\u00a0Those who give up the things that they love doing, and that they do well, lose their purposes in life. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to keep doing things of value, keep making progress, bring beauty or help others, and also to shape the world around us \u2014 even after our \u201cofficial\u201d professional activities have ended.<\/p>\n

2. Take it slow.<\/strong>\u00a0Being in a hurry is inversely proportional to quality of life. As the old saying goes: Walk slowly and you\u2019ll go far.<\/em> When we leave urgency behind, life and time take on new meanings.<\/p>\n

3. Don\u2019t fill your stomach.<\/strong> Less is more when it comes to eating for a long life. According to the 80-percent rule, to stay healthier for longer, we should eat a little less than our hunger demands, instead of eating to the point of feeling completely full.<\/p>\n

4. Surround yourself with good friends.<\/strong> Friends are the best medicine. They are there for confiding in, sharing stories that brighten each other\u2019s days, getting advice, having fun, dreaming \u2026 in other words, living.<\/p>\n

5. Get in shape for your next birthday<\/strong>. Water moves; it is at its best when it flows fresh and doesn\u2019t stagnate. The body you move through in life also needs a bit of daily maintenance to keep it running for a long time. Plus, exercise releases hormones that make us feel happy.<\/p>\n

6. Smile.<\/strong> A cheerful attitude is not only relaxing\u2014it also helps us make friends. It\u2019s good to recognize the things that aren\u2019t so great. But we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities.<\/p>\n

7. Reconnect with nature.<\/strong> Though most people live in cities these days, human beings are made to be part of the natural world. We should return to it often to recharge our batteries.<\/p>\n

8. Give thanks.<\/strong> To your ancestors, nature (which provides you with the air you breathe and the food you eat), your friends and family, and also to everything that brightens your days and makes you feel lucky to be alive. Spend a moment every day giving thanks, and you will see your happiness grow.<\/p>\n

9. Live in the moment.<\/strong> Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering.<\/p>\n

10. Follow your ikigai<\/em>.<\/strong> 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. If you don\u2019t know what your ikigai<\/em> is yet, as Viktor Frankl says, your mission is to discover it.<\/p>\n

Following these rules will bring the life-affirming power of ikigai<\/em> to your daily life. Follow your passions and you\u2019ll never run out of energy to live \u2014 with feeling and meaning \u2014 every day of your life.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>H\u00e9ctor Garc\u00eda is a citizen of Japan (where he has lived for over a decade) and of Spain (where he was born). A former software engineer, he is the creator of the popular blog Kirai and the author of the Japanese No. 1 best-seller A Geek in Japan.<\/h5>\n
Francesc Miralles is an award-winning author who has written a number of bestselling self-help and inspirational books. Born in Barcelona, he’s studied journalism, English literature, and German and has also worked as an editor, a translator, a ghostwriter, and a musician.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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