According to Japanese everyone has an ikigai — a reason to get out of bed every morning. The Japanese island of Okinawa, where ikigai has its origins, is said to be home to the largest population of centenarians in the world.
Ikigai gives a sense of purpose to each and everyday and plays important role in health and longevity.Some people have found their ikigai while some are still searching. Our ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and finding it requires a patient search. When ask ourselves things like: what is the purpose of my life?, Is the point I should live longer or seek higher purpose?, we try to search our ikigai. Discovering your own ikigai is said to bring fulfilment, happiness and make you live longer.
Having a purpose in life is so important in Japanese culture that our idea of retirement simply doesn’t exist there — they keep doing what they love for as long as their health allows.
According to scientists, the key to longevity is diet, exercise, finding a purpose in life (ikigai), and forming social ties with friends and family. They move everyday taking walks, prefer to walk rather than drive. They consume little meat or processed food.
One of the most common saying in Japan is “Hara hachi bu”, which means fill your belly to eighty percent. They feel that they should stop eating when they start to feel full. The way food is served is important. By presenting their on many small plates, the Japanese tend to eat less. A typical meal in Japan is served in 5 plates, four of them are very small and one is slightly bigger for main course. Having a lot of plate in front of you makes you feel like you are going to eat a lot but you actually end up feeling hungry. This is one of the reason people stay trim and lose weight.
Those who discover their ikigai have everything they need for a long and joyful journey throughout life.
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