Why Japanese live a Happier and Healthier Life

I woke up at 5 a.m. today, did my yoga, and then went back to sleep. It's monsoon season here, and the mornings are so chilly. I could think of nothing but my bed and a warm, cosy blanket.

My girlfriend brought me a cup of coffee, but I just wanted to stay in bed. I finally dragged myself out of bed at 10:30 a.m.

When I finally woke up, I had a little discussion with my dad. He told me to learn something from Japanese people. They are so hardworking, and their life expectancy is so much more than us. (indirectly calling me lazy) He praised them a lot. Now, the curious cat in me awakened, and I just had to research the Japanese lifestyle.

When I did that, I found numerous interesting practices that the Japanese people follow for a happier and healthier life.

The first one is very famous. I have heard about it and even tried it to find my purpose. It’s none other than IKIGAI.

iki means life, and gai means value or worth. It will help you find a reason to wake up in the morning.

In simplest terms, ikigai means finding something that is the combination of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Finding your ikigai is the foundation of living a life that aligns with your passions, strengths, and the needs of the world. It will help you find a balance between your work, relationships, and personal development.

Another is Wabi-Sabi. 

It’s a practice that allows you to embrace imperfections.

It teaches you the value of simplicity and minimalism. How uncluttered spaces are beautiful and peaceful. When I read this, my messy room, especially the cupboard filled with unfolded clothes, stared at me with sheer disappointment.

Wabi-Sabi says that flaws, imperfections, asymmetry, and irregularities add character and uniqueness to everything around us. It teaches you to stay connected to nature and accept things exactly as they are, rather than striving for an idealized version.

What a great thought, isn’t it?

Now, the third one is, Hara Hachi Bu. 

This practice tells you to eat in moderation. Maybe that’s the reason why Japanese people don’t suffer from obesity.

Hara Hachi bu tells you to “Eat until you are 80% full”.

It emphasizes the concept of mindful eating to promote better digestion, prevent overeating, and maintain a healthy weight. If you follow this simple practice of Hara Hachi Bu, you are automatically preparing your body for longevity and good health.

Stop eating before you are completely full to allow the body more time to process and digest the food. You will have an improved metabolism, reduced risk of obesity-related diseases, and a greater sense of overall well-being when you are not continuously overloading your digestive system.

Last but not least, is the practice of Kaizen.

It is the practice of continuous improvement.

It is a philosophy that focuses on taking small, manageable steps toward improvement. These small changes will accumulate over time to create significant progress through the power of compounding.

Kaizen teaches you patience and persistence. You will realize that success is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of refinement. This wisdom will help you commit to your goals and become a better version of yourself.

Your mindset will become solution-oriented, and you will always try to create a culture of engagement and innovation.

You can think of Kaizen as a growth mindset.

When you practice being in a growth mindset, you will automatically aim for improvement and betterment.

After learning about these practices, I must say the Japanese are indeed very hardworking, mindful, and healthy individuals.

To remind ourselves of the beauty of Japan and its practices, I asked ChatGPT to write 6 lines that rhyme.

Those are:

In the upcoming editions of The Rationalist Chronicle, we'll explore more strategies and insights to optimise different aspects of our lives.

From lifestyle design to goal setting, we'll delve into topics that empower us to lead fulfilling, high-performance lives and eventually build our empires as we escape the rat race.

Thank you for joining me on this adventure.

Until next time, stay obsessed and keep striving for greatness!

Best regards,

Writer and Lifestyle designer

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