Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to "a reason for being." It is a way of finding happiness and fulfillment in life by aligning your passions, talents, and values with your work. The book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles explores the concept of ikigai in detail. The authors interviewed the residents of Okinawa, Japan, the world's longest-living population, to learn their secrets to longevity and happiness. One of the key findings of the book is that ikigai is not something that is given to you, It is something that you have to create for yourself. The authors offer a four-step process for finding your ikigai: What are you good at? What are your natural talents and abilities? What do you love? What are your passions and interests? What can you be paid for? What are your skills and talents that you can use to make a living? What gives your life meaning? What are your values and beliefs that give your life purpose? Once you have answered these questions, you can begin to identify your ikigai. Your ikigai may be a single activity, or it may be a combination of several activities. It may be your work, your hobbies, or your relationships. The important thing is that your ikigai brings you joy and satisfaction. It is something that you are passionate about, that you are good at, and that you can make a living from. Having a strong sense of ikigai - the place where passion, mission, vocation, and profession intersect - means that each day is infused with meaning. It's the reason we get up in the morning. It's also the reason many Japanese never really retire (in fact there's no word in Japanese that means retire in the sense it does in English): They remain active and work at what they enjoy, because they've found a real purpose in life - the happiness of always being busy. We discuss this today. Follow the LOA Today podcast: https://www.loatoday.net/follow