Japanese Secrets to a Long and Happy Life

 Japanese Secrets to a Long and Happy Life!

Every time we hear the word Century, our minds go straight ahead toward the Century score in a cricket match. A century represents a mere 3-digit number that holds a different meaning for various people in the situation. 

Here, I am going to share a different perspective considering the word Century. People who live for 100 years or more are referred to as Centenarians.

While talking about such extraordinary people, one thing that comes to my mind is the Centenarians of Japan, the people of Japan who live so long but remain active.

An obvious question that baffles us is what is the secret behind living a long but purposeful life. Many theories float around, and this topic can be read even when you look forward to living a healthy and purposeful life and not aspiring to be a centurion. The answer to this mystery is IKIGAI; in Japanese, it means the philosophy of Lifelong Happiness.

But what does Ikigai mean?

In the simplest term, Ikigai is "Your Purpose of Being." Having an Ikigai gives you the core reason to get up every day and start your day joyfully. 

I read the book written by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles named "IKIGAI" one may find this in different versions and languages. This book deals with your Ikigai by throwing light on your four elements, Passion, Mission, Profession, and Vocation of your Life. Somehow our career relies a lot on having a purpose to SETTLE in life and make it MEANINGFUL.  

What do you love to do? 

Is it tuned with what the world needs? 

What are you good at? 

What can you be paid for? 

It would help if you reflected on these questions while deciding on Your Ikigai (The Purpose) of Life.

Now that you know how to find your Ikigai let me reveal those Japanese Secrets to a Long and Happy Life.

Secret 1- Hara Hachi Bu

You wonder what these words mean. It is simply eating until you are 80% complete. Keep yourself a bit "still hungry state" in every meal. Easy tactics of eating will keep you healthy and fit. 

Some say that age is a number. Indeed I found many people around the world behave like young even when their biological age is mature enough to be called old. When I look back on my beliefs in my 20s, I feel 40 is old; oh God, don't push me to 40. When I crossed that age, I felt I needed to go a long way; this was just another chapter to begin in my life. 

 

 

Secret 2- Workouts for Mental Health 

We are hearing about mental health and wellness too often in a new normal scenario! It was never a topic for discussion before the pandemic. We had understood the importance of mental health lately when it started affecting our physical health. The secret of being mentally alert and levelling up our cognitive ability lies in simple mind games & workouts that keep our mind, body, and soul lively even when we are ageing.  

Stress is generally construed with a negative connotation, but it can greatly help you to make your brain remain more active and sustain improved mental activities. Even writing does it for me.

Secret 3- Morita Therapy

Morita therapy is a purpose centre therapy created by Shoma Morita, an ardent Buddhist and contemporary of Sigmund Freud. 

Morita addressed human feelings by building traction with nature. To discover the ultimate purpose of being is a complex and time-consuming process; many fail to connect even with the word called PURPOSE. 

He has shared a few simple steps to help an individual reach the ultimate purpose of being. 

a. Accept your feelings

The suppressed feelings are the killers; they transit you back to the negative zone whenever you try to be happy. 

b. Do what you should be doing 

Morita therapy allows people to analyse and comprehend their own actions instead of comparing them to other examples. 

c. Discover your life's purpose

We are responsible for our actions, with no one to blame. Moving forward is pivotal by aligning your purpose before you take the first step, according to Morita Therapy. 

d. Going with the flow

Imagine you went on trekking and successfully met the summit of a decent height. Morita therapy teaches you to be in the moment and live it thoroughly because that is what makes your life worthy.

Secret 4- Proper Diet and Exercise

Japanese people, especially those living on Okinawa Island, follow a particular diet. Their diet resembles "eating a rainbow," which includes peppers, carrots, spinach, cauliflower, and eggplant. 

Few other specialties are White Tea and Shikuwasa (a citrus fruit), which are highly effective against ageing. 

Once we are talking about diets and exercise, let me tell you, perhaps 98% of people will start with all energy but soon give up both. I advise people to follow a strict diet & workout regime as it could reverse my diabetes with these two habits. 

Japanese consider exercise a vital part of their everyday life. They use various forms of fitness methods like Radio Taiso, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong, to name a few, which help them in fostering mental and physical health. You may google to check the real application of these typical methods. 

Well, I have given a very elaborative perspective of finding your Ikigai (purpose of life) through this blog. The message I would like to percolate here is that even if you follow some of these and be consistent, you will have a healthy life. Our physical and mental health are capable of playing sports whenever we recharge ourselves to attain a bigger goal if these are not nurtured well. 

Aspirations need an agile mind, a distinct purpose, and steady progress to realise your goals. And here the IKIGAI techniques work the best. 

Happy Reading!🤗

Vaishnavi Magar (Team SYNC)