Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy Life

Book Review and Synopsis

Book Title: Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy Life

Authors’ Name: Hector Garcia Puigcerver, Francesc Miralles

Book Genre: Self-help book

Quick Summary

• The book focuses on the topics related to living better, living happy and living long.
• The authors construe ikigai and its rules. To understand it well, they conducted a total of one hundred interviews in Ogimi, Okinawa trying to unfold the longevity secrets of centenarians & super centenarians.

What is Ikigai?

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that basically means “the happiness of always being busy”. Ikigai is written by combining the symbols iki that means “life” and gai that means “be worthwhile”.

We all have passion in us - some unique talent inside us - which is our ikigai. It gives meaning to our life and helps us  share the best of us until the very end. If one doesn’t know what his or her ikigai is, your mission is to discover it.

This ikigai is hidden deep inside each of us, and is unique for each one of us. According to those born on Okinawa, our ikigai is “the reason we get up in the morning.” Once we discover our ikigai, pursuing it and nurturing it every day brings happiness and meaning to our lives. People with a clearly defined ikigai pursue their passion no matter what.

The book takes into account the Japanese island of Okinawa, where ikigai has its origins, and it is the  home to the largest population of centenarians in the world. Our state of mind governs our body. This book cites ikigai as the major reason behind the extraordinary longevity and active, happy lifestyle of the Japanese people, especially on the island of Okinawa. 

Book Highlights

Many people look older than they are. According to various researches, the main cause of premature aging is stress. Most health issues are caused by stress. Another reason for aging fast is the existential crisis, which is typical of a modern society in which people follow what others ask them to do rather than what they want to do. These people lose their purpose in life and live an unhappy life, numbing their feelings. It is important to discover our ikigai so that we keep doing things that make us feel happy and valuable, and that makes the world a better place around us, even after our ‘official’ professional activity has ended.”

On the north end of Okinawa is Ogimi, a rural town, also known as the Village of Longevity. It is inhabited by ppl, having the highest life expectancy in the world. People on this island live by the principle of ichariba chode, a local expression that means “treat everyone like a brother, even if you’ve never met them before.” As such,they harbor no animosity towards anyone. Residents practice yuimaaru (teamwork) from an early age, hence helping one another comes naturally to residents here.

They follow Moai (Page 15):  Connected for life, forming close bonds within local communities.

Moai is an informal group of people with common interests who look out for one another. Members of a moai make a monthly set contribution to the group to smoothly run the activities related to the group. It helps its members maintain emotional and financial stability.

According to the wisdom offered through this book, below are the major takeaways to discover our ikigai and pursue it

• A sound mind in a sound body “mens sans in corpore sano” ( Page 20) Just like physical workout, mental workout is equally important. Learning something new everyday, playing games and interacting with other people are essential anti-aging strategies for the mind.
• Be mindful about reducing stress (Page 25, 26) Practice mindfulness by focusing on the self and through meditation.
• A lot of sitting will age you (Page 27) For an active lifestyle, walk at least 20 minutes everyday, replace junk food with fruits, and sleep at least for seven to nine hours everyday. Also, play with children or join any sport.

• Anti Aging attitude (Page 30) : The key element of ikigai. A positive attitude and a high degree of emotional awareness, along with a stoic attitude keeps us young, as it lowers stress levels and anxiety.
• Logo-therapy and Morita therapy help us to find our Ikigai. 
• Logo-therapy (Page 39-42) a philosophy which helps us to  find reasons to live. The basic idea conveyed is that everything can be taken from a human but the freedom to choose one's attitude in any given situation. We don’t create the meaning of our life, we discover it. Each one of us has a reason for being, which can transform many times over the years. Excessive attention to a desire can keep that desire from being fulfilled. Humor can break negative cycles and reduce anxiety. We all have the capacity to do noble or terrible things. The side of the equation we end up on depends on our decisions, not on the conditions in which we find ourselves.

