Ikigai / Plan de Vida (Life Purpose)
Mental / Emotional · moderate · 15-30 min/day living purposefully (initial exercise: 2-3 hours of reflection)
What is Ikigai / Plan de Vida (Life Purpose)?
The Okinawan concept of 'ikigai' and Nicoyan 'plan de vida' both translate to 'why I wake up in the morning.' Having a clear sense of purpose is worth up to 7 years of extra life expectancy. The concept sits at the intersection of what you love, what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Blue Zone elders continue working, volunteering, or engaging in social activities long past traditional retirement age.
Is there evidence for it?
EVIDENCEstrong — epidemiological studies show 7 extra years of life expectancy; Japanese residents lacking ikigai had higher CVD mortality, increased CRP and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and decreased HDL
How do you do Ikigai / Plan de Vida (Life Purpose)?
- 1.Write down your answers to four questions: What do I love? What am I good at? What does the world need? What can I be paid for? — find the overlapping center
- 2.Craft a personal purpose statement in one sentence and read it every morning upon waking
- 3.Commit to at least one activity where you contribute to others' well-being — volunteering, mentoring, teaching, caregiving
- 4.Review and refine your purpose quarterly; purpose evolves with life stage — retirement is not an endpoint but a pivot
- 5.Share your purpose with your closest circle and ask them to hold you accountable to living it
How long does it take?
15-30 min/day living purposefully (initial exercise: 2-3 hours of reflection).
Is it hard to start?
moderate.
Source: Blue Zones (Dan Buettner); Ohsaki Cohort Study on ikigai and mortality
purpose · blue-zones · ikigai · mental-health · meaning · longevity
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