42GOOD TO KNOW
Useful
read
The Little
Book of Ikigai
by Ken Mogi,
RRP $24.99,
HachetteIKIGAI:
First came the “KonMari Method”, a distinctly Japanese approach
to decluttering that promised “life-changing magic”, simply by
asking yourself which possessions spark joy – and throwing away
the rest. Now the West is embracing another kind of Japanese tip
for self-examination. It’s called living with
ikigaiand requires nothingmore than letting whatever you’re most enthusiastic about guide you.
While many of us struggle to come to terms with life’s big questions,
ikigai (“iki” means “to live” and “gai” is “reason”) reminds us there’s
meaning in the small things we do every day.
“When people say they don’t really know what they want to do with
their lives, what they mean is they can’t see big goals. If you start small
you can always find something to do,” says Japanese neuroscientist
and author Ken Mogi, who recently releasedThe Little Book of Ikigai.hyyour
w
Discover the Japanese
approach to finding
meaning in your life
and wake up happier!Ken Mogi Author of The Little Book of Ikigai4 HEALTH BENEFITS GALORE
Feeling enthused about your purpose
for the day ahead is directly linked to
living longer with better health, just
like the women of Japan’s Okinawa
islands – one of Earth’s five so-called
“blue zones” of longevity – who often
reach 100 years old and beyond.
“In Japan, ikigai is considered to
be something that accumulates and
improves with age,” Ken explains.
Your life’s purpose could be doting
on your grandkids, running your ownJapanese word describing a reason for being