• Morita therapy (Page 47). This therapy focuses on Accepting your feelings. Do what you should be doing, and discover your life’s purpose.
• Naikan meditation (Page 50) This therapy makes us realise that we are responsible for our actions.

• Flow (Page 56): The state in which we all have felt our sense of time vanish. When we lose ourselves in an activity that we enjoy doing so much that we forget about our worries while we are doing it. It is the pleasure, delight, creativity, and process when we are completely immersed in life. Basically this STATE IS OUR IKIGAI. The experience we find so enjoyable that it involves us to the extent that nothing else matters. We love every bit of what we do.
• Flow strategies (Page 59) Choose a moderately difficult task; have clear and concrete objectives and focus on the process; concentrate on a single task by being in a distraction-free environment, and having control over what we are doing at every moment.
• Rituals over goals (Page 85) Happiness is in the doing, not in the result.

• Wisdom words/ lessons from Japan’s centenarians 
• “Food won’t help you live longer. The secret is smiling and having a good time.” (Page 106)
• Key to happiness is Celebrate each day, together and in local Spiritual ways.(Page 108) Happily busy but never in a rush.
• The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to so, something to love, and something to hope for (Page 111)
• Don’t worry, open your heart to people with a nice smile on your face, go out in the street and say hello to people (Page 112). 
• Cultivate good habits (Page 113)
• Nurture your friendships everyday (Page 115): Talking each day with the people you love, that’s the secret to a long life.
• “Doing many different things everyday. Always staying busy, but doing one thing at a time, without getting overwhelmed”. 
• Occupy yourself with tasks that allow you to relax. (Page 116, 118)
• Be optimistic.

• The ikigai diet. 
• Hara hachi bu (Page 14): Fill your belly to 80 percent.
• Okinawans follow ancient wisdom that advises against eating until we are full. Stop eating once your stomach starts to feel full.
• Eat a wide variety of foods. Variety seems to be the key. Eat at least 5 servings of vegetables and fruits everyday. Okinawans eat at least 7 types of fruits and vegetables everyday. Grains are the foundation of their diet (White rice basically). They rarely eat sugar, and if they do, it is cane sugar.
• People who live longer are not the ones who do the most exercise but the ones who move a lot and are highly active. Combine a physical exercise with an awareness of your breath. 
• It’s not what happens to you, but how you react that matters.
• Ichi-go ichi-e: this moment exists only now and won’t come again. We should enjoy the moment and not lose ourselves in worries about the past or the future (Page 172)
• Wabi-sabi: appreciate the beauty of imperfection as an opportunity for growth (Page 173)
• Antifragility: things that get stronger when they are harmed (Page 174). Create more options; Bet conservatively in certain areas and take many small risks in others; Get rid of the things that make you fragile (Page 176)

• Ten rules of ikigai:

1. Stay active; don’t retire
2. Take it slow
3. Don’t fill your stomach
4. Surround yourself with good friends
5. Get in shape for your next birthday
6. Smile
7. Reconnect with nature
8. Give thanks
9. Live in the moment
10. Follow your ikigai 

• Simplicity and attention to detail is the intrinsic part of Japanese philosophy.

Analysis

This book, Ikigai: The Japanese secret to a long and happy Life, is a fantastic effort to introduce the concept of ikigai to the west and the world. The language is simple, persuasive and lucid. It makes us seek basic answers to our questions in life, spontaneously. Questions such as What is the meaning of my life? Why few people appear so content while others look languish and lost. 

As the book tries to reveal the secrets of Japan’s centenarians to us, it provides us with the tools to discover our own Ikigai. 

I  liked the Japanese philosophies in this book but all the topics have been discussed just on the surface. More or less it is sheer common sense. I would have been happy if the authors discussed more on the “how” of ikigai. The book tries to cover many topics; thus, it shifts its focus unnecessarily to the introduction to a variety of different topics such as: the Blue Zones, logotherapy, longevity, Tai chi, Yoga etc. If you’re the one unaware of these topics, then this part of the book will be fun too for you as it efficiently introduces a fair idea about the art of living concepts.

