While reading the book Ikigai, I felt like it is a book for the elderly, as the subtitle ‘The Secret to a Long and Happy Life’ suggests. But soon, its chapters reveals that Ikigai is not only giving out the secrets of living a long life but also majorly, a happy one with practices that we can start to adapt in our daily lives whether we are in our teens, in the mid-30s or in late 80s; it holds relevancy for all age groups. This lockdown is a boon for us as this is the only time when we can explore and truly find our Ikigai, ‘the reason of our existence or the reason for waking up every morning.’
Ikigai has some creative as well as statistical ways to teach us some disciplinary actions that we can learn from other cultures, specially the Japanese. All their theories are backed by well researched and personally tested examples which adds to its authenticity factor.
If you are looking for a short and motivating book, then it is definitely a must-read. For someone like me, who needs a push or a motivation every once in a while, Ikigai helps in providing that push towards a much healthier and happier life. I want to specially recommend this book to people who suffer from these two kinds of problem.
- to people who are still lost and do not know how to go about finding their ‘Ikigai’, that is, what they actually want to do in their lives or those who are searching for answers to questions like What makes me happier? Or What am I passionate about?
- To people who are looking out for little solutions that they can incorporate easily in their daily busy schedules of work from home for a healthier, longer and peaceful life
Quoting from an exemplary chapter in the book, Ikigai, which keeps me on the edge, just to work a little harder every day, step by step, so that I do not feel completely unproductive in this quarantine is,
The ideal is to find a middle path, something aligned with our abilities but just a bit of a stretch, so we experience it as a challenge.
If you’re a graphic designer, learn a new software program for your next project. If you’re a programmer, use a new programming language If you’re a dancer, try to incorporate in your next routine a movement that has seemed impossible for years.
Add a little something extra, something that takes you out of your comfort zone.
Ikigai deserves a 4.8/5 rating.
