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“Where talents and the needs of the world cross, therein lies your vocation.”

Aristotle

Humans needs purpose, lack of purpose is the reason why people increase their risk of death after they retire. Studies of retirees show that those who retire after the age of 65 have a 37% higher risk of death than those who retire at 65. However, early retirement doesn’t do much better for you either. Those that retire at 55 increase their likelihood of death by 89% in the 10 years after they retire compared to those who retire at 65. 

The problem with these retirees is that their vocation becomes their purpose, and as soon as they lose their sense of purpose, they no longer have a reason to live, thus increasing their likelihood of death. 

One way to discover your purpose and live a meaningful, fulfilling life is to reflect on and live by the concept of Ikigai. Ikigai is a Japanese concept that is roughly translated as “the happiness of always being busy.”1

Okinawa is a Japanese island which on average has the most individuals living over the age of 100. Since these individuals lead such healthy long lives, Okinawa is one of the Blue Zones – the regions of the world where people live the longest. According to researchers of Okinawa, the longevity of inhabitants on the island are attributed to a nutritious diet, time spent predominantly outdoors in the subtropical climate, green tea and living a meaningful life according to the Ikigai.1 

One of the researchers of the Blue Zones Dan Buettner has described that living a meaningful and purpose filled life is so instilled in Japanese culture that the concept of retirement does not exist. There is no word to represent retire in the Japanese language. Their sense of purpose is tied to their ikigai, because they believe that living true to your ikigai can offer you fulfilment, satisfaction, joy and can fill your life with meaning and purpose.1 

To the Okinawans, the ikigai is the reason they get out of bed in the morning, it is similar to what Simon Sinek refers to as your “why”. The Japanese believe that everyone possesses within them an ikigai. 

In order to live a meaningful, purposeful life and not increase your risk of death after retirement, connect with your Ikigai. Discovering your ikigai requires some reflection. It is the intersection between what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. When you discover the things that align, you have found your ikigai. 

Reflections

What You Love

  • What did you love to do as a child?
  • What would you do for free?
  • What lights you up, what are you passionate about?
  • What do you get excited about?
  • What are you willing to apply effort towards?
  • What do you get lost in, what tasks make you lose track of time?

What You are Good at

  • What are your best skills? 
  • What comes naturally to you? 
  • What do you not need motivation to do?
  • Ask close family and friends what you are naturally good at.

What The World Needs

  • What are prevalent issues in modern society?
  • Observe what the people around you struggle with.

Once you’ve reflected on these, then brainstorm and figure out what you can be compensated for, whether it’s a good or a service, or applying your passions and mission into an occupation. Then, simply live your life according to your ikigai. 

“We have a responsibility to set out to discover what we are made for, to discover our life’s work, to discover what we are called to do. And after we discover that, we should set out to do it with all the strength and all of the power that we can muster.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.