I  recommend this book for reading to everyone. It is not that typical non-fiction banal read, but is pretty refreshing and easy on the mind. 

Read it and discover your ikigai. 

Some more Words of Wisdom!

Larry Page's University of Michigan Commencement Address



Full Transcript:

Class of 2009! First I'd like you to get up, wave and cheer your supportive family and friends! Show your love!

It is a great honor for me to be here today.

Now wait a second. I know: that's such a cliché. You're thinking: every graduation speaker says that -- It's a great honor. But, in my case, it really is so deeply true -- being here is more special and more personal for me than most of you know. I'd like to tell you why.

A long time ago, in the cold September of 1962, there was a Steven's co-op at this very university. That co-op had a kitchen with a ceiling that had been cleaned by student volunteers every decade or so. Picture a college girl named Gloria, climbing up high on a ladder, struggling to clean that filthy ceiling. Standing on the floor, a young boarder named Carl was admiring the view. And that's how they met. They were my parents, so I suppose you could say I'm a direct result of that kitchen chemistry experiment, right here at Michigan. My Mom is here with us today, and we should probably go find the spot and put a plaque up on the ceiling that says: "Thanks Mom and Dad!"

Everyone in my family went to school here at Michigan: me, my brother, my Mom and Dad -- all of us. My Dad actually got the quantity discount: all three and a half of his degrees are from here. His Ph.D. was in Communication Science because they thought Computers were just a passing fad. He earned it 44 years ago. He and Mom made a big sacrifice for that. They argued at times over pennies, while raising my newborn brother. Mom typed my Dad's dissertation by hand. This velvet hood I'm wearing, this was my Dad's. And this diploma, just like the one you're are about to get, that was my Dad's. And my underwear, that was... oh never mind.

My father's father worked in the Chevy plant in Flint, Michigan. He was an assembly line worker. He drove his two children here to Ann Arbor, and told them: That is where you're going to go to college. Both his kids did graduate from Michigan. That was the American dream. His daughter, Beverly, is with us today. My Grandpa used to carry an "Alley Oop" hammer -- a heavy iron pipe with a hunk of lead melted on the end. The workers made them during the sit-down strikes to protect themselves. When I was growing up, we used that hammer whenever we needed to pound a stake or something into the ground. It is wonderful that most people don't need to carry a heavy blunt object for protection anymore. But just in case, I have it here.

My Dad became a professor at uh... Michigan State, and I was an incredibly lucky boy. A professor's life is pretty flexible, and he was able to spend oodles of time raising me. Could there be a better upbringing than university brat?

What I'm trying to tell you is that this is WAY more than just a homecoming for me. It's not easy for me to express how proud I am to be here, with my Mom, my brother and my wife Lucy, and with all of you, at this amazing institution that is responsible for my very existence. I am thrilled for all of you, and I'm thrilled for your families and friends, as all of us join the great, big Michigan family I feel I've been a part of all of my life.

What I'm also trying to tell you is that I know exactly what it feels like to be sitting in your seat, listening to some old gasbag give a long-winded commencement speech. Don't worry. I'll be brief.

I have a story about following dreams. Or maybe more accurately, it's a story about finding a path to make those dreams real.

You know what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night with a vivid dream? And you know how, if you don't have a pencil and pad by the bed to write it down, it will be completely gone the next morning?

Well, I had one of those dreams when I was 23. When I suddenly woke up, I was thinking: what if we could download the whole web, and just keep the links and... I grabbed a pen and started writing! Sometimes it is important to wake up and stop dreaming. I spent the middle of that night scribbling out the details and convincing myself it would work. Soon after, I told my advisor, Terry Winograd, it would take a couple of weeks to download the web -- he nodded knowingly, fully aware it would take much longer but wise enough to not tell me. The optimism of youth is often underrated! Amazingly, I had no thought of building a search engine. The idea wasn't even on the radar. But, much later we happened upon a better way of ranking webpages to make a really great search engine, and Google was born. When a really great dream shows up, grab it!

