If you are seeking your purpose in life or simply want to enjoy more life in your years, reading “Ikigai, The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” will put you on the path to do that.

The book was written by Héctor Garcia and Francesc Miralles and first recommended to me by Steve Gatter, CPDP. It helps you get clear on what is most important to you and ignoring everything else. At the end of the book they summarized it with the ten rules of Ikigai including:

  1. Stay active; don’t retire
  2. Take it slow (don’t be in a hurry all the time)
  3. Don’t fill your stomach (eat only to 80% full)
  4. Surround yourself with good friends
  5. Get in shape for your next birthday
  6. Smile (A cheerful attitude makes a difference)
  7. Reconnect with nature
  8. Give thanks
  9. Live in the moment
  10. Follow your ikigai (your passion or mission)

A quote from the book that really stuck with me is this: “We don’t create the meaning of our life, as Satre claimed – we discover it.”

May you discover and own your Ikigai.

Please share your ikigai and/or how you discovered it.