{"id":431,"date":"2017-09-05T03:31:31","date_gmt":"2017-09-05T03:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/people.utm.my\/nurazean\/?p=431"},"modified":"2017-09-05T03:31:31","modified_gmt":"2017-09-05T03:31:31","slug":"is-this-japanese-concept-the-secret-to-a-long-happy-meaningful-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/people.utm.my\/nurazean\/2017\/09\/05\/is-this-japanese-concept-the-secret-to-a-long-happy-meaningful-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Is this Japanese concept the secret to a long, happy, meaningful life?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What\u2019s your reason for getting up in the morning? Just trying to answer such a big question might make you want to crawl back into bed. If it does, the Japanese concept of ikigai could help.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Originating from a country with one of the world’s oldest populations, the idea is becoming popular outside of Japan as a way to live longer and better.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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While there is no direct English translation, ikigai is thought to combine the Japanese words ikiru, meaning \u201cto live\u201d, and kai, meaning \u201cthe realization of what one hopes for\u201d. Together these definitions create the concept of \u201ca reason to live\u201d or the idea of having a purpose in life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Image: Toronto Star<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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Ikigai also has historic links: gai originates from the word kai, which means shell. These were considered very valuable during the Heian period (794 to 1185),\u00a0according to Akihiro Hasegawa, a clinical psychologist and associate professor at Toyo Eiwa University<\/a>, adding a sense of “value in living”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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To find this reason or purpose, experts recommend starting with four questions:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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