Nowadays everyone tries to eat healthy, meditate, maintain balance in their work and personal life and also try to be socially active.
But the question is why are we heading towards all these aspects?
Reason is Everyone desires ‘’ LONGEVITY (LONG LIFE) ‘’.
I have learnt this beautiful balance of life from Japanese way of living and would like to share with you all about the 4 MASTER KEYS TO LONGEVITY –
- IKIGAI
- DIET
- EXERCISE
- FORMING STRONG SOCIAL TIES
1. IKIGAI –
According to the Japanese, everyone has an IKIGAI, some people have found their IKIGAI, while others are still looking though they carry it within them.
But do you all know that what’s an IKIGAI?
IKIGAI is something which gives a sense of purpose to each and every day and plays an important role in maintaining health and longevity.
So, by any chance if your purpose is work then keep doing it daily like Japanese who live each day, they keep doing what they love for long as their health allows, there is no retirement in japan.
‘’WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T RETIRE!’’
2. DIET-
‘’HARA HACHI BU’’, which is said before or after eating in japan, it means to fill your belly upto 80 percent only, Stop Eating When You Start to Feel Full.
If you eat too much, your digestive system is loaded with long digestive process which accelerates damaging of your body/cellular oxidation.
The extra food gives pleasure for short term but not in long term.
Also, the way they serve food is also important by presenting their meals on many small plates, it is served in 4 small plates and one big plate & it seems like you are going to eat a lot but what happens most of time is that you end up feeling slightly less hungry.
They eat tofu, sweet potatoes, fish & vegetables.
Their habit of drinking herbal teas & eating until their stomachs are only 80% full results in a smaller number of free radicals in their blood (free radicals are responsible for early aging; lesser the number of free radicles, more is your longevity).
3. EXERCISE-
Japanese practice GRADENING on daily basis which involves low intensity movement which keeps them healthy and flexible.
4. FORMING STRONG SOCIAL TIES-
They maintain broad circle of friends, strong family relations & close bonds with local communities which gives them strong emotional and financial stability.
Apart from these 4 master keys, there are some other principle of IKIGAI which Japanese follows and you should also follow if you desire for LONGEVITY:
- Take everything Slow: Walk Slowly and You Will Go Far in your life.
- Only surrounding with friends is not important but what’s vital is you Surround yourself with Good Friends.
- Get in Shape for Your Next Birthday
- Keep Smiling
- Reconnect with Nature
- Give Thanks
& the most important is
‘’LIVE IN THE MOMENT’’.
