Ikigai – Héctor García, Francesc Miralles | Free Book Summary

Ikigai – Héctor García, Francesc Miralles

The happiness of being busy with life.

Hara Hachi Bu: Eat A Little Less

You should stop eating when you are no longer feeling hungry, rather than continue to eat until you feel stuffed.

It is better to stop eating before you feel too full, as it can lead to indigestion and other health problems. 

Ways to get started include:

• Eat slowly
• Focus on food
• Use small vessels

Reconnect With Nature: What Studies Show

People surrounded by lush greenery live longer, with a lower chance of developing cancer or respiratory illnesses. 

Being in nature, living near nature, or even viewing nature can positively impact our lives. Spending time in nature, in particular, appears inherently rewarding, producing a cascade of positive emotions and calming our nervous systems. This, in turn, helps us cultivate greater openness, creativity, connection, generosity, and resilience.

Give Thanks

Gratitude has consistently been associated with positive outcomes. Apart from increasing your happiness levels, gratitude also improves your physical health. It lowers stress levels. Stress is associated with heart attacks and other chronic conditions, but can be reduced by adopting gratitude and encouraging optimism.

The Power Of Positivity

Optimism increases immune-boosting cells. People who express gratitude are more likely to report higher levels of well-being and satisfaction with their lives. They are also more likely to experience less stress and anxiety and be more resilient in the face of adversity.

Exercise

Most of us know that we should exercise more, but there always seems to be something more pressing that demands our attention. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that most of us could benefit from exercising more. As Japanese centenarians show, all you need is light, regular movement in your day. In doing so, you can face the world with strength, joy, and serenity.

Live in the Moment (THE FLOW)

Flow is the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter. It is characterized by a sense of focus and effortless concentration. It is often associated with positive experiences, such as peak performance, and the experience itself becomes highly enjoyable.

Never Retire

The goal is to keep your mind and body active in order to fill yourself with purpose and ikigai on a daily basis. 

We see retirement as a golden age of holidays and gold. However, retirement kills your ikigai. We need to stop spending so much time worrying about making more money and our eventual retirement.

So, never retire. Keep learning, keep changing, and keep growing.

The 10 Rules of Ikigai

• Stay active; don’t retire.
• Take it slow.
• Don’t fill your stomach.
• Surround yourself with good friends.
• Get in shape for your next birthday.
• Smile.
• Reconnect with nature.
• Give thanks.
• Live in the moment.
• Follow your ikigai.

JAPANESE PROVERB

 Nana korobi ya oki (Fall seven times, rise eight.)