Ikigai Book Summary

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Key Insights

When we daydream about living a fulfilling life, we each hold a different image in our minds. Some of us want small, simple pleasures while others prefer a grandiose existence full of luxury and comfort. In spite of our varied visions, though, our ideal realities all share a common theme: purpose.

In Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Hector Garcia asks us to explore the ikigai (the reason for living) in our daily lives. Our ikigai is found at the intersection of our skills, passions, earning potential, and the current needs of the world.

In this powerful text, Garcia contends that everyone has an ikigai--or destiny--even if they have not yet discovered what it is.

Active Body, Active Mind

Your doctor will probably tell you that in order to live a long life, you should avoid sugar, maintain a healthy weight, and incorporate exercise into your regular routine. However, what you often don’t hear (and what is key in ikigai philosophy) is that in order to achieve longevity, cultivating the body is not enough--attention must be paid to the mind as well.

The mind, like the body, must be exercised often.

But how?

While your brain certainly benefits from logic puzzles like chess, card games, or the occasional 3,000 piece jigsaw, the best workout you can give your mind is actually social interaction. Because your brain is forced to work quickly in a social setting in order to analyze what is being said and formulate an appropriate response, simply talking with friends is an effective way to maintain your mental acuity.

Tell that to everyone who says that talking isn’t a workout. 

On Stress

While brain training sessions are important in leading a fulfilling life, another key pillar of ikigai philosophy is the minimization of stress. Even though it is not feasible to remove stress from your life completely (and frankly, a bit of stress can provide motivation), it is necessary to take time to decompress and relax. Excessive stress can shave years off your life.

Consider the following example. 

An aspiring doctor in Germany was forced to endure several high-stress interviews before having his blood sampled by Heidelberg University as part of a study. 

The results?

The prospective doctor’s blood had begun releasing antibodies during the interviews, which is typically a response to a virus or bacteria. Basically, the man’s immune system was reacting to a perceived threat, which was actually just stress manifesting in a physical way.

The problem with this is that stress--which then triggers an illness-type response--can lead to the attacking of perfectly healthy cells by way of antibodies. This action forces your body to age faster than it should.

Morita

When the world becomes overwhelming, many Japanese turn to an intensive therapy called Morita, hoping to find relief. This technique, developed by psychotherapist Shoma Morita, is intended to help eliminate anxiety and obsessions and compulsions, but it has also been proven effective in combating burnout and stress.

There are four phases of Morita:

Rest--

In the rest phase, which typically lasts about a week, the patient literally lays in bed...

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