Rating: Poor
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life blurb excerpt: According to the Japanese, everyone has an ikigai, a reason for living. And according to the residents of the Japanese village with the world’s longest-living people, finding it is the key to a happier and longer life. Having a strong sense of ikigai, the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect means that each day is infused with meaning. My opinion: With over 8000 reviews on Amazon and a rating of 4.6 stars, I was expecting more. A lot more. The book tries to cover multiple topics without ever really covering any of them well. From how to do a yoga pose to the benefits of foods high in anti-oxidants this book jumps back and forth. So much so, it lost me.
Lessons from Ikigai:
10 rules of the Ikigai as listed by the authors;
Stay active - don’t retire.
Take it slow - when you leave urgency behind, life and time take on a new meaning.
Don’t fill your stomach - less is more.
Surround yourself with good friends - they are the best medicine.
Get in shape.
Smile - a cheerful attitude is relaxing and will help you make friends.
Reconnect with nature.
Give thanks to everything that brightens your day.
Live in the moment - today is all you have, make it worth remembering.
Follow your Ikigai.
The above image speaks for itself, but here are some other notes.
Exercise - just move. It's not about strenuous exercise but about continuing to move frequently, avoiding prolonged periods of sitting and continuing to do so as you get old.
Finding a purpose in life - if you don't have a purpose to live each day you have nothing to keep you from dying.
Forming strong social connections - feeling like you’re part of a community is essential to age well.
Manage time to reduce stress - stress is a cause of the degenerative decline in everything from your digestive system to your skin. This is why mindfulness and meditation are being promoted so much - breathing exercises, yoga, body scans, etc are all common practices in the blue zones.
Mental stimulation - keep the brain active.
Get 7 - 9 hours of quality sleep - melatonin strengthens the immune system, contains an element that protects against cancer, promotes the natural production of insulin...Melatonin declines after the age of 30 but can be compensated against by eating a balanced diet, getting enough calcium, sunlight, avoiding stress, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. Cultivate good habits There was also a bunch of superficial information on things like logotherapy, morita therapy, flow states, yoga, meditation, diet, etc
Ikigai Best Quotes:
“What we need is not a peaceful existence but a challenge we can meet by applying all the skills at our disposal”
“Accept your emotions without trying to control them, as they will change as a result of your actions”
“He who has a why to live can bear almost any how”
“A happy man is too satisfied with the present to dwell on the future”
“Don’t worry and keep your heart young”
What Next:
If you are interested in this book, you may want to check out our list of reviewed Health Books.
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