Book Review - IKIGAI: The Japanese secret to a long and happy life

If I had to explain this book in one sentence, it would be, “Simple life, with purpose, leads to longer living”. Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles' book "Ikigai" examines the Japanese idea of discovering the meaning of life by examining the customs and beliefs of the world's longest-living individuals. The book provides useful advice on how to have a more fulfilled life with the help of case studies.

The book focuses on key ideas that I found relatable in my present environment. With the help of social media, these ideas are being spread. People following it or not is secondary, but their key ideas are still valued and implied.

It is essential to stay active and not retire - Retirement is a myth; one should continue working as long as your age permits. Someone in their twenties may have different energies but not have the same level of energy in their sixties or seventies, but they still have it to perform certain activities that will keep them active and help them pass the time during the day without getting bored.

Take it slow - With the racing world around us, taking things slow for mental health has become essential. In metro cities, people are becoming robots, doing things according to the time. It is essential to take some time out for yourself and do things that you are passionate about rather than running for things because everyone else is running. One needs to define oneself as per them and not as per the people with whom one is surrounded.

80 - 20 rule for stomach - Even doctors recommend not to fill your stomach with a full meal. It is essential to stop when your stomach is 80%full. This advice was first used in the city of Okinawa, where residents used it to regulate their eating patterns. It's interesting to note that they have relatively lengthy life expectancies and among the lowest rates of illness from heart disease, cancer, and stroke. According to psychologists, this strategy is beneficial since it tells you to stop eating while you're only moderately full.

Embrace a supportive circle of friends - This is essential as everyone needs that one friend with whom you can talk your heart out. They help minimize your worries, brighten your days, give good advice, and encourage you to experiment with good stuff, all these to keep you alive.

Smile - smile - laughing at yourself is essential as it gives you the power to overcome any changes you face. If a person can smile or laugh at their flaws, they are good to go in their life. The possibility that smiling will extend your life is perhaps the strongest argument in favor of smiling. Maintaining a cheerful, upbeat attitude may be a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle since happy people appear to have better health and longer lifespans. It also helps reduce stress by releasing neurotransmitters that improve our mood from head to toe: serotonin, endorphins, and natural painkillers.

Challenge yourself - Challenging yourself when you are in a mood to give up is a motivating factor. It motivates you to achieve small goals that give you enormous pleasure. It can be anything: painting a canvas in a week or getting into shape for the next event. Water is at its best pace when it keeps on flowing; when it is stagnant, bacteria start to form, and the smell is unpleasant; similar is the case with our body; it is at its best when it is in movement. When the body's movement stops, it attracts diseases that are difficult to cure.

Reestablish a connection with the natural world - Humans rely on the natural world for necessities like water, energy for cells, and materials for shelter, heating, and other purposes. Everything we require to survive is provided by the earth and all of its natural qualities. Why we also need to connect with nature to clear the toxic energy that we are holding on to, and nature is the best place to clear it. Lately, people have been shifting to urban areas for many reasons. Still, when they are overdone with the environment, they move to rural areas in nature to rejuvenate their energies.

Express gratitude is one of the most essential emotions, and with the passage of time, people forget. It is essential to express your gratitude for the things that you are blessed to have. People often start to fuel their negative emotions by complaining and cribbing for things that they don't have. Once, I read somewhere to thank everyone, whether who served you in any way or made your life easier. So I made it a point to thank everyone with whom I am coming into contact and the service they have rendered to me. Whether big or small, it doesn't matter. We take it for granted to thank our family and friends. The gratitude that I am missing is thanking nature and God for life and the things they have provided, and I hope to overcome it soon.

Stay present - it's high time we need to realize that we need to live in the moment we are in. Whatever is done is done. We can't change it; what is coming, we never know, so it is important to live in the moment. But at the same time, do not forget to give your cent percent on whatever you are doing.

Conclusion

Observe your Ikigai - The last but most essential part of the book. Each one of us needs to figure out the purpose of our life because, without purpose, we will not be able to attain any of the above-mentioned things. It might take some time, but everyone is born with a purpose in their life. Ask yourself questions to figure out what your Ikigai is. What are you passionate about? What are the skills you have? What are the skills you want to inherit? What do you love doing the most? Something like even in unconventional scenarios, when someone asks you to do it, you will be willing to do it. Your purpose in life is known when you can find answers to the questions mentioned.

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