How you should follow Ikigai to stay healthy?

Living a long life is not important. But how you live that life, this is important.   

• Pawan Gurjar

Every single soul in this universe will have the wish to live longer, stay healthy, and all with happiness. Not all know that the secret to a long life comes from finding joy and purpose every day. Most of us conclude these ideals are mere dreams that only a blessed few achieve.

The people of Okinawa, Japan have been practicing Ikigai for decades and this is their “reason to live”. This practice has made Japan a part of the Five Blue Zone of the world where people live the longest. 

Ikigai, in Japanese, means by combining the symbols that mean “life” with “to be worthwhile”.

Translates roughly because of the happiness of always being busy. 

The 10 rules of IKIGAI

1. Stay active; don’t retire.
2. Take it slow.
3. Don’t fill your stomach.
4. Surround yourself with wonderful friends.
5. Get in shape for your next birthday.
6. Smile.
7. Reconnect with nature. 
8. Give thanks.
9. Live at the moment.
10.  Follow your Ikigai. 

We have to believe in the universal truth, Healthy Self, heal thy self. When we believe this, then we invest our time in this truth.

1. Stay Active; don’t retire:

We should stop sitting idle all day as it is unhealthy for both mind and body. You can walk either with groups or alone daily in the morning and during lunch. Sometimes you can try sports to increase your energy level.

When you are at work, try not to stress yourself and also try to break off 15 minutes.

1. Take it slow:

Time and health wait for no man. So whatever work or thing you are doing don’t stress and run to do it, but relax and do it leisurely as it will give time to think and do and not make mistakes.

1. Don’t fill your stomach:

When you notice that your stomach is almost full but could eat more, then you have to stop eating. This according to Buddhism is to increase longevity while staying healthy. We know this method as calorie restriction.

1. Surround yourself with wonderful friends:

When you are spending quality time with friends and loved ones, then it increases your happiness level for a healthy life.

1. Get in shape for your next birthday:

When you exercise it is good for your body, but when you don’t, then it is a burden. So start your daily routine.

1. Smile:

Don’t believe that you can smile but try doing it, as the muscles will stretch to make you feel content. Laughter is the best medicine, so when you get that for free, why spend on it.

1. Reconnect with nature:

Spending some time with nature is essential for good and physical health, as it improves heart rate and blood pressure.

1. Give thanks:

We forget to enjoy the present moment while chasing after the things we want in life. So, we have to be thankful for what we have.

1. Live at the moment:

Don’t wait until things are perfect instead live at the moment and make sweet memories.

1.  Follow your Ikigai:

When you follow all the above 9 things and keep busy, then you find life to be worthwhile and happy.

When you are happy, then your health feels good.