IKIGAI
My friend visited me from Trinelvel recently. He always suggests good books to read. Ths time it was on IKIGAI!
As soon as Dr Venkatesh Babu left, my son ordered it and of course, the book is outstanding.
The book is full of crystallised ideas, easy to understand in simple language.
I wonder if it is only for the middle aged or the seniors. I would have been happy to have read in my younger days, had the book been written earlier!
A few of the salient points of the book are mentioned here.
A few of the salient points of the book are mentioned here.
However, I have not touched upon the chapter on various methods of physical exercise mentioned in it, as I guess anyone wanting to know more, can buy the book.
It is a book that makes you pause, wonder how to lead a useful life beyond 50 years of age.
Stress can kill and has caused death in much younger age; and so this book benefits the mature human being of any age.
‘The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles.
The book is of pocket sized ( a big pocket that is ;-) )
It has only 185 pages in 9 chapters, in easy-to-read print, published in 2017.
We are young always,........ later on, we think we are still young ( when others know it is no longer true), and then we grow old chronologically! Fact of life!
IKIGAI or ‘raison d’être’ is something deep inside us.
Some of us know it; others don’t! Others are still looking for it!
At any age, IKIGAI brings to you satisfaction, happiness and meaning to your lives!
WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T RETIRE
What does one mean by that statement? With improving care, people are living longer. So how does one still remain happy in advanced age, not being a burden to others.
Is it that you just want to live longer or do you want to have a purpose when you live longer? That is the question!
In Japan, the secret is in 5 steps:
1.Eat in small plates, rich in vegetables and tofu, maybe with 1/2 glasses of wine per day.
2.Live in close knit families
3.Moderate exercise like walking, gardening, playing with grandkids
4.Find the purpose in life as in steps below doing something you love or have a passion for
5.Reduce stress levels.Consume less meat, less processed food.
ACTIVE MIND , YOUTHFUL BODY
'Sound mind in a sound body'!
How do you exercise your brain?
- Do something new, learn a skill
- Interact with others
- Play a game with new stimuli
- Avoid stress; stress is a killer!
A LOT OF SITTING AROUND WILL KILL YOU. So
- Walk to work, or just go for a walk 20 min a day
- Use a feet via the stairs in preference to the elevator
- Participate in social activities , not in television
- Replace junk food with fruits
- Get enough sleep
- Play with kids, or join a sports team
- Be conscious of daily routine and have positive habits.
ANTIAGING ATTITUDES
Mind has tremendous power over body.
Positive attitude and high degree of emotional awareness are vital.
A stoic attitude - serenity in the face of a set back
GO WITH THE FLOW
- Bruce Lee’s famous comment “Be water, my friend!”
- How to go with flow?
- Knowing what to do
- Knowing how to do it
- Knowing how well you are doing
- Knowing where to go
- Perceiving significant challenges
- Perceiving significant skills
- Being free from distractions>
MEDITATION OF ANY TYPE HELPS
- Calms the mind
- We learn to observe our thoughts and emotions
- We learn to centre our focus on a single object.
Living for a long time does not mean anything, unless you have a purpose.
FOLLOWING ARE THE ADVICE BY LUCID CENTURIONS
- Eat and sleep, you’ll live a long time. Learn to relax.
- I have never eaten meat in my life.
- Everything is fine
- If you keep your mind and body busy, you will be around for a long time
- I just haven’t died
- Never stop learning
JAPANESE HAVE A UNIQUE CULTURE OF PRESERVING TRADITIONS RATHER THAN MATERIAL THINGS SUCH AS IN THE WEST!
- Community life with friends
- Food doesn’t help you to live longer
- Secret is smiling and having a good time!
- Celebrate your life even with a birthday party beyond 80 years
- Each day is a day to celebrate together
- Be optimistic
- Live a unhurried life
THE RULES of IKIGAI are summarised in
1.Stay active, don’t retire
2.Take it slow
3.Dont fill your stomach ( only 80%)
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 ( not past or future) &
10.Follow your IKIGAI
This blog tempts one to get hold of the book at the earliest !!
ReplyDeleteThe review of the book reveals that it would be relatively useful to all age groups ( provided the youngsters have the patience to enjoy reading it )
The size of the book seems consoling - giving the readers an assumption that it can be easily comprehended .
" That something deep inside us " is realised earlier by great thinkers ....
Not in any way related to their experiences in life ..
Personally speaking - introverts , voracious readers seem to have realised the feeling earlier than the others .
As you have rightly pointed out, retirement can be only from a profession - but not from one's passion or mission !!
You have presented " The Japanese 5 secret steps " with simple clues ..small simple steps that has to be systematically followed , rather, practised .
( which is a bit difficult though )
The options of learning new skills are several now a days - for all age groups irrespective of any gender !
Interaction with others ( happens through mobiles , ofcourse ) uplifts our moods , making us realise the blessings of our lives .
Coming to games, I should mention how one of a group member ( WhatsApp ) had posted few puzzles ( finding out an eight letter word with few clues) . I won but after exercising my brain for nearly an hour .. but I should admit it was interesting .
To avoid sitting in a workplace ( which makes one lazy ) is a challenge !
I recall how one of my doctor's had a single chair in her consulting room ( and a single apple on her table ) for which she explained that the one chair was for the patient meaning that she keeps either standing or walking even during work .. deserves appreciation indeed !!
The apple is the only option she has ..
Our brain senses the presence of junk food anywhere around hence it's better to avoid getting it ...
A regular walk, drinking lots of water and avoiding junk could help me shed nearly 7 kgs in a couple of months !!
Positive attitude alias optimism is directly proportional to the people whom we are surrounded with !
Emotional awareness ( though not possible always ) has to be severely practised ..
" Going with the flow " is what I've noticed in the older people of the villages - happy to enjoy life as it is - anything they do is for their self satisfaction rather than for appreciation .
" Meditation " is the one suggested and followed by many .. The statements by those who regularly meditate " Amazing results are experienced.
The very simple but golden advise of the centurions are remarkable
The final sweet seven points alter one's outlook towards life ..
The highlight is that the thumb rule for a long , healthy life is to be happy ..Now a days , we even have humour clubs where people join only to enjoy a good laughter !!
The summary is excellent .
Sounds simple .
But difficult .
Yet possible
If we always remember the 10th most vital point :
" To practise and follow" our Ikigai !!