Find your sense of purpose to unlock longevity and live a healthy life
Combine these 4 paths: Passion, Vocation, Mission and Profesion to find your purpose and achieve a balanced life that not only endures but also flourished
This is the final post of the Secret of Longevity series, and in my opinion is the most important one.
A Sense of Purpose
I save the best for last.
Personally, I consciously already knew and familiar with the 3 concepts I wrote in the previous posts in this series, i.e. the diet, physical activity and mental stability.
But this last one, was something reasonably new for me.
On a hindsight it absolutely makes sense.
In some way, this is the essence of us being human. And it’s a subject that has bothered philosophers and the likes since the beginning of time.
“What is our purpose?”
“Why do we exist?”
If you can’t answer these questions satisfactorily, then comes the ultimate respond:
“So, what’s the point (that we live)”
After this everything is going down the hill.
One similarity among the centenarians living in the blue zones, which struck me was that all of them were talking about the sense of purpose!
We need to feel that we are still useful to the world.
We need to know that we are still needed.
We need to have something to live for.
We need to have something to look forward to when we wake up in the morning.
Without this ‘mission’ in life, one would start to ask themselves a question: “Why should I continue to live?”.
Talking about the mental stability I mentioned previously, the feeling of loneliness and the suicidal tendency. Everything became dark.
A reason for being
You might’ve heard about this before.
In Japan there is this concept called Ikigai.
The word is a combination of 2 words, ‘Iki’ meaning ‘Life’ and ‘gai’ meaning ‘worth of value’!
Together it can be translated as ‘A reason for being’.
There are 4 components of Ikigai, which we can adopt in our daily life to help us to find our purpose:
What You Love (Passion): This refers to activities or pursuits that you genuinely enjoy and are passionate about. It involves doing things that bring you joy and make you lose track of time.
What You Are Good At (Vocation): This component relates to your skills, talents, and areas of expertise. It involves identifying and utilizing your strengths to contribute value to others or the world.
What the World Needs (Mission): This aspect revolves around making a positive impact on others or society. It involves finding ways to contribute to the well-being of others or addressing needs in the world.
What You Can Be Paid For (Profession): This involves identifying activities or skills that have market value and can provide financial sustenance. It includes finding a way to make a living doing something you enjoy and are skilled at.
I found the following Venn Diagram which perfectly describes the 4 concepts of Ikigai.
The promise is if you can find all 4 sectors in the circle then you should find your life balance and unlock longevity and healthy life.
Embracing a Life of Purpose and Well-being
In exploring the secrets of longevity and happiness from the Blue Zones, I’ve summarised profound insights about what it takes to lead a fulfilling life.
From embracing plant-based diets and regular physical activity to nurturing mental well-being and fostering a sense of purpose, these timeless principles have the potential to transform our lives.
The concept of Ikigai, with its focus on finding joy, leveraging skills, making a positive impact, and sustaining oneself financially, serves as a guiding philosophy. As we navigate the complexities of modern life, let's reflect on these principles and consider how they can shape our daily choices.
In the pursuit of a healthier and happier existence, may you find your Ikigai, your reason for being, and create a life that not only endures but flourishes.
