Ikigai: The Importance of Purpose in Life

colinchamp February 4, 2020 7 Comments

We recently discussed the importance of hunger for life, and how it relates to our health. The direction of our society may be opposing one that, in the past, stimulated our hunger for life. Yet, the wakeup call that we have received may further allow us to realize the importance of hunger for life. Additionally, we are not unique in this newfound awareness, as it is a far cry from the first time a society came to this same realization and appreciation of the importance of purpose. In fact, the concept is so important that the Japanese built an entire concept around it. A hunger for life is important, but do we have purpose in life? Do we have Ikigai?

Got Ikigai?

When exactly the Japanese concept of Ikigai originated is unknown, however, it has been roughly translated to “a reason to get up in the morning,” “purpose in life,” and a “reason for living.” When it comes to our health, the concept of Ikigai may be an important one, as a sense of purpose in life and hobbies have been associated with longevity in Japan, while those of us who lack both may experience a doubling of our increase in mortality.¹ These findings are not limited to Japan, as purpose in life in elderly individuals residing in the US is associated with reduced disability and increased activities of daily living.²

Of course this creates a chicken-or-the-egg question – is disability causing lack of life purpose or the other way around? – but it is safe to say that this association, which is actually quite strong in comparison to some of the other less impressive population studies out there, is something we should strongly consider, especially when it comes to our own health.

Ikigai is beyond a simple cultural concept, it is a form of self-realization that encompasses the joys of life, general happiness with being alive, and most importantly, having meaning in one’s life. Mirroring its importance, Ikigai has been studied extensively in Japan and, in multiple studies, is associated with a lower risk of death from any cause as well as cardiovascular disease.^3,4 While individuals suffering from disease are less likely to be content with life, or even find meaning in it, studies consistently demonstrate organic connections between the two, like higher rates of inflammatory factors and stress hormones in those individuals without Ikigai.⁵

In other words, we need purpose in life, our minds, bodies, souls and cells require it. Much like with hunger in life, if we are relying on contrived external sources for validation, like social media, shopping and consumerism, or excessive consumption, we may be selling ourselves short. Turning to these false idols for purpose may be undermining the very essence of what makes us human. In The Little Book of Ikigai, author and neuroscientist Ken Mogi touches on these points as he refers to the very essence of Ikigai: “discovering, defining and appreciating those of life’s pleasures that have meaning for you.” Mogi even hits upon the importance of hunger for life, as Ikigai provides us the “appetite for life,” leaving us “eager to greet each new day.”

Purpose in Life Beyond Ikigai

Other societies have noted the importance of cultural concepts that encompass a push for being. The Greeks had the term Arete to describe their quest for excellence, and the Italians have the term fare bella figura. Furthermore, these concepts intertwine our personal lives with the greater good of society through building a sense of community and positive interactions with its members. Mogi tells us that Ikigai and purpose in life encompass “a sense of community, a balanced diet and an awareness of spirituality.”

Countering these views, many of these traditional methods of viewing and approaching life and society have been torn apart by the modern age of the internet, after a dismantling fueled by questions of their importance. Nowadays, we are often told we are nothing more than an atom in a massive universe, yet bombarded with social media stories, photos, and videos exclaiming the amazing lives of others, (newsflash: they aren’t that amazing). Membership into this vicious country club includes anxiety, depression, and downright unhappiness at life. It dismantles self-esteem in teens and adolescents, the same groups where suicide and self-harm rates have recently seen a massive increase. (Studies show that limiting social media in these groups for even three weeks can decrease feelings of loneliness and depression⁶).

Perhaps worst of all, it increases loneliness, as both studies and common sense tell us, we rely on others. We rely on others for support and we rely on others for purpose. And this brings me to my main point.

Life purpose evokes our cognitive processes that define goals in life and provides personal meaning.⁷ In other words, exerting our purpose in life is exercise for the brain and soul. When we replace the meaningful people and central sources of purpose in our lives with unmeaningful screens, robotic automation or mindless consumerism of useless items (often to fill that happiness void), we are destined to fail. External validation only serves as a Band-Aid for more deeply rooted issues. The infinite games are the important ones.

The science may be warning us, but common sense is confirming it

The fifth and most profound pillar of Ikigai, as Mogi explains, is being in the here and now, which requires taking those transient things in life seriously. As Mogi tells us, “you cannot hold onto experience.” For instance, when enjoying food, unlike with attempts to take a photo and show proof of that experience on social media, “you can’t take a selfie of taste.” Enjoying the moment is Ikigai, and this experience is within us. There is no external validation through social media or other sources that can replicate the reward that accompanies this feeling. Living a life full of Ikigai makes us wake up in the morning ready to seize the day. It’s what makes us yearn for more, especially more of the simple things in life.  As Mogi tells us, “a carefree child is not burdened with a social definition of the self,” yet, somewhere along the process of growing up, we often become fixated with this social definition, and social media has channeled methods to kindle the fire. Along these lines, the principle of Ikigai and purpose leaves us rewarded by daily chores without need for recognition or “reward of any sort,” let alone social validation. When we focus on our purpose in life, as Mogi reminds us, “the idea of living in a continuous state of bliss, without searching for immediate gratification through external recognition, is suddenly within your reach.”

