The Ikigai Journey: A Practical Guide to Finding Happiness and Purpose the Japanese Way

Description

Ikigai is the place where our passion (what we love), mission (what we hope to contribute), vocation (the gifts we have to offer the world) and profession (how our passions and talents can become a livelihood) converge, giving us a personal sense of meaning. This book helps you bring together all of these elements so that you can enjoy a balanced life. Our ikigai is very similar to change: it is a constant that transforms depending on which phase of life we are in. Our 'reason for being' is not the same at 15 as it is at 70. Through three sections, this book helps you to accept and embrace that - acting as a tool to revolutionize your future by helping you to understand the past, so you can enjoy your present. Section 1: Journey Through the Future: Tokyo (a symbol of modernity and innovation) Section 2: Journey Through the Past: Kyoto (an ancient capital moored in tradition) Section 3: Journey Through the Present: Ise (an ancient shrine that is destroyed and rebuilt every twenty years) Japan has one of the longest life spans in the world, and the greatest number of centenarians - many of whom cite their strong sense of ikigai as the basis for their happiness and longevity. Unlike many 'self-care' practices, which require setting aside time in an increasingly busy world, the ikigai method helps you find peace and fulfillment in your busy life. 'From the authors of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life comes a sequel that goes beyond the concept of understanding and empowering all aspects of ikigai (one's purpose in life). Garcia and Miralles use the metaphor of the busiest train in Japan, taking readers through various stations in the future, past, and present. Along each stop readers are instructed how to develop patience and perseverance, cultivate undivided attention, and tune in to life goals. Ikigai adherents can find their ultimate purpose by listing their attributes in a Venn diagram to point the way to the intersection of what they are good at, what the world needs, what they love, and what they can be paid for to live out their ikigai...Beneficial for readers who find the concept of ikigai intriguing.' - Library Journal Praise for Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life: 'Ikigai urges individuals to simplify their lives by pursuing what sparks joy for them...Much in the same way that The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up emphasises 'choosing what we want to keep, and not what we want to get rid of,' [Ikigai] demonstrates that aging could be an opportunity to keep working, keep smiling, keep active, and keep being social.' -KonMari Newsletter 'Want to live longer? Keep super busy. If hygge is the art of doing nothing, ikigai is the art of doing something - and doing it with supreme focus and joy...Pack up those cozy blankets and candles you purchased in last year's hygge-fueled Ikea spree. Fall's biggest imported lifestyle trend is ikigai, and it might help you live to 100.' - New York Post 'Persuasively shows that small changes can help readers find more joy and purpose in their lives [with] clear, succinct information...skillfully compiled...into an engaging, easily accessible format with lists, charts, and illustrations.' - Publishers Weekly

Francesc Miralles is a lecturer and award-winning author of bestselling books in the areas of health and spirituality. Born in Barcelona, he studied journalism, English literature and German philology, and has worked as a translator, editor, art therapist and musician. His novel Love in Lowercase has been translated into 28 languages. Hector Garcia was born in Spain and worked at CERN in Switzerland before moving to Japan, his home of more than 15 years. In Japan he developed voice recognition software and the technology for young Silicon Valley companies to enter the Japanese market. His popular blog kirainet.com led to his internationally successful book A Geek In Japan.

"From the authors of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life comes a sequel that goes beyond the concept of understanding and empowering all aspects of ikigai (one's purpose in life)...Beneficial for readers who find the concept of ikigai intriguing." -- Library Journal "I can HIGHLY recommend getting this book yourself...it's full of in-depth activities and questions that will really make you re-think your life, no matter what stage of self-development you're at." --The Travel Tester blog "Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, The Ikigai Journey is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone and narrative style--making it an ideal and enduringly popular addition to community, college, and university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections." --Midwest Book Review