Do you instantly know why you wake up in the morning?
According to Dan Buettner, in America, we tend to break our adult life into two phases: Work and retirement.
In Okinawan language, there is not even a word for retirement. In Okinawa, there is one word that encompasses everything.
That word is Ikigai (eek-y-guy).
Roughly translated, ikigai means, “the reason for which you wake up in the morning.”
Ikigai, or, your “sense of purpose”, is very personal experience – and it manifests itself in many ways.
There is great power in purpose. For example, we know that people with a strong sense of purpose have boosted immune systems. They also enjoy lower stress hormones, and are better able to deal with the difficulties that life throws their way.
Watch this 3 minute video on the power of ikigai, where Dan Buettner shares his insight on this cornerstone of Okinawan longevity.
My ikigai is to help you lead a better life with skill.
What’s yours?
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