Nothing reminds me of this principle more than the time we were in Paris. While we are less city people when it comes to vacationing, we made a layover in the City of Light to check out its famous sites and beautiful bridges and boulevards. One of our favorite experiences was a boat ride along the Seine River during sunset, fully revealing the illuminating beauty of the city along with hundreds of Parisians sitting along the banks of the river enjoying wine and each other’s company. Man do the Parisians know how to live was our first thought. Why don’t we do this more often was our second. Our third totally pulled us from the moment. As the boat cruised along with sights like Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower in the background, the majority of the tourists on deck spent the entirety of the trip taking pictures of each other and themselves. Some even held up massive iPads blocking their views (and those of others) of the Eiffel Tower to take pictures of themselves on the boat.

To be surrounded with so much beauty, yet watch as the experience was turned into a session of “look at me” really hit home, illustrating just how bad we have become at enjoying the moment, even when that moment would be considered an unforgettable life experience by many of us.

When traveling on the Seine through a city with some of the most famous landmarks in the world, it would seem reasonable to enjoy the moment, or take selfies with your camera blocking the view…

We now have this experience of beauty to remember and it comes up often. We do not open up our social media pictures of ourselves to relive it, but rather revisit it in conversation often when we are socializing and enjoying a glass of wine, much like those Parisians scattered along the banks of the Seine. Experiences, like our ten-mile hike through Cahors just days before the Paris visit, last forever, while social media approval fades quickly. The anxiety and loneliness that it causes, unfortunately, may take longer to dissipate.

We did not take any pictures during our 10 mile hike because we were, well, enjoying our time together. But it was down there.

For instance, while social media can leave us anxious and lonely, a feeling of purpose does the opposite, helping us to sleep better with less sleep issues later in life.⁸ Unsurprisingly, individuals with higher purpose in life are healthier overall, utilize preventative medicine (as opposed to treatment) more often, and spend less time in the hospital.⁹ Lastly, the association between a higher purpose in life and a reduction in mortality¹⁰ is strong in retirees,¹¹ illustrating the importance of life purpose beyond our day jobs.

According to Mogi, Ikigai tells us that “if you can make the process of making the effort your primary source of happiness, then you have succeeded in the most important challenge of your life.” We should do things when nobody is watching or listening. We should create merely for ourselves, and we should find purpose in our actions.

I have to agree with Mogi, and the science on Ikigai appears to agree as well; we should not underestimate the importance of purpose, and we have seen the consequences and dangers of replacing it with distractions.

Are we willing to listen to this warning?

Perhaps, but some of us may be too busy on our devices to pay attention.

References:

1. Tomioka K, Kurumatani N, Hosoi H: Relationship of having hobbies and a purpose in life with mortality, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living among community-dwelling elderly adults. J Epidemiol 26:361–370, 2016
2. Boyle PA, Buchman AS, Bennett DA: Purpose in life is associated with a reduced risk of incident disability among community-dwelling older persons. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 18:1093–1102, 2010
3. T S, N N, K O: Sense of life worth living (ikigai) and mortality in Japan: Ohsaki Study. Psychosom Med 70:709–715
4. Tanno K, Sakata K, Ohsawa M, et al: Associations of ikigai as a positive psychological factor with all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality among middle-aged and elderly Japanese people: Findings from the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. J Psychosom Res 67:67–75, 2009
5. Steptoe A, Wardle J, Marmot M: Positive affect and health-related neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and inflammatory processes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102:6508–6512, 2005
6. Hunt MG, Marx R, Lipson C, et al: No more FOMO: Limiting social media decreases loneliness and depression. J Soc Clin Psychol 37:751–768, 2018
7. McKnight PE, Kashdan TB: Purpose in Life as a System That Creates and Sustains Health and Well-Being: An Integrative, Testable Theory. Rev Gen Psychol 13:242–251, 2009
8. Kim ES, Hershner SD, Strecher VJ: Purpose in life and incidence of sleep disturbances. J Behav Med 38:590–597, 2015
9. Kim ES, Strecher VJ, Ryff CD: Purpose in life and use of preventive health care services. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:16331–16336, 2014
10. Cohen R, Bavishi C, Rozanski A: Purpose in life and its relationship to all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events: A meta-analysis. Psychosom Med 78:122–133, 2016
11. Alimujiang A, Wiensch A, Boss J, et al: Association Between Life Purpose and Mortality Among US Adults Older Than 50 Years. JAMA Netw open 2:e194270, 2019

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