Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life

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This might seem especially difficult if, like many people, you haven't got a clue what you want for dinner, let alone what your ultimate calling in life is. The answer is flow. Ta-dah! The psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term flow and described it as the pleasure we feel when we completely immerse ourselves in what we are doing. According to him, Ikigai: Giving Every Day Meaning and Joy describes ikigai as a type of happiness that continues to move toward the future while finding value in the present.

This was popularised by Victor Frankl and it essentially is a philosophy which helps you find reasons to live. He believed that everything can be taken from a human but one thing - the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given situation As The Little Book of Ikagai explains, being in the here and now can be helped by focusing on qualia – the sensory qualities of food, drink, or music special for you. Releasing yourself to enjoy these pleasures requires relinquishing the self’s burden and opening up to the possibilities of enjoyment. Albert Liebermann and Hector Garcia, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (Hutchinson, 2016).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 p42 Tim Tamashiro manages to combine one of Japan’s most ancient principles with the modern world in a book filled with fascinating examples of ikigai (in his words, “life’s worth”) in action while delivering some excellent teachings in humility. Persuasively shows that small changes can help readers find more joy and purpose in their lives [with] clear, succinct information . . . skillfully compiled . . . into an engaging, easily accessible format with lists, charts, and illustrations. Publishers Weekly Do many different things every day. Always stay busy, but do one thing at a time without getting overwhelmed. Not even one of the interviewed person was ever seen doing nothing. While a simple, uncomplicated philosophy, the text is one that the reader will undoubtedly return to many times. Mitsuhashi’s intuitive and native understanding of ikigai brings an additional and essential insight that may be lost in other, more Western interpretations.

There are several other tools available that will help your client understand the closely related concept of values: You might think that finding your ultimate calling is all well and good, but right now you're struggling to feel engaged in your job. Ikigai, as a way of life, doesn't just have to be about finding your mission: it can help you today – right now! It's the place where your needs, desires, ambitions, and satisfaction meet. A place of balance. Small wonder that finding your ikigai is closely linked to living longer.

PositivePsychology.com Ikigai Tools

The people in Japan believe that everyone has an ikigai - a reason to jump out of bed each morning. Spend your morning in your vegetable garden. 100% of interviewed super centenarians kept a vegetable garden. Life is not a problem to be solved, just remember to have something that keeps you busy doing what you love while being surrounded by the people who love you."Ikigai is a beautiful little read about the simple ways of life and the peace of mind. About happiness, appreciation and connecting with nature. If you are looking for some great revelation after reading this little book, then just know... it's not happening. It's only meant to slow you down, rethink, focus, and live a long happy life. Héctor Garcia (second from right) and Francesco Miralles (far left), authors of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, say that they realized how important and powerful ikigai was while interacting with the senior citizens ofOgimiVillage, Okinawa Prefecture. Relax. Slow down a little. Eat and Sleep well. Everything is fine. Life is a marathon, not a 100 m sprint.

When applied to work, even if we are unhappy in our chosen career, we should look for details that we enjoy, even if they are small ones. Work, like all aspects of our lives, is not all or nothing. Simple changes here and there may nudge the tasks into a state of ikigai.If you're feeling slightly lost with regard to your direction in life, this book is a wonderfully warm, kind and comforting readfor you. Keisei Magazine