Lessons Learnt from IKIGAI -- A Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.

Imagine a world with no competition, no peer comparison, and everyone only does what they love and they are happy about what they do. No social media therefore there is no reason to depress by watching others' gram-worthy lives. Imagine there is no relative or neighbor to ask you what’s next immediately after you complete something.

Imagine A small house in a small village, and a beautiful garden in which you can grow fruits, flowers, and vegetables on your own. A work for livelihood which you love and earn through the same. a bunch of friends you can sit and talk with for hours after work.Experiencing sunrise and sunset to the fullest. Having dinner with all your family members with the best-cooked food from homegrowns. Looking at the beauty of the moon and stars above and chitchatting before you fell asleep.

Sounds amazing. Isn’t it? (though I romanticized it a little.)

This was the life led by many Japanese who live more than 90 years. Depression, anxiety, and stress are the most used words in this generation. We feel 60 years is the average life expectancy, then how come 100+?That too in a healthy manner. I completed reading IKIGAI recently and I want to share some of the best living secrets that they follow to have a healthy, happy, and peaceful life.

Many centenarians in Okinawa, Japan still do their daily chores themselves, work for their livelihood, exercise, and dance party just like a 20-year-old. Here we are suffering from being overweight, having backpains, hair fall, and being too lazy to work out in our early 20s. Poor we😒.

Did you know that in Japanese culture retirement doesn't exist? They’ll do what they love until they die.

they say the keys to longevity are diet, exercise, finding purpose in life, and forming strong social ties.

Here are some of the takeaways from their lifestyle.

Ikigai: Finding the purpose of life.

Hara hachi bu: Fill your belly to 80%.it means we should stop eating when we are starting to feel full.

moai: Connected for life.Being there for one another whenever they need help.

wabi-sabi: Instead of searching for beauty in perfection, we should look it in flaws

Ichi-go ichi-e: This moment exists now and won't come again.

Ichariba chode: Treat everyone like a brother even if you’ve never met them.

ganbaru: to stay firm by doing one's best.

I know it is tough to escape from this fast-paced, competitive world but let's try to implement some of these principles in our daily life, not to live more than 100 years but at least to stay healthy until death welcomes us.