The inhabitants of the Japanese island of Okinawa have long been known for their healthy lifestyle and longevity.They live longer than any other people in the world.This is largely attributed to having a sense of purpose, and therefore a reason to live, which is focused on a concept the Japanese call Ikigai which they believe to be deep seated within everyone of us. The big secret is to find it and so benefit from longer and better quality of life, by finding meaning to your life and happiness.
So do we all really have a sense of purpose in life?
As young people, we may not have had this or realised that we had.Into middle life this for many of us may have continued to be the case.Much of working life in western societies is driven by agenda, timetables, the need to earn to support family, nurture and educate.For many this constitutes the daily grind which may only be relieved by the allotted brief annual holiday for those fortunate enough to afford one.But what of those who have what might be termed a vocation making itto them worth the bother of getting up each morning.These we may see as the fortunate ones.
Does sense of purpose last for life?
Sadly, even for those with a true vocation, ageing happens and a number of important factors affecting well being come into play. For example, failing health and strength may reduce the scope of activities once conducted with seemingly effortless ease.For others, once a family grows-up and largely moves away, lack of being connected to a closely knit community may hasten a feeling of loneliness.In both cases, emotions of lowered self esteem and a sense of having no purpose may prevail.This is when finding that reason to get up in the morning is so important to ageing better.
The search for meaning in life and how to live a longer and better
For the Okinawans this enviable achievement of discovered sense of purpose requires an active daily life and membership of a strong local community association which, though informal, provides a connected life for all its members and provides any necessary financial or social support in time of need. Helping each other as members become a part of their Ikigai. There are other key lifestyle factors including exercise and diet which contribute towards longer life and relative freedom from the chronic illnesses which acutely bedevil many western peoples.For the people of Okinawa bonding in a community with others sharing similar interests is key.Loneliness leading to depression, inability to socialise and eventually ill health is unheard of in their society.
Local community does good
In Frome, Somerset ,a compassionate community project established in 2013 has already produced some spectacular results for the local population. Here, too, the emphasis was placed at the outset on those in need being brought into a compassionate community where help and services were provided.
Of course, we are not all lucky enough to have a support grouping of like-minded individuals to encourage us along the pathway to finding what the French might call our reason to be, or raison d’etre, but with mindful study and awareness as individuals we can learn to benefit from certain aspects of a way of life leading to or maintaining a sense of meaningful self worth.Ultimately, happiness will depend more on controlling what we are able to control and having a sense of purpose, which means having intentional activity in our lives.
For further reading
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4850974/Having-purpose-life-STRONG-old-age.html
The pernicious decline in purpose in old age
Want to stay strong as you age?
Can having a purpose in life keep you strong in old age?
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