The island of Okinawa in Japan is one of the regions where human life is maintained in the longest and healthiest way. The people of Okinawa attribute this secret of longevity to two spiritual sources as well as their "hara hachi bu" diet. One of these two sources is "moai". Moai are childhood friends, that is, lifelong friend groups that support each other in every moment and every aspect of their lives. The other concept is "ikigai".

Ikigai is the "life purpose" in its shortest definition. It is your spiritual power that motivates you to get out of bed to start a new day. At times you must feel like everything just doesn't make sense. It would be best to find your own Ikigai rather than getting lost in endless questions like "Why am I working, am I living an unhappy life?"

Because Ikigai's happiness supports quality of life; Thus, it is thought to contribute to a longer lifespan.

FIND YOUR IKIGAI IN 4 QUESTIONS

1 What are your favorite things?

What are your interests? What are the activities, jobs, hobbies that you feel happy doing? What are the things that fill you with peace? What did you feel peaceful while doing in your childhood and youth? Do you still do these things in your spare time?

Even if you can't, what are the subjects you love to research and learn about? What is your favorite topic to talk about excitedly at a table? Politics, art or literature? Does software get your attention? Maybe math? The question is very clear: What makes you happy?

2 What are the world's needs?

One of the basic emotions of ikigai is to be useful. On this principle, what you do is satisfying and makes you even happier if it benefits the world as much as it makes you happy. You feel useful when you create things that are beneficial by making others happy.

To be an exemplary role in the future of an individual, such as being a babysitter or a kindergarten teacher. Or do you like to paint? Or are you producing from another type of art? In your work, you can deal with global problems such as environmental pollution, water scarcity, hunger, plastic waste. If you are a software developer or advertiser, you can set up an awareness-raising website and run an advertising campaign. It's satisfying to use what you love as a tool to mobilize people on an important issue.

3 What subjects are you talented or good at?

Let's talk a little bit about your talents and skills. What are your talents or skills that you have acquired through education or experience? When creating this list, include things that you are good at but do not do very fondly, that you only do well with a sense of duty, and things that you do with love. After listing them, ask the following to get an objective answer from the observations of people who know you well: "What do you think I'm good at?" If the things they said aren't on your list, add them too.

4 Which of these can you profit from?

We came to my last step. Even if your soul is happy, it cannot be denied that material gains are necessary to achieve something in the world we live in. It is very important that Ikigai does not put you in financial difficulties and gives you a profit.

Even if it is not for making big savings, it is very important for your personal satisfaction that you and the people you are responsible for earn enough to meet the basic needs of your family such as shelter, nutrition and clothing.

 

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