Good financial planning allows you to focus only on really important matters - Leon Ferreira

Feel free to reach out to PSG Wealth Manager  Leon Ferreira directly.

I believe that my purpose as financial adviser is to ensure that my clients do not have to worry for one moment about their finances and can focus on living a fulfilling life.

On a visit to Japan, I became aware of ikigai, a Japanese term that blends two words: ‘iki,’ meaning ‘to live,’ and ‘gai,’ meaning ‘reason,’ which translates to ‘a reason to live.’ It is a concept that encourages people to discover what truly matters to them and to live a life filled with purpose and joy.

Without a true meaning in life, it can be hard to have a sense of belonging. This universal experience may be why ‘Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life’ (Héctor García and Francesc Miralles), which explores finding your purpose, is an international bestseller.

In their new publication, the authors suggest four questions that may assist you in finding your purpose:

1. What do I love doing?

This refers to ‘the enjoyment of what is beautiful in life,’ and focuses on your emotions, desires, and love, García and Miralles write. This area requires you to ask yourself: What do I love doing? What do I want?

2. What does the world need from me?

This refers to ‘the right way of living,’ especially with duties, moral values, and virtues in mind. You can start by asking yourself: What does the world need from me? Why do I exist?

3. Who am I?

This is purely focused on freedom and self-realisation. ‘Try to think how you would define yourself without mentioning your name, your job, things you identify with, your country,’ García and Miralles write. This area considers the questions: Who am I? Who am I in the truest sense?

4. What do I need to sustain my life?

This refers to what needs to be done in order to sustain your life, especially in relation to your career and financial security. The questions you can think about for this area are: What do I need to sustain my life? What can bring wealth to me and my loved ones? This last question emphasises the importance of having a financial adviser who can ensure that your wealth is protected and grows, which will allow you the freedom to enjoy a fulfilling life.

These questions are as important to older people as to younger people planning their careers:

Annexure: The internet has provided a summary of the rules of ikigai as set out in the book: IKIGAI

The 10 rules of ikigai

1. Stay active; do not retire. Many of the world’s longest-lived people work well into their 80s and 90s or do not retire. Take for instance Jayne Burns, a 100-year-old woman who works at a craft store in Ohio. Burns jokingly said her only birthday wish after turning 100 was ‘to keep working’.
2. Take it slow. It may feel normal to rush through things and be in a hurry, but that can actually have negative effects on the quality of your life, according to García and Miralles. Instead, they recommend taking your time and seeing how it adds more meaning to your life.
3. Do not fill your stomach. Often, centenarians that the authors spoke to suggested eating only 80% of what is on your plate. ‘The extra side dish, the snack we eat when we know in our hearts, we don’t really need it, the apple pie after lunch – all these will give us pleasure in the short term, but not having them will make us happier in the long term.’
4. Surround yourself with good friends. Having great relationships in your life has been linked to happiness and longevity, according to a Harvard study. Centenarians in Okinawa whom García and Miralles interviewed prioritised spending time together at community centres in their village and often competed in friendly sports games.
5. Get in shape for your next birthday. Exercise is a huge component that contributes to longevity. Even if strenuous exercises are not your thing, there are five-minute movements like radio taiso that the oldest residents of Okinawa do daily.
6. Smile. ‘It’s good to recognize the things that aren’t so great, but we should never forget what a privilege it is to be in the here and now in a world so full of possibilities,’ write García and Miralles.
7. Reconnect with nature. Find time to breathe in some fresh air and take a walk, even if you live in a city. Spending time in nature may seem like a waste of time, but it can boost your productivity, enhance your mood and improve your memory.
8. Give thanks. Gratitude is a great way to remind yourself of all the best things in your life. Take some time to share your appreciation for your loving family, wonderful friends or even yourself.
9. Live in the moment. ‘Stop regretting the past and fearing the future. Today is all you have. Make the most of it. Make it worth remembering,’ write García and Miralles.
10. Follow your ikigai. Discover what your passion is and let it drive you. Having an ikigai adds purpose to your life and can lead to more happiness.

This article includes extracts from a review of the new book on CNBC.
https://www.sloww.co/ikigai-book/