My husband and I recently watched the Netflix limited series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. This documentary highlights author Dan Buettner’s travels around the world in search of “Blue Zones” or communities where people tend to live much longer than average. It was a fascinating series and touched on different communities around the globe. While the cultures varied, there were commonalities in some areas, such as increased activity levels and highly nutritious diets. What I found most fascinating were the elements that showed up regarding mindset that seemed to contribute to this longevity. The first community featured was Okinawa, Japan, where the concept of Ikigai is an integral part of life. 

Ikigai is a concept originating in Japan derived from the terms iki, which means “alive” or “life” and gai, which means “benefit” or “worth”. Put together, the concept encompasses purpose or something bringing joy and fulfillment to life. Finding their ikigai and pursuing it has kept the elderly population of Okinawa active and engaged with their community. Being active and engaged are two key factors that seem to contribute to longevity around the world. 

In 2017, the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life became a best seller and popularized this concept in the west. According to the authors, the way to find ikigai is to find something you love, that you’re good at, that you can get paid to do and that is a need in the world. When those elements overlap, you have found your purpose. Whether or not you are able to find something that ticks all of those boxes, the search and exploration can move you closer to purpose and meaning in your life.

Explore this venn diagram as a guide to finding ikigai:

One thing I loved about this concept is that it can be used to find meaning and purpose no matter your age. Teens can benefit from this just as much as a 90 year old retiree. It did strike me as a particularly helpful exercise for those who are preparing to transition to retirement. Many times we have found that our clients find great purpose in their work, benefiting from the positive effects this deeper meaning can have on their health and well-being. However, that purpose in work can make a transition to retirement more challenging. The key seems to be finding a new purpose or transitioning that purposeful work to part-time/voluntarism. We’ve had clients find great purpose in volunteering, playing an instrument and spending quality time with family. 

If you want to explore the concept more, Positive Psychology has some free resources available or check out the book mentioned above. If you’re more of a video person, check out Tim Tamashiro’s TED Talk “How to Ikigai”. Perhaps “finding your ikigai” can make its way onto 2024’s resolutions.

As always, we are here for you. Please email or call if you want to set up a Zoom video conference meeting or talk by phone.

Mary McCraw, CFP®

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