People & Purpose

It may surprise you to hear that there are many ways to improve your health and wellness that don’t include diet or exercise.

It’s true. Although fitness and nutrition are important, there are other elements of your life that can improve your health that have nothing to do with either kale or kettlebells!

The first is your ‘Sense of Purpose.’

Having a sense of purpose is more important than you may think. In their book, “Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life” the authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles set out to investigate the extraordinary longevity of the residents of Okinawa. Roughly a quarter of the inhabitants there live to be over one hundred years of age and are in excellent health well into their very senior years.

But it’s not just their longevity that captivated the authors, it’s also their vitality and sense of joy. It’s fascinating to learn how and why their lives differ from ours in the west, and what we can discover from their practices that will enhance our own life experience.

Although you won’t find the Okinawans sweating it out in the gym, they do keep themselves fit and healthy. They’re keen gardeners, growing many of their own fruits and vegetables and they also love walking.

Of course, what we consume is also important if we want to keep fit and healthy. You may have already guessed that the Okinawans don’t live on burgers and chocolate cake and they don’t sit in bars drinking and smoking. However, it’s not just their food and drink which keeps them hale and hearty; it’s their ‘Ikigai’ or sense of purpose.

Ikigai literally translates to your reason to jump out of bed each morning. It’s that thing that makes you tick and makes you feel alive. It could be connected to your work, but it could also be your hobby, or caring for your family.

Other Western researchers have also discovered the link between a sense of purpose and a lower mortality rate.

A study of over 6,000 people carried out by researchers at the University of Michigan found that people who feel their lives are meaningful are more likely to live longer and enjoy better health. They are also more likely to get regular health checks and be active members of their community.

Friends and family are of utmost importance to your health.

“People who feel lonely, depressed, and isolated are three to ten times more likely to get sick and die prematurely from virtually all causes when compared to those who have strong feelings of love, connection and community,” says Dr Dean Ornish in his book “Undo It” which describes how simple lifestyle changes can reverse most chronic diseases.

 There’s no escaping the fact that we are social creatures, and we need to be part of a community in order to thrive.

Being part of a community gives us the opportunity to confide in friends, to open up, to support and feel supported, to share fun and laughter, which really is the best medicine of all.

 There is a famous quote by the motivational speaker Jim Rohn on the importance of choosing our friends carefully. He says, “You’re the average of the five people that you spend the most time with.”

 This is not just true in a business sense, it’s also true of your health and wellbeing. According to some research, we are influenced, not just by our friends, but by the friends of our friends.