Our society has sought an answer to the formula of happiness and longevity. Surprisingly, on the island of Okinawa it seems that they have found both formulas, because not only are there the highest longevity rates in the world, but also its population is healthy and maintains a happy and active attitude. Its inhabitants emphasize that their reason for being is the reason why they get up every morning, seeking a deep meaning in each of the days that come their way, but what is their secret? The ikigai.
How to find it? And if we have already managed to find the meaning of our lives, how can we enhance it so that it can be present in all aspects of our lives? In order to answer these two questions, continue reading this Psychology-Online article where we will explain the Ikigai: meaning and how to apply this Japanese method of happiness.
Ikigai: meaning
The Ikigai concept was born in Japanese culture, dating back between the years 794 and 1185, in the Japanese Heian period. The etiology of the word is understood by two words: Iki (生き), which refers to life and Kai (甲斐), understood as the realization of what one wants and desires. So, what does ikigai mean? The meaning of ikigai refers to the reason for living or being that we all have and seek, seeking the meaning of our lives and existences, from everyday life.
The meaning of ikigai is the reason is to be, the meaning of life, the realizationIn short, the purpose. In Japanese culture it is defended that all people have an ikigai. There are people who have already found it and are aware of it, being able to apply their ikigai in their lives and others who have yet to discover it and long to find it.
Our reason for being or ikigai is hidden inside us and in order to access it, an exploration into the depths of our person is necessary. And so, find a clear and defined ikigai, so that it brings great satisfaction and happiness to us. This search must be personal and non-transferable, which will lead us to our own self-knowledge and fulfillment.
How to make an ikigai?
For Japanese culture, making an ikigai is a model of life. Finding our reason for being is not the only reason Okinawans live so long, but it is considered one of the most important. Therefore, in addition to finding this discovery and realization of ikigai, other factors are important such as: being useful, cultivating friendship, always being active, being aware of what you eat and helping without being inopportune. Therefore, when answering what their secret is, the inhabitants themselves reveal “a wise mix of active life and healthy food, along with a kind heart surrounded by friends” and it is these factors that produce a increased longevity and quality of life. Let’s look at them more closely:
Ikigai method: finding your reason for being
The discovery of our ikigai is a job that can last a lifetime, It is a search that requires great introspection. When it is achieved or during the path to achieving it, ikigai helps us overcome stressful circumstances, thereby rethinking our lives and finding in it the meaning of our reason for being, which gives us motivation and daily happiness. Ikigai should not be related to a social or economic situation, but in the sense of the value of life, in those events of an emotional and/or spiritual nature that make us see that life is worth it and that lead us to self-realization. , from spontaneous actions and with the help of others. But to achieve this, a personal foundation of knowledge is necessary.
Ikigai method: feeding
As we have mentioned, one of their main secrets is diet and not only those foods that predominate in their diet, but also how they eat them. In relation to food, emphasis is placed on small amountsin the natural food from the land itself and that they are as fresh as possible, suggesting a practically vegetarian diet, so that their diet maintains very few calories. They prioritize the consumption of:
- Vegetable
- Fresh fruit of each season
- Rice
- Tofu
- Algae
- Fish that contain omega3
- Green Tea
- black garlic
- Sour zucchini
- Goya
- Turmeric as a spice
In their diet they avoid foods that come from animals and with almost no sugar or milk consumption. Their diet is very low in dairy, being supplanted since childhood by the soy and their diet is very low in gluten consumption. “Slow food” is also very important in your diet. eat slowly, because our brain does not send signals of satiety until 20 minutes after eating the food. In addition, they aim to be 80% full.
In summary, your diet consists of eating foods that maintain healing properties, in small portions and until you reach 80% satiety.
Ikigai method: activation
Maintain an active life, where the activity is present every day, it is part of the ikigai. In ikigai, the preference for getting up early and doing relaxed exercises is defended. Furthermore, in these cultures the concept “retirement” does not exist, the elderly keep their jobs until their health allows it, because this allows them to be active and is transformed into happiness for being able to do what motivates them and for feeling useful.
Ikigai method: friendship
Another important aspect is being part of a moiai. The moai are understood as small groups formed by neighbors who maintain common interests and They help each other every day. For this culture it is very important to cultivate the , which offer them security and company, as well as happiness. They live in community.
Examples of ikigai
Starting from the search for our reason for being, in order to find our ikigai we must keep the following four components in mind:
- What you love
- What the world needs
- For what they can pay you
- What you are good at
In front of them, together with our passion, mission, profession, a kigai can be anything and different for each one. Some examples of ikigai that we can find in the west are the following:
- Take care of the planet.
- Create something new to make the world a better place.
- The love for my loved ones.
- Help others find their meaning in life.
- Get to know other cultures.
- Work in an NGO.
- Become a good doctor, teacher, clerk…
Ikigai the book
The authors of the book IkigaiFrancesc Miralles, born in Barcelona and Hector Garcia, born in Alicante, wrote it in 2016. The two authors united their passion for Japanese culture, with the aim of discover the term ikigai and its deeper meaning. To do this, they began an adventure to the island of Okinawa, to respond to the formula of “eternal youth” and happiness. In the book Ikiagithe authors reveal the secrets of these inhabitants, as well as the unknowns to bear a longer and fuller life. However, the book is not only focused on the town of Ogimi, in Okinawa, although it was its source of inspiration to obtain the great conclusions expressed in the book, which help us understand happiness and physical, mental and health. emotional.
In the book Ikiagi their details are empirical researchin addition to a set of interviews conducted with the population by Ogimi. The book analyzes the influencing factors in an optimistic and vital lifestyle, in which diet, activity, how they work, how they interact with each other and, above all, the method they use to find their ikigai are involved. The objective of the book is to make known the meaning of ikigai and help people find it with the ikigai method, in addition to providing keys to Japanese culture that help to have greater longevity, cultivating physical, emotional and mental health.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Del Rio, I. Ikigai: a Japanese concept that brings us closer to the happiness of centenarians. Uranus
- Miralles, F & Garcia, H. (2016). Ikigai: Japan’s secrets to a long and happy life. Barcelona: Uranus.
- Sans, X. (2014). Suicide in Japan: the loss of ikigai and social factors. Asiademic, 4, 19.