Ikigai: 8 Refreshing Life Lessons To Improve Your Life Span

One day? Or day one? YOU DECIDE.

The Japanese believe everyone has an Ikigai — or a reason to live. In other words, Ikigai: a reason for being, the reason that gets you up first thing in the morning.

For everyone, their Ikigai is different. But one thing’s for sure, we are all searching for meaning (in our lives).

Ikigai, with only 183-pages, observes this concept beautifully.

In Okinawa, a famous village known as “Ogimi” are renowned for its longevity (110+ age). Ogimi elders stick to a few Ikigai principles daily, since after WW/II.

The longevity principles combine union circles: passion, mission, profession, and vocation. A good man must find a balance between union circles to live a long, happy life.

I, hereby, list down 8 important life lessons from Ikigai that I believe can change anybody’s life in the blink of an eye. The catch (yeah, catch) is to keep following these life lessons and not break the chain.

This way, continuation makes it easier to understand and absorb…

1. Stay Active, Don’t Retire

Ikigai says: we are always entwined in our busy life schedules. Before even we complete one task, our mind is thinking of what to do next. (NO?)

This way, we exhaust our brains.

Our official work life will never bring us happiness. It’s important to keep doing small things of affection to keep your longevity candle glowing.

Some acts can always bring us joy:

• Meditation
• Affirmation
• Journaling
• Gratitude

In this world where everything is a mishap, we must stay active with tiny acts. If a day eats you from the inside, make time to apply a bandage to your wounds.

Because you’ll have another day. And a leftover wound will only add-in to hurt you more.

Besides, Ikigai believes: “Essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

Find something that keeps you sane and connected to your happiness hormones (Dopamine). It’s not that hard!

For me, it’s going to the park and seeing children play. It keeps the young part of me alive and rosy-cheeked.

2. Take It Slow

Most people don’t understand:

• walking slowly is better than not walking at all.

Taking it slowly is still an improvement. Ikigai believes that walking slowly will get you far.

One step at a time.

Don’t bombard yourself if you’re trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. Take it slow.

Joe Robinson says that things in our lives require both

• Effort, and
• Time

Although we give our effort, we must wait for time to do its job. It’s a shared process.

If you fear the universe won’t do its “time” part, you will only induce troubles for yourself. A habit takes 18–254 days to form. Are you willing to wait that long?

If not, then you’ll fail.

The best part of taking it slow is

• you can juggle new habits.

For example, trying to build a new habit — Habit Stacking. Stay put to 3 new habits. E.g., sleeping early, reading a book, and meditation.

Taking it slow will help you achieve them all. Easy-ly.

3. Smile

Below is a popular quote I’ve heard in my childhood:

“The dinosaurs always roared and never laughed, see what happened to them.”

Although this saying was funny, it makes me think:

• People who don’t laugh/smile eventually miss the needful part of their lives. True.

Smiling is a beautiful deed. It’s a courteous attitude that relaxes any person. Use the privilege of “smile” to brighten someone else’s day. Ikigai believes puffing a smile doesn’t cost a dime.

• But it has the most major impact.
• In short, create smiles, not war.

If you believe smiling is (very, very hard) for you, remember that you’re doing it for yourself. Acts like sharing a smile and greeting people don’t cost you money financially. Instead, it brings you happiness.

So if you do (not) want to do it for people, do it for yourself.

4. Reconnect With Nature

We, humans, prefer to live in cities.

Since civilizations formed, humans have tried to live in cities surrounded by hustle-bustle areas. But from the past 5 years, we can see the rates of tall condos have gone higher.

I, too, live in a home on the 31st (YEP) floor. Why?

Because even though I spend most of my life in the house, I prefer now to connect with nature.

… For that, take my money.

Nature recharges our soul batteries. The #1 tip for staying happy is to pull nature toward ourselves. Enjoy every season: rain, summer, autumn, spring, winter.

Everything nature does have a meaning. The “meaning” part is not something new. It’s been there since you weren’t even born.

Nature is ever ready. Are you?

Merge with nature to explore your mind and invite contentment, always.

5. Live in the Moment

We, humans, are always swamped.

It’s like we’re in one large cookie factory. First starts with the dough, then stuffing, then baking, then packing…

Don’t you think we (act like an employee in a cookie factory?) The little times we get between work, we listen to songs or gossip with friends.

When we arrive home, we’re so tired that the thought of self-love doesn’t even cross our minds.

Let me break it to you: Excessive work triggers premature aging, according to Helen Lavretsky and Paul A. Newhouse.

So the solution isn’t using retinol, hydraulic acid, and caffeine solutions but to live in the moment.

• Enjoy every day like it’s not going to happen again.

Is it snowing outside? Raining? Take some time to visit the window and look at the beautiful view while you slurp on the coffee.

Easy right?

It takes little effort to live in the moment — also known as Ichi-go ichi-e.

It only asks you to be there, present, inside the body of a 24/7 donkey employee.

Really!

6. Only Eat Until You’re 80% Full

Ikigai admits: less is more.

Remember when at family gatherings, we were told to keep some extra space in our tummies?

Well, of course, we did for desserts, but here, Ikigai asks to end our meal when you’re 80% full.

Now, I’ve been following this 80% method for quite some time.

Question:

I always eat chicken tenders (made by me) and milk for my dinner. As I eat very less, I am almost full, halfway there.

But then, when I have it on the plate, I make sure not to waste any. After I get up to place my container in the sink, I feel food stuck inside my lungs.

Hence, making it impossible to sit and even walk.

Solution:

So, I realized that eating less is the only possible way to avoid bloating. Whatever my serving size is, I cut 20%.

And because I only eat at night, I make sure to walk to digest my food properly.

Then I sit.

Ikigai follows the same: To preserve health for a long time, instead of cramming, eat a little less of the hunger we have.

If you feel it’s hard, try to put less on your plate as usual. If you feel hungry again, you can add more to the plate to find the best ratio.

In short, experiment with it.

7. Get Fit for Your Next Birthday

When you water your plants daily with fresh water, they will never die.

Of course, they will if you don’t put enough fertilizer and sun rays. But, watering is a daily process.

Similarly, eating well is not enough for our bodies. Our body needs oil to function well and dig out leftover dirt and dust.

And that oil, my friend, is priceless.

• That lubricant: exercise.

Take some time to do yoga and hit the gym — like Tim Denning does first thing in the morning.

You can start with cute yoga poses, stretching, and cardio. You can dip later into using dumbells.

Ikigai writes: whatever you do, just let the juices flow into your body.

Besides, exercise secretes the happiness hormone. Gentle exercises keep you happy and fresh — like candy wraps (drools).

8. Follow Your Ikigai

What is your Ikigai?

Have you figured it out yet?

Ikigai says that inside of us lives a passion. A unique talent that makes up your personality.

It doesn’t have to be a complicated-tricky thing.

Here are the most notable passions (I hope you find yours)

• Making a better society
• Uplifting others
• Doodling
• Teaching
• Cuddling dogs
• Gaming
• [Insert your here]

You might have a totally different passion — and it’s okay. We are all unique. And finding your passion is an absolute, amazing thing.

But if you haven’t found it yet, keep going.

Steve Harvey always says: you may be happy if you achieve what you want in your life. But, if you haven’t, why are you sitting so peacefully?

Go get up and work!

Final Thoughts:

I love short books that leave a great impact.

Books like “Think Straight” and “Ikigai” have already won my heart. Perhaps, Ikigai has some incredible life lessons that I am sure will be valuable for all of you.

The catch? Yeah, the catch is you try.

Never stop. I believe in you!