What I learnt from IKIGAI

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.

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