Ikigai Summary

The Japanese concept, which translates as " the happiness of always being busy".

According to the Japanese,everyone has an ikigai - French philosopher might call a raison d'être(purpose). 

Having a clearly defined ikigai brings satisfaction, happiness, and meaning to our lives. The purpose of this book is to help you find yours, and to share insights from Japanese philosophy on the lasting health of body, mind and spirit.

There is village in south of Japan named Okinawa, where there are 24.55% people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 inhabitants - far more than global average.

Is ikigai the reason there are more centenarians in Okinawa than anywhere else?  How does it inspire people to stay active until the very end? What is the secret to a long and happy life?

The purpose of the book is to bring the secrets of Japan's centenarians to you and give the tools to find your own ikigai. 

One of the most common sayings in Japan is “Hara hachi bu,” which is said before or after eating and means “Fill your belly to 80 percent.” This is why stop eating when  stomachs reach 80 percent of capacity, rather than overeating and wearing down bodies with long digestive processes that accelerate cellular oxidation.

The way food is served is also important. By presenting their meals on many small plates, the Japanese tend to eat less. Having five plates in front of you makes it seem like you are going to eat a lot.

What we are experiencing right now will never happen again. We must value each moment like a beautiful treasure. If we let it slip, it will be lost forever.

Becoming aware of ichigo ichie helps us remember that each morning we spend in the world, every moment we spend with our children and with our loved ones is infinitely valuable and deserves our full attention.

“Treat your host as if the meeting were going to occur only once in your life.

Yamanoue Sōji, 1588.

As moment hunters, everything becomes unique and sublime, since we know that what we are experiencing right now will never happen again.

Each tea ceremony should be treated with great attention because it is ichigo ichie, which is to say, a unique encounter in time. Even though the host and guests may see each other daily, the gathering can never be exactly repeated.

The host should thus show true sincerity and take the greatest care with every detail, to make sure that everything flows smoothly and without a hitch.

The guests for their part must understand that the encounter will never occur again, and so they must appreciate every detail of the ceremony prepared by the host and, of course, participate wholeheartedly.

Ii Naosuke

Sakura is visible proof of how the most beautiful things in life are fleeting and can’t be postponed.

Kaika indicates the early buds of Sakura. A kaika moment, is when something unknown begins to blossom within us.

When kaika is transformative, we want to turn it into mankai, the full blossoming of Sakura. We want it to mature to its full potential. This means cultivating our habits, seeking continuous improvement and reaching 10000 hour of practice to achieve mastery. Gladwell suggests that a great deal of effort and commitment are required for talent to be realized in all its brilliance.

Ikigai is the intersection between what you are passionate about, where your skills lie, how you can earn a living and what the world needs.

Once you find it, wether as a job or a hobby, you should not give it up as Ikigai is also the key to longevity as people from Okinawa show. Indeed an active mind and low stress are the key to a long life. To keep your mind active engage in social life, go outside and do mind games. This will avoid you get stuck in patterns and routines that promote your brain to slow down.

Reducing stress is the key to a long life, try practicing mindfulness, doing yoga or taking time to exercise. This will give you a chance to calm down and observe your body and mind more closely.

Ikigai is the reason for your being. 'Iki' in Japanese means 'life,' and 'gai' describes value or worth. Ikigai means your purpose in life, which makes you wake up everyday. It is something that makes your life worth living.

Follow it. And you will live a fulfilled life.

"Walk slowly and you can go far"

Life seems rushed, the tasks, to do lists, overwhelming syllabus in college, so many important things to do.

But sit back for a while. Relax. This is your life. Go slow. Make gradual progress. Its okay. Life is not meant to be rushed. Consistency is the key.

Ikigai is the Japanese concept of having a reason to jump out of bed every morning.

It's about finding that sweet spot where what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for all intersect. It’s your reason for being.

You might find very common answer to this is to be compassionate towards your work but it didn't actually work on a practical level. So how you can find flow in what you do????

As the author of the book says : You have to find your micro niche. So what actually is a micro niche?

Its nothing but just finding your niche and divide it in fragments and taking a single piece at a time by giving your 100% and also enjoying at the same time.

Like when you are doing your favourite thing, you are completely immersed in the experience, not thinking about or distracted by anything else. You don't think about future or past, there is only the present.

" Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute and it seems like an hour to you. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute to you ."

- EINSTEIN

Authors of Ikigai, filmed conversation with the eldest member of the community about their life, their Ikigai and the secret to longevity. They share some inspiring and meaningful statements.

The Secret to a long life is not to worry. and to keep your heart young, don't let it grow old. Open your heart to people with a nice smile on your face.

The Best way to avoid anxiety is to go out in the Street and say hello to people.

Cultivating Good Habits to your routine like

• Wake up early and go for a walk
• Do little excercise, that gives you energy for the rest of the day
• Eat light and Vegetables
• Go for work
• Spend Quality time with people you love.
• Reading Books

"Ikigai" emphasizes the importance of small acts of affection, meditation, affirmation, journaling, and gratitude for maintaining our connection to happiness hormones.

Ikigai and Joe Robinson both emphasize the importance of walking slowly for better habit formation, as it allows for the adjustment of new habits.

• One hundred percent of the people interviewed keep a vegetable garden, and most of them also have fields of tea, mangoes, shikuwasa, and so on.
• All belong to some form of the neighborhood association, where they feel cared for as though by family.
• They celebrate all the time, even little things. Music, song, and dance are essential parts of daily life.

• They have important purposes in life or several. They have an ikigai, but they don't take it too seriously. they are relaxed and enjoy all that they do.
• They are proud of their traditions and local cultures.
• They are passionate about everything they do, however insignificant it might seem.

• They are always busy, but they occupy themselves with tasks that allow them to relax.
• Locals have a strong sense of yuimaaru - recognizing the connection between people. They help each other with everything from work in the fields ( harvesting sugarcane or planting rice ) to building houses and municipal projects.

"Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" is a book that explores the concept of ikigai, which means "a reason for being" in Japanese. Written by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, the book delves into the principles of finding purpose and fulfillment in life through a blend of Japanese wisdom and modern research. It offers insights on how to discover your passion, cultivate happiness, and live a more meaningful life by aligning your values, skills, and passions.

1. Find Your Ikigai
2. Live In Present Moments
3. Cultivate Gratitude
4. Spend Time In Nature
5. Surround Yourself With Positive People
6. Take Care Of Your Body
7. Learn New Things
8. Give Back To Others
9. Be Mindful Of Your Thoughts And Actions
10. Don't Afraid To Change

Ikigai is your reason for being, the thing that gives your life meaning and purpose. It is there intersection of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

The Japanese concept of "wabi-sabi" teaches us to appreciate the beauty of imperfection and impermanence.