When I was here at Michigan, I had actually been taught how to make dreams real! I know it sounds funny, but that is what I learned in a summer camp converted into a training program called Leadershape. Their slogan is to have a "healthy disregard for the impossible". That program encouraged me to pursue a crazy idea at the time: I wanted to build a personal rapid transit system on campus to replace the buses. It was a futuristic way of solving our transportation problem. I still think a lot about transportation -- you never loose a dream, it just incubates as a hobby. Many things that people labor hard to do now, like cooking, cleaning, and driving will require much less human time in the future. That is, if we "have a healthy disregard for the impossible" and actually build new solutions.

I think it is often easier to make progress on mega-ambitious dreams. I know that sounds completely nuts. But, since no one else is crazy enough to do it, you have little competition. There are so few people this crazy that I feel like I know them all by first name. They all travel as if they are pack dogs and stick to each other like glue. The best people want to work the big challenges. That is what happened with Google. Our mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. How can that not get you excited? But we almost didn't start Google because my co-founder Sergey and I were too worried about dropping out of our Ph.D. program. You are probably on the right track if you feel like a sidewalk worm during a rainstorm! That is about how we felt after we maxed out three credit cards buying hard disks off the back of a truck. That was the first hardware for Google. Parents and friends: more credit cards always help. What is the one sentence summary of how you change the world? Always work hard on something uncomfortably exciting!

As a Ph.D. student, I actually had three projects I wanted to work on. Thank goodness my advisor said, "why don't you work on the web for a while". He gave me some seriously good advice because the web was really growing with people and activity, even in 1995! Technology and especially the internet can really help you be lazy. Lazy? What I mean is a group of three people can write software that millions can use and enjoy. Can three people answer the phone a million times a day? Find the leverage in the world, so you can be more lazy!

Overall, I know it seems like the world is crumbling out there, but it is actually a great time in your life to get a little crazy, follow your curiosity, and be ambitious about it. Don't give up on your dreams. The world needs you all!

So here's my final story:

On a day like today, you might feel exhilarated — like you've just been shot out of a cannon at the circus -- and even invincible. Don't ever forget that incredible feeling. But also: always remember that the moments we have with friends and family, the chances we have to do things that might make a big difference in the world, or even to make a small difference to someone you love — all those wonderful chances that life gives us, life also takes away. It can happen fast, and a whole lot sooner than you think.

In late March 1996, soon after I had moved to Stanford for grad school, my Dad had difficultly breathing and drove to the hospital. Two months later, he died. And that was it. I was completely devastated. Many years later, after a startup, after falling in love, and after so many of life's adventures, I found myself thinking about my Dad. Lucy and I were far away in a steaming hot village walking through narrow streets. There were wonderful friendly people everywhere, but it was a desperately poor place -- people used the bathroom inside and it flowed out into the open gutter and straight into the river. We touched a boy with a limp leg, the result of paralysis from polio. Lucy and I were in rural India -- one of the few places where Polio still exists. Polio is transmitted fecal to oral, usually through filthy water. Well, my Dad had Polio. He went on a trip to Tennessee in the first grade and caught it. He was hospitalized for two months and had to be transported by military DC-3 back home -- his first flight. My Dad wrote, "Then, I had to stay in bed for over a year, before I started back to school". That is actually a quote from his fifth grade autobiography. My Dad had difficulty breathing his whole life, and the complications of Polio are what took him from us too soon. He would have been very upset that Polio still persists even though we have a vaccine. He would have been equally upset that back in India we had polio virus on our shoes from walking through the contaminated gutters that spread the disease. We were spreading the virus with every footstep, right under beautiful kids playing everywhere. The world is on the verge of eliminating polio, with 328 people infected so far this year. Let's get it done soon. Perhaps one of you will do that.

