Renee Alexis Taladua

Villarino 1 Rashied Villarino Composition I Research Paper 16 January 2021 Ikigai Lets You Live a Longer and Happier Life In Japan, there is a secret to living a longer and happier life: having a healthy balanced diet, being active physically, mentally, and socially, and embracing the infamous Ikigai. With no direct English translation, Ikigai is a word that embodies the idea of happiness in living. With "Iki" meaning to live, and "Gai" that means reason, simply put, Ikigai is the reason why you get up every morning. This age-old ideology helps people find their purpose in life and ultimately find their happiness, which results in a longer and more fulfilling life. Finding and getting to know your Ikigai lets you find your purpose for living. It simplifies the things in life, gives fulfillment, and makes you focus on the things that matter, which will result in a happier state of mind and longevity of life, together with the practice of eating healthy and being physically and mentally fit. In Mieko Kamiya's book, Ikigai-ni-tsuite (About Ikigai) published in 1966, Ikigai was explained that as a word, it is similar to "happiness" but has a subtle difference in its nuance (Yukari Mitsuhashi, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/--ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improve-wo rk-and-life). Ikigai is more complex than that because it is what allows you to look forward to the future, even if your present state is miserable or unpleasant. Villarino 2 In the pursuit of finding your Ikigai, finding small joys in the mundane will be part of the process. Appreciating that morning cup of coffee, the chirp of the birds flying above, the warm rays of the sun, the peaceful train ride, the delightful sound of people going about their own businesses, and more, will teach you not to neglect them. Ikigai is a state of being that makes us see the beauty of the simplest things in life. The Japanese people believe that the sum of these small things will result in a more fulfilling life. The modernity of our time today estranges us from our true nature, and this makes it easy for us to lead lives that lack meaning. Influential forces and entities, like money, power, attention, and success, can distract people from what is truly meaningful. When people release themselves and let go of their obsessions, they start to see the things that truly matter. When people spend their days feeling connected with what is meaningful, they will live more fully. In the journey of finding one's ikigai, finding and practicing self-acceptance plays a vital part. This sounds easy, but this can be one of the most difficult tasks a person will face. When people aspire to be happy with their lives, being happy with one’s self is the first step towards achieving that goal. In a sense, Ikigai is not only an endpoint but a journey. As we discover more of ourselves throughout the pursuit of our inner ikigai, we come into terms of our strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. This will put our perspective in place as we get to know ourselves better. Thus, knowing how to handle situations in the future will prepare us for what's to come. Villarino 3 As an adult, we might ask how to find our inner ikigai when we are all so busy with our work and careers. Let’s take inspiration from the Japanese, who are known for their diligence and discipline. The Japanese workers strive on how they can be of help to others, on being thanked, and on being esteemed by their co-workers. However, Ikigai is not about working harder and longer, but rather, it is about feeling that your work makes a difference in people’s lives. Finding meaning in your work is what drives you to find your inner ikigai. Doing something that contributes to the well-being of others is when one feels that what they are doing is something worthwhile. This is what gives people the fulfillment that will, later on, build up their motivation and eagerness to live life as best as they can. Having a clear understanding of the reason why you do the work you do beyond just collecting a monthly paycheck is going to be very helpful when retirement comes. Find the meaning of your work and the joy of what you do. By being mindful of this concept, it might just help you live a more fulfilling and happy life. As a concept for longevity, several studies have been conducted in Okinawa, Japan, one of the places in the world with a high number of centenarians. Ikigai researchers have traveled to the said place to interview residents and find out their secret in having a long life. The author of Blue Zones: Lessons on Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest, Dan Buettner, believes that alongside a unique and healthy diet, Ikigai plays a part in the residents' longevity. He says that the older people are respected and celebrated, and the obligation they feel to pass down their Villarino 4 knowledge to the younger generation gives them a sense of purpose and motivation to continue living. Finding our inner ikigai is a journey, and when these things are brought all together, it can become easier. These things will help us find our purpose, life meaning, and motivation to go on every day. While leading a healthy lifestyle will no doubt help a person live a longer life, having the right mindset and outlook helps as much. Having a sense of purpose in life will give people the motivation to push through every day. Being mindful and appreciative of the simple things will give people a more positive perspective. Finding joy and meaning in the work you do is also an important concept to understand, as it will contribute to your life’s fulfillment when you do get to enjoy what you are doing. It's impossible to really tell scientifically that Ikigai guarantees longevity, however, the findings of those who studied Ikigai on a deeper level suggest that having a sense of purpose can encourage one to build a happy and active life that will lead to a longer and more fulfilling life, and this is what I aspire to have. Villarino 5 Works Cited Garcia, Hector & Miralles, Francesc. "Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life." Penguin Books Copyright 2016 Mitsuhashi, Yukari. "Ikigai: A Japanese concept to improve work and life." bbc.com, 08 August 2017, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/--ikigai-a-japanese-concept-to-improvework-and-life Mogi, Ken. "This Japanese secret to a longer and happier life is gaining attention from millions around the world." cnbc.com, 28 May 2019, https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/22/the-japanese-secret-to-a-longer-and-happier-life-isgaining-attention-from-millions.html Rao, Madanmohan. "Ikigai, flow and longevity: what the Japanese can teach the world." yourstory.com, 14 December 2018, https://yourstory.com/2018/12/ikigai-flow-longevity-japanese-teachings Dayman, Lucy. "Ikigai: The Japanese Concept Of Finding Purpose In Life." savvytokyo.com, 15 January 2020 https://savvytokyo.com/ikigai-japanese-concept-finding-purpose-life/