As the senior leader of my corporation, I constantly look for opportunities to help all employees develop themselves both professionally and personally. In the spirit of a “Good to Great” culture, a concept introduced by author Jim Collins, which, in my organization, is based on four fundamental pillars – Values (including value for money, Standards (including excellent performance), Integration, and Technology – we holistically seek for better and best out of good trends and good readings, striving to create a unique environment where diversity and personal fulfillment go hand in hand with the ability to provide respectful working relationships within the workplace and with our citizens.
One of the books that we have read a few years ago is titled “Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. Ikigai is a Japanese word that can be translated as “meaning of life” or “reason for living” and represents some principles that, according to a number of studies over the last few decades, are at the basis of long and happy lives of people that live in Okinawa, Japan. Okinawa (and Sardinia, Italy) is the place with the highest concentration of centenaries in the world and through a thorough investigation of its inhabitants, it was discovered that people who live there proceed and obtain self-realization on the basis of personal maturity, the satisfaction of various desires, love and happiness, encounters with others, and a sense of the value of life. These actions and principles, and especially their own self-realization, which is the result of the application of those principles, help the people of Okinawa to live with purpose, with less stress, and with serene satisfaction for the simple things in life, especially the simple but full interactions with others, in particular their loved ones.
This concept is somewhat similar to the one introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl in his well known book “Man’s Search for Meaning”. In his book, Frankl concludes that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, even in suffering and death. In a group therapy session during a mass fast inflicted on the concentration camp’s inmates where Frankl was a prisoner trying to protect an anonymous fellow inmate from fatal retribution by authorities, Frankl offered the thought that for everyone in a dire condition there is someone looking down, a friend, family member, or even God, who would expect not to be disappointed. Frankl concludes from his experience that a prisoner’s psychological reactions are not solely the result of the conditions of his life, but also from the freedom of choice he always has even in severe suffering. The inner hold a prisoner has on his spiritual self relies on having a hope in the future, and that once a prisoner loses that hope, he is doomed.
“The things we love are like leaves on a tree, they can fall anytime when the wind pops up.” – Marcus Aurelius
The Ikigai philosophy, however, has a more positive connotation. It encourages individuals to discover the intersection, or core, of the four foundational questions and principles: 1) what we love (our mission); 2) what the world needs (our vocation); 3) what we can be paid for (our profession); and 4) what we are good at (our passion). In reading this book, we may find out that by discovering our mission, our true vocation, our professional aspiration, and our inner passion, we may finally understand the path to a peace of mind that could be transformational.
This book contains some practical advice and very interesting insights from the elderly in Okinawa. For instance, there is much realization that one can only control the present and that worrying about the past or the future robs from the enjoyment of life. They also practice resilience by living in the moment so that they can get through setbacks and be positive about life. In order to do this they try to see the beauty in everything.
”We find our ikigai by concentrating on what is important, rather than what’s urgent. By constantly keeping an eye on what feels good, we are able to discover what our passion is.”- Mundo Urano
The authors then extrapolate a number of points that, in their view, represent the actionable parts of the Ikigai philosophy, such as:
- Be aware of and limit stress. Stress impacts our health negatively and we need to control it. Meditation, prayer, and spiritual exercises can be great tools in managing stress, as well as living in the moment and being mindful as you do your daily tasks.
- Be active physically. This can be as simple as walking to work if possible, or taking a few minutes here and there to do something that can keep us moving.
- Sleep enough, which is very important to help our mind and body in check.
- Eat healthy and fresh.
- Have strong social ties with your family, friends and neighbours. In Okinawa, there are groups that were formed with the purpose to have the elderly spend a lot of time together by meeting regularly and supporting each other in difficult times.
- Keep using your brains by doing mental challenging work or leisure activities.
- Immerse in nature regularly.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I am sure you will too. Have a good read!
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ASD Innovation 
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