summary ofIkigaiBook by Héctor García, Francesc Miralles

first KEY POINT

You will have a long and happy life if you find and live in your ikigai

Ikigai is a concept of Japanese origin that means finding happiness in being busy. It explains how diet and Okinawa’s climate contribute to record-setting old age.

The authors studied the lifestyle of residents of Ogimi village in Okinawa, Japan, and realized something unique about them. They generally live longer than most people, they make teamwork a priority, and their activities revolve around the concept of ikigai. As it turns out, learning and practicing the same things these residents do will enable you to live long and happily, just like them. This summary will break down the ikigai concept in ways you can quickly comprehend and start implementing right away.Let's begin with a good definition. Your ikigai refers to a union of the things you love, what the world needs in your generation, what you get paid to do, and what you're good at.The goal is to find a sweet spot between all four components because ikigai is about helping you live a balanced life. And this brings us to why no word in Japanese means “retire:” When you find your ikigai, you’ll want to work until you die or your body gets too weak to work. Why? Because you love the work, and your motivation is not something external.“Blue Zones” are the five zones where people live the longest. These are called the “Blue Zones.” Okinawa ranks top on the list, followed by Italy's Sardinia, California's Loma Linda, Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula, and Ikaria in Greece.The secrets of a remarkably fulfilling life in the Blue Zones are healthy eating, exercise, meditation, and finding and pursuing a life purpose. We will further unravel these as the summary progresses.Did you know? Nearly 25 in every 100,000 people in Okinawa, Japan, are centenarians.