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anuva3adh 's review for:
Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life
by Francesc Miralles, Héctor García
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
The word Ikigai means the happiness of always being busy. While researching why some know what they want in life while others are confused, the authors came across this Japanese concept. Places where people live the longest, are called the blue zones. There are five in the world, and Okinawa from Japan holds first place among all of them. The authors of Ikigai, Hector, and Francesc decided to travel to Japan and study these centenarians (people who lived past 100) and their secrets. They found that Ikigai is why the people from Okinawa get up each morning. According to the Japanese, we each have an Ikigai, a reason for being. We may have yet to realize what our Ikigai is. But it is hidden deep within us, and finding it means patiently searching for it.
People in Okinawa follow a particular lifestyle which is key to their happiness and longevity. It is rooted in being connected to the community, following their purpose, and maintaining good health.
People in Okinawa follow a particular lifestyle which is key to their happiness and longevity. It is rooted in being connected to the community, following their purpose, and maintaining good health.
A clearly defined Ikigai brings satisfaction, happiness, and meaning to our lives, per the authors. The Japanese don’t have a term for retirement. Most continue to work on what they love (their Ikigai) as long as they can.
Hara hachi bu is a saying repeated before and after a meal in Japan. It means filling your belly to 80%, according to the authors.People in Okinawa stop eating when their stomachs reach 80% capacity. As a result, they eat fewer calories than people in the West and food that is nutritiously rich.
As we grow older, we can become set in our way of doing things. But, according to the authors, lack of mental exercise cause our neural connections to deteriorate and reduces our ability to react to our surroundings. Therefore, it is vital to give our brain a workout.Our neurons start to age while we are still in our twenties. It is essential to keep our brains active by remaining curious, getting out of our comfort zone, and learning new things to slow down this aging process. Research shows that stress is a significant factor in premature aging. Our bodies wear down faster during periods of crisis, per the authors.
Ikigai compares the lives of our ancestors(cave dwellers) to ours to explain this concept. While the Cave dwellers lived in occasional periods of threat, modern humans constantly remain stressed. We work all the time and stay in a constant state of competition. Doing so sends high-stress signals to our body, keeping it in a fight or flight state periods for a long time. The authors advise us to change our high-stress lifestyles and practice mindfulness to avoid premature aging.
Ikigai shares that the people who live the longest have a positive attitude and high emotional awareness. Those who have a positive outlook while facing their challenges and can manage their emotions better have a better chance at loving a long and happy life.
Like:
- The type of advice the book is trying to spread out
Dislike:
- The way the book is laid out
- It's boring
- Does not guarantee that all this information/advice will make you live longer or/and happy
Quotes:
“Spend no more than twenty minutes on Facebook per day”