In “Man’s Search for Meaning”, Viktor Frankl developed a new school of psychiatric treatment called logotherapy. In Frankl’s opinion, life has meaning under all circumstances and our main motivation in life is to find this meaning. Put simply, according to logotherapy, living always means living for something. Neuroses and existential crises happen when one forgets their “why.” Frankl believed that the only duty a psychotherapist has is to help their patients find their meaning.

This is the essence of ikigai. Ikigai allows you to look forward to the future, no matter how empty, frustrated or anxious you feel in the moment.

So how do you find your ikigai?

  1. Stay active; don’t retire. “Those who give up the things they love doing and do well lose their purpose in life,” write García and Miralles. “That’s why it’s so important to keep doing things of value, making progress, bringing beauty or utility to others, helping out, and shaping the world around you, even after your ‘official’ professional activity has ended.”
  2. Take it slow. Walk fast or you’ll fall behind, say modern life and the 21st century. An old proverb begs to differ: walk slowly and you’ll go far, it says, revealing more about the meaning of life than volumes of books. The more you’re in a hurry, the more you’re in a state of urgency, the less you enjoy, the less you experience life. “Stop and smell the roses” may be a cliché, but it’s also a sound advice for finding satisfaction.
  3. Don’t fill your stomach. Before and after eating, the Okinawans have a habit of saying “Hara hachi bu,” which, roughly translated, means “Fill your belly to 80%.” Many studies have shown that, when it comes to eating, this might be the key to a long, healthy life. The extra side dish, the dessert, the snack – they all accelerate cellular oxidation which ages you faster. Okinawans don’t eat to feel full: they eat only what’s required, which is to say, a little less than their hunger demands.
  4. Surround yourself with good friends. Okinawans form close bonds with the people around them. They group themselves around common interests in informal communities (called moai) where they help one another and share experiences and best practices. That’s what friends are for. Try and have many good ones.
  5. Get in shape for your next birthday. A rolling stone, they say, gathers no moss. The same is true for the body: it won’t run as long as it should if you don’t maintain it. However, the Japanese differ from Westerners even when it comes to exercise. Whether through yoga, tai chi, qigong or shiatsu, their exercises instill the physical aspect of working out with spiritual energy. Moreover, rather than being draining and dynamic, all of their exercises are gentle and calming.
  6. Smile. “The secret to a long life is not to worry and to keep your heart young,” said an Okinawan to García and Miralles in one of the interviews. “Open your heart to people with a nice smile on your face. If you smile and open your heart, your grandchildren and everyone else will want to see you.” Indeed, they will.
  7. Reconnect with nature. Our ancestors didn’t evolve between skyscrapers, in rowdy cities and under grey skies. Maybe our descendants will one day get used to the sight, but for now the best way to recharge your batteries is to return to the natural world as often as possible.
  8. Give thanks. We spend so much time criticizing everything and everyone that we often forget to say thanks for the good things we have in our lives. And these are plenty. You’ll realize this in no time if you set aside only a moment a day for a brief gratitude ritual. You’ll also feel a lot happier.
  9. Live in the moment. Most of us strive for perfection. The Japanese, on the other hand, find beauty in deficiencies such as a cracked teacup. That’s what the concept of wabi-sabi entails. A complementary Japanese concept is that of ichi-go ichi-e, which could be translated as, “This moment exists only now and won’t come again.” Make that your life motto. As García and Miralles write: “Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering.”
  10. Follow your ikigai. Each of us has a purpose, a passion, a unique talent that gives meaning to our days. Don’t despair if you don’t know it today – consider that an invitation for an adventure. To paraphrase Frankl, your mission in life is to discover your ikigai. Nothing less.