What I learnt from
IKIGAI
(HECTOR GARCIA/
FRANCESC MIRALLES)
#1
The human brain works on autopilot most of the times, thus always
reinforcing old habits. But in order to revitalize the brain and to keep it
young it is imperative to expose it to change even if that requires stepping
out of comfort zone.
Stress is a major cause of ageing because stress causes the body
to release antibodies as if it were to fight pathogens. In turn these
antibodies also damage healthy cells, leading them to age prematurely. Stress
also promotes cellular ageing by weakening cellular structures.
The modern life style causes the brain to perceive danger all the
time thus keeping the body in a "fight or flight" mode. This leads to
hormonal imbalance related to stress, anxiety and depression.
Although a little stress is beneficial for sustainability, one
should be careful to be able to turn off the mind's auto pilot. One must learn
to notice our responses which are conditioned by our habits. Once we learn to
do that we can limit our thoughts in spiraling out of control.
A little stress, by all means increases longevity. People who
maintain a little bit of stress, face challenges, put their heart and soul into
their work tend to live longer than people who lead a relaxed lifestyle. A lot
of sitting and sedentary lifestyle tends to age the body faster. An active
lifestyle can lead to make us feel better inside out but it requires some
behavioral changes.
Sleep is also an important anti-ageing tool as body generates
melatonin hormone during sleep which is a powerful anti-oxidant and has anti-ageing
properties.
Finally, people who live long have two traits in common, a
positive attitude and a high level of emotional awareness. VICTOR FRANKL who
was a well known Austrian psychologist, said, “ Every thing can be taken away
from a man, except for his attitude in any given set of circumstances”.
People require a “strong reason to live”. People need to
consciously discover their life’s purpose in order to confront their fears.
Existential crisis Is typical of modern societies, in which people tend to do
what they are told to do or what others do, rather than what they want to do.
Discovering one’s purpose in life helps an individual fill the existential
void. When someone has a goal to achieve it makes him persevere. Life when
given a purpose or a meaning can help a person endure any amount of pain that
he may be in.
MORITA THERAPY is a purpose centered therapy created by Shoma
Morita which focuses on teaching people to accept their emotions without trying
to control them. Shoma Morita was a zen Buddhist who believed that feelings
changed as a result of actions and therefore new emotions can be created on the
basis of actions.
Aristotle said that “Excellence is not an act but a habit”. We
can spend hours doing some activity which we enjoy and may not realize. At the
same time if we are asked to do something that we don’t like, a couple of
minutes may seem like an hour. What makes us enjoy certain activities over
others is what can help us discover our IKIGAI.
FLOW is a state in which people get so involved in an activity
that nothing else seems to matter. The best way to achieve a flow is to find a
way who’s is aligned with our abilities but just a bit of stretch, so that we
experience it as a challenge. Also, concentrating on one thing at a time may
be the single most factor in achieving
flow.
Flow is a state in which we are completely immersed in life and
the pleasure, delight and creativity that we derive from something that we love
to do. Over and above flow, the ability to enjoy mundane day to day activities
is known as MICRO-FLOW. Mundane repetitive activities which do not truly
challenge us can make us get bored. If we can add a layer of complexity in a
mundane task, that can keep us engaged and help us achieve MICRO-FLOW
Never Stop Learning
“You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake
at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love,
you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your
honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it
then—to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only
thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by,
never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”
—T. H. White, The Once and Future King
People who live long in Japan, do everything in a sense of calm.
They are always pursuing their IKIGAI but they are never in a rush. Not only
are they happily busy but they also follow the principles of happiness that
Washington Burnap stated two hundred years ago: “The grand essentials to
happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to
hope for.”
Inspiring principles of IKIGAI
·
The secret to a long life is not to worry. And
to keep your heart young—don’t let it grow old.
·
Cultivate good habits - To live a long time you
need to do three things: exercise to stay healthy, eat well, and spend time
with people.
·
Nurture your friendships every day - Talking
each day with the people you love, that’s the secret to a long life.
·
Live an unhurried life - Doing many different
things every day. Always staying busy, but doing one thing at a time, without
getting overwhelmed.
·
Be optimistic - The most important thing , in
life, is to keep smiling.
~
