IKIGAI — The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life | Discover Your Life Purpose, Reduce Stress and Achieve Everyday Joy
At its heart, this book explores one of Japan's most quietly profound concepts: ikigai, a word that roughly translates as 'a reason for being.' It's the idea that each of us has a personal purpose, something that gives our days direction and our efforts meaning. Dr. Rashmi guides readers through what that actually looks and feels like in practice. Crucially, ikigai isn't something imposed from outside. It arises naturally, from within, which is precisely what makes it feel so satisfying when you find it. Pursuing it doesn't feel like a chore; it feels like coming home. Drawing on the work of psychologist Katsuya Inoue, the book breaks the concept into two interlocking parts: the sources or objects that bring genuine meaning to a person's life, and the felt sense that life is worthwhile because those sources exist. Inoue's three-part framework adds real texture here. Social ikigai covers purpose expressed through community involvement, volunteering, and shared activities. Asocial ikigai is more inward-facing, rooted in things like faith or personal discipline. Then there's anti-social ikigai, a more unsettling category built on darker drives such as resentment or the hunger for revenge. It's an honest acknowledgement that not all motivation is wholesome. This is a thoughtful read for anyone wondering what actually makes a life feel well-spent.
- Author: Dr. Rashmi
- Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan Pvt. Ltd.
- Genre: Lifestyle & Wellness
- ISBN: 978-8184306330
- Pages: 176 pages