What if you could live longer just by doing more of what you love to do most?
It's an attractive theory that finds its evidence in Ogimi, a community on the island of Okinawa that's nicknamed the Village of Longevity because its residents have the highest life expectancy in the world. They also largely share a devotion to a Japanese philosophy known as ikigai, a concept that is, at times, used synonymously with purpose, passion, meaning, mission, vocation and drive.
To help define your own ikigai, ask yourself: "Why do I get up in the morning?" "What motivates me?" "What do I love doing most?" Or, "What would I regret not having done with my life when it's over?"
Once you find your ikigai, even if you don't live to age 100, your life may feel longer because you are more fully engaged with it while you are here. And living with purpose encourages other healthy lifestyle choices, like exercise, social activities, and lifelong learning.
Admittedly, following your ikigai is not easy in our modern technological world. Distractions are everywhere, from commercial advertising to social media to 24-hour news reports. In our fast-paced urban society, we need to work hard to stop working hard and let our ikigai lead the way.
Ikigai (pronounced “eye-ka-guy”) is sometimes defined as the place where your passions and talents converge with the things that the world needs and is willing to pay for. // Ogimi, the friendly village of 3,000 of the world's longest-living people, is known for its slow pace, ocean views, community gatherings, personal vegetable gardens and residents who smile, laugh and joke incessantly. They also take great pride in living to 100 and beyond. They have fewer chronic illnesses than most people, including cancer and heart disease, and their rate of dementia is well below the global average. [from the article]