IKIGAI: Meaning and How to Apply this Japanese Happiness Method

Our society has sought an answer to the formula for happiness and longevity. Surprisingly, on Okinawa Island they seem to have found both formulas, because not only are the longevity rates in the world, but also its population is healthy and maintains a cheerful and active. Its inhabitants emphasize that their reason for being is the reason why they get up every morning, looking for a deep meaning to each of the days that are presented to them, but what is their secret? The ikigai.

How to find it? And if we have already managed to find the meaning of our lives, how can we enhance it so that it can be present in all aspects of our lives? In order to answer these two questions, keep reading this Psychology-Online article where we will explain the Ikigai: meaning and how to apply this Japanese method of happiness.

Index

1. Ikigai: meaning
2. How to make an ikigai?
3. Examples of ikigai
4. Ikigai the book

The Ikigai concept was born in the

The meaning of ikigai is the reason will be, the meaning of life, the realization, in short, the purpose. In Japanese culture it is advocated that all people have an ikigai. There are people who have already found it and are aware of it, being able to apply their ikigai in their life and others who have yet to discover it and yearn to find it.

Our reason for being or ikigai is hidden within us and in order to access it, an exploration in the depths of our person is necessary. And thus, find a clear and defined ikigai, so that it reverberates in us with great satisfaction and happiness. This search must be personal and non-transferable, which will lead us to self-knowledge and fulfillment.

For Japanese culture, making an ikigai is a model of life. Finding our reason for being is not the only reason why Okinawans live so many years, but it is considered one of the most important. Thus, in addition to finding this discovery and realization of the ikigai, other factors such as such as: being useful, cultivating friendship, always being active, being aware of what you eat and helping without being inopportune. Therefore, in response to what their secret is, the inhabitants themselves reveal “A wise mix of active life and healthy food, along with a kind heart surrounded by friends”And it is these factors that produce a increased longevity and quality of life. Let's take a closer look at them:

Ikigai method: finding your reason for being

The discovery of our ikigai consists of a job that can last a lifetime, it is a search that requires great introspection. When it is reached or during the way to reach it, the ikigai helps us to overcome stressful circumstances, rethinking ourselves with it our lives and finding in it the meaning of our reason for being, which gives us motivation and happiness daily. The ikigai should not be related to a social or economic situation, but in the sense of the value of life, in those events of character emotional and / or spiritual that make us see that life is worthwhile and that lead us to self-realization, based on spontaneous actions and with the help of others. But for this, to be able to achieve it, a personal base of emotional maturity.

Ikigai method: feeding

As we have mentioned, one of their main secrets is diet and not only those foods that predominate in their diet, but also how they eat them. In relation to food, emphasis is placed on small amounts, in the natural food from their own land and that they are as fresh as possible, suggesting a practically vegetarian diet, so that their diet maintains very few calories. They prioritize the consumption of:

• Vegetable
• Fresh fruit of each season
• Rice
• Tofu
• Algae
• Fish containing omega3
• Green Tea
• Black garlic
• Bitter zucchini
• Goya
• Turmeric as a spice

In their diet they avoid those foods that come from animals and with almost no consumption of sugar or milk. Their diet is very low in dairy, being supplanted from childhood by the soy and their diet is very low in gluten consumption. Slow food is also very important in their diet, eat slowly, because our brain until 20 minutes after eating the food does not send signals of satiety. Also, they seek to be 80% full.

In summary, their diet consists of eating foods that maintain healing properties, in small portions and up to 80% satiety.

Ikigai method: activation

Maintain an active life, where the activity is present every day, it is part of the ikigai. In ikigai, the preference to get up early and do relaxed exercises is defended. Furthermore, in these cultures the concept of “retirement” does not exist, the elders keep their trades until their health allows it, because it allows them to be active and is transformed into happiness for being able to do what motivates them and for feeling useful.

Ikigai method: friendship

Another important aspect is being part of a moiai. Moai are understood as small groups formed by neighbors who maintain common interests and they help each other day by day. For this culture it is very important to cultivate friendship ties, which offer them security and company, as well as happiness. They live in community.

Starting from the base of the search for our reason for being, in order to find our ikigai we must bear in mind the following four components:

1. What you love
2. What the world needs
3. For what they can pay you
4. What you're good at

In front of them, together with our passion, mission, profession, path and vocation, a ¡kigai can be anything and different in each one. Some examples of ikigai that we can find in the west are the following:

• Take care of the planet.
• Create something new to make the world a better place.
• Love towards my loved ones.
• Help others to find their meaning in life.
• Get to know other cultures.
• Work in an NGO.
• Become a good doctor, teacher, clerk ...

The authors of the book Ikigai, Francesc Miralles, born in Barcleona and Hector Garcia, born in Alicante, wrote it in 2016. The two authors joined their passion for Japanese culture, with the aim of discover the term ikigai and its deeper meaning. To do this, they began an adventure to the island of Okinawa, to respond to the formula of "eternal youth" and happiness. In the book Ikiagi, the authors reveal the secrets of these inhabitants, as well as the unknowns to bring a longer and fuller life. However, the book is not only focused on the town of Ogimi, in Okinawa, although it was its source of inspiration to be able to obtain the great conclusions embodied in the book, which help us understand happiness and physical, mental and emotional.

In the book Ikiagi its detailed empirical investigations, in addition to a set of interviews conducted with the population by Ogimi. The book analyzes the influencing factors in an optimistic and vital lifestyle, in which the diet, activity, how they work, how they interact with each other and above all, the method they use to find his ikigai. The aim of the book is to make the meaning of ikigai known and help people find it with the ikigai method, in addition to providing keys to Japanese culture that help to have a greater longevity, cultivating physical, emotional and mental.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Ikigai: meaning and how to apply this Japanese method of happiness, we recommend that you enter our category of Personal growth and self-help.

• Del Rio, I. Ikigai: a Japanese concept that brings us closer to the happiness of centenarians. Uranus
• Miralles, F & Garcia, H. (2016). Ikigai: Japan's secrets for a long and happy life. Barcelona: Uranus.
• Sans, X. (2014). Suïcidi a Japó: the loss of l’ikigai and social factors. Asiademic, 4, 19.