My Dad was valedictorian of Flint Mandeville High School 1956 class of about 90 kids. I happened across his graduating speech recently, and it blew me away. 53 years ago at his graduation my Dad said: "...we are entering a changing world, one of automation and employment change where education is an economic necessity. We will have increased periods of time to do as we wish, as our work week and retirement age continue to decline. ... We shall take part in, or witness, developments in science, medicine, and industry that we can not dream of today. ... It is said that the future of any nation can be determined by the care and preparation given to its youth. If all the youths of America were as fortunate in securing an education as we have been, then the future of the United States would be even more bright than it is today."

If my Dad was alive today, the thing I think he would be most happy about is that Lucy and I have a baby in the hopper. I think he would have been annoyed that I hadn't gotten my Ph.D. yet (thanks, Michigan!). Dad was so full of insights, of excitement about new things, that to this day, I often wonder what he would think about some new development. If he were here today -- well, it would be one of the best days of his life. He'd be like a kid in a candy store. For a day, he'd be young again.

Many of us are fortunate enough to be here with family. Some of us have dear friends and family to go home to. And who knows, perhaps some of you, like Lucy and I, are dreaming about future families of your own. Just like me, your families brought you here, and you brought them here. Please keep them close and remember: they are what really matters in life.

Thanks, Mom; Thanks, Lucy.
And thank you, all, very much.

Courtesy: http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/annc/20090502-page-commencement.html

Useful and Interesting facts about your Mobile !

I lost my cell phone recently. I know who took it but could not claim my phone back as had no proof about the same. Had I got this forwarded message before may be I could have managed to get my phone back.

So am sharing this EXTREMLY useful information about mobiles:

Firstly Would you like to know if your mobile is original or not ?????

Press the following on your mobile *#06# and the-international mobile equipment identity number appears.

Then check the 7th and 8th numbers

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 02 or 20 this means your cell phone was assembled in Emirates which implies a very Bad quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 08 or 80 this means your cell phone was manufactured in Germany which implies it is of fair quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 01 or 10 this means your cell phone was manufactured in Finland which implies your phone quality is very Good

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 00 this means your cell phone was manufactured in original factory which is the best Mobile Quality

IF the Seventh & Eighth digits are 13 this means your cell phone was assembled in Azerbaijan which implies again a very Bad quality and which is also dangerous for your health


FACTS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT YOUR CELL PHONE:

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it:

1). EMERGENCY: The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it OUT for yourself

2). Have you locked your keys in the car? Does your car have remote keys? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).
Editor's Note: "It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"

3). HIDDEN BATTERY POWER: Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

4). Most important: How to disable a stolen mobile phone: To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: *#06#
A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset note it down and keep it somewhere safe. If your cell phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

Hope this information was useful !!

Straight from the heart

Steve Jobs Stanford Commencement Speech 2005



Randy Pausch last lecture: Achieving your childhood dreams

Lessons from a Bamboo Tree: Persistence & Success

Starfish Story - Make a difference!

Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.

One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance to the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, and that what he was doing was not dancing at all. The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "It made a difference for that one."

-- by Loren Eiseley

A Chat with God ...

Another interesting forwarded message, which is thought provoking, soothing and inspiring

God: Hello. Did you call me?

Me: Called you? No. Who is this?

God: This is GOD. Iheard your prayers. So I thought, I will chat.

Me: I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God: What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me: Don't know. But I can't free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.

God: Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me: I understand. But I still can't figure out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

God: Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this Net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me: Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me: Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me: But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.

God: Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.

Me: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God: Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer; with that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

Me: You mean to say such experience is useful?

God: Yes. In every term, experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me: But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems?

God: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me: Frankly, in midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading.

God: If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God: Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead. You work with compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me: In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God: Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me: What surprises you about people?

God: When they suffer they ask,"Why me?" When they prosper, they never ask,"Why me?". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me: Sometimes I ask who I am, why I am here. I can't get the answer.

God: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me: How can I get the best out of life?

God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

Me: One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God: There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I am so happy to start with a new sense of inspiration.

God: Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live.