Finding your ikigai, the key to your health, happiness and longevity
In Okinawa, it’s called ikigai. In Costa Rica, plan de vida. In France, raison d’être. In North America, it’s known as purpose. Having a strong sense of purpose gives our lives meaning, direction and focus. Purpose helps shape our identity, inform our personal growth and provide us with a sense of fulfillment. It drives what we do, guides our behaviour and our relationships with other people. Our life’s purpose is what gets us up in the morning and gives structure to our days. It’s what makes life worth living.
As it turns out, having a strong sense of purpose is also highly correlated with good health, happiness and longevity. An abundance of research indicates that having a purpose in life (PIL) is associated with:
A lower risk of cognitive decline
A positive outlook and an overall sense of happiness and well-being
Meaningful life experiences, personal relationships and a sense of belonging
Practicing healthy habits (good nutrition, regular exercise, moderate alcohol consumption, regular health screenings and check-ups, etc.)
Better mental health and less functional decline
Better health and longevity
Better sleep
Resiliency, the ability to overcome hardship and cope with stress
Reduced risk of chronic disease (diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer)
According to the many books* written about aging successfully, our personal purpose doesn’t have to be grandiose but it does need to align with our personal values and goals, and be meaningful to us. Our purpose prompts us to take action that contributes in some way to the greater good which, in turn, helps us feel valued and satisfied with the general scheme of things.
Our life purpose typically changes over time. As young adults, our PIL may be to get an education and establish ourselves professionally. We may then focus on raising a family. Empty-nesters may turn to caring for aging parents, volunteering, teaching or starting a new hobby or business to give themselves a renewed sense of purpose.
In addition to life stages, major life changes—such as job loss or burnout, serious illness or injury or the loss of a loved one—can disrupt our sense of purpose and prompt us to search for a new compass to help guide us through uncharted territory.
Without purpose, we may feel like a boat without a rudder cast adrift to bob about aimlessly on the ocean of life. And that’s not good for both our mental and physical health.
A new year is often a time for personal reflection, recalibration and revitalization. It also presents an excellent opportunity to consider whether our life purpose continues to serve us.
So, how do you go about re-evaluating, renewing or finding your life purpose? At any age or stage of life. Harvard Health and the (aforementioned) books offer the following advice.
For inspiration, read Viktor Frankl’s book, Man’s Search for Meaning, about the psychiatrist’s observations and documentation of the connection between hope, kindness and generosity, and the survival of prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.
Ask yourself what you’re passionate about and what truly matters to you. Is there a way to inject more of these things into your current situation? Having been a caregiver for my mother for more than 10 years, I became very aware of the need to remain physically active and socially engaged to maintain one’s health and well-being. That’s in large part why I became a personal trainer—to keep myself fit and to help other boomers do the same.
A friend of mine who loves art decided to volunteer at a big city art gallery. Her new “job” involves considerable hours of study about the lives and works of major artists so she can lead tours and speak knowledgeably about their exhibitions. Another friend is passionate about protecting the environment and loves antiques. He makes a habit of scouting castoffs at the end of urban driveways, refinishing them and then selling them online.
Ask yourself and others who know you well what they see as your unique strengths and talents. Perhaps these attributes and skills are transferable to another context that is meaningful to you. Yet another friend who loves to learn and makes a habit of giving back, enrolled in a university program on plant-based nutrition. Not only did she completely change the way she ate, she coached others how to make the transition to a healthier diet. She also volunteered at a cancer centre to help and support patients undergoing treatment in preparing healthier meals to bolster their recovery.
Think about the challenges you have faced and overcome in life. What qualities enabled you to do so? What did you learn in the process? Perhaps there’s a way to apply these skills and lessons to help others who are facing similar challenges. I marvel at a friend of mine who experienced a devastating loss a few years ago. She continues to work, support her own family, and champion the growth and development of others while helping others trying to cope with the unspeakable loss of a child.
Consider your network. Are there people whose work or approach to life you admire? What can you learn from them and put into practice to enrich your own life? I know a young trainer whose optimism and enthusiasm is infectious. His clients can’t help but have a great time working out with him, even when it’s truly hard.
Think about the current state of the world. There’s no shortage of issues that need attention. With your unique skills and experience, are there problems that you could help address or resolve? A friend of mine went back to school to learn more about environmental science; he now partners with others around the world to bring fresh water to communities in third world countries. In his spare time, he volunteers with a political party to help inform sound environmental public policy.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but never had time for? Perhaps there’s something you’ve always wanted to learn more about. Or, learn how to do. Another friend is really into music so, upon retirement, he bought a guitar and has learned how to play. He’s now the driving force behind an annual Christmas concert for seniors in local long-term care homes.
Write your own obituary or imagine your own funeral. What would you like to hear someone say about you? How would you like to be remembered? How can you make that happen? A cousin of mine died recently. He was only 75. We used to be quite close but sadly drifted apart over the past 10 or so years. Reading his obituary and messages of condolence, I discovered a lot that I didn’t know about him and how instrumental he was to the professional growth and development of the young architects who worked with him.
Pretend that you’ve won a lottery and consider what you would do if money were no object. How would you spend your time? What would do with the money? What would you devote yourself to? Start a business or charitable foundation? Would you give it all away? To whom? Or, would you travel the world, go back to school, open a restaurant or build your dream home? Maybe there’s a way to get started on those dreams today to help make your life more purposeful.
Consolidate all your findings and draft a personal mission statement. Share it with those who know you well. Does it ring true for you? Does it resonate with them? If so, how can you put your mission into play today? Create an action plan and map out the steps required to realize your mission. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Take that one step today, then another and another and soon you’ll be well on your way.
Once you’ve found or renewed your purpose and put together your action plan, if one of your “to do’s” is to take better care of yourself by moving more and eating well, SPRY Fitness & Nutrition can help. Email us today for a free consultation: info.spryfandn@gmail.com.
*Bibliography:
Breaking the Age Code by Beccy Levy, PhD
Growing Bolder: Defy the Cult of Youth, Live with Passion and Purpose by Marc Middleton
Live Long, Die Short:
A Guide to Authentic Health and Successful Aging by Roger Landry, MD, MPH
Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity, Peter Attia, MD with Bill Gifford
Power House by Greg Wells, PhD
Ten Powerful Benefits of Living with Purpose by Meg Selig: Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/changepower/202108/10-powerful-benefits-of-living-with-purpose
Ten Ways to Find Purpose in Life, Harvard Health Letter:
https://www.health/harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/10-ways-to-find-purpose-in-life
The Blue Zones (2nd Edition): 9 Lessons for Living Longer by Dan Buettner
The Longevity Code by Kris Verburgh, MD