🌸 What does it mean to have a happy life? Why do we seek happiness? 🌸
For this edition of Things You Might Not Have Seen, I will talk about the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles. I thought that perhaps this book was a good way to start the new year 2021 😊 May it be a year of healing, Ameen.
The book tells us that our ikigai is hidden deep inside us, something that we carry with us, even if we remain unaware. To find it, we need to search for it patiently. The secret of a happy life is as simple as it is difficult: it is to find our purpose to each and every day.
The book ikigai talks about the steps we could take to a healthier lifestyle, including diet and exercise. It talks about the dangers of stress, living a life of frantic pace and constant competition. Ikigai is letting go of harmful practices, living life with serenity and enjoying the journey. Ikigai is a journey of self-discovery, and finding a newfound passion for life that helps us overcome obstacles and face our sorrows.
I asked two questions in the beginning of the blog, I will try my best to answer them.
What does it mean to have a happy life?
It means to live your life with purpose.
Why do we seek happiness?
This is more difficult to answer. There is a constant internal battle within, between what is expected of us, and what we truly want… perhaps this dichotomy leads us to searching for a better way, a better answer. This is part of Eleanor’s struggle and journey too, and part of the reason I wrote the love and friendship series.
Japan is one of twenty-one countries that Ellie visits in Eleanor’s Travels. Even in the first book, My Dear Ellie, we hear her speak of the Japanese philosophy that touched her deeply.
Have you found your ikigai? When Ellie asks Cassie this question, she mumbles an indecisive answer.
I can’t remember whether I looked up the philosophy of happiness and Ikigai to write this scene, or if I wrote this scene because I had learned of Ikigai. Regardless of the order of how it happened, I am very glad I came across this philosophy.
I wish you a long and happy life. I hope that you discovered something new today. Thank you for reading! 😊
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