Everyone wants to have a long life. How can we achieve it? Well, you can find the answer in Okinawa – the Japanese island where the highest number of centenarians in the world live.

Okinawans believe they owe their longevity to the ikigai. It could be interpreted as the meaning of life or an intrinsic calling for a particular vocation. Ikigai represents the correlation between four elements. Those are the thing a person is good at, the way they make a living, their passion, and how they contribute to the world. In Japan, there is a common belief that everyone is endowed with an ikigai at birth – a unique purpose they must fulfill.

Yet not all people can find their true calling immediately. For some of us, it takes time. In case you're one of such individuals – don't give up. At the end of the day, your ikigai will be something to make you keep pushing through life routine. It frequently happens that island dwellers become high-class specialists in their day-to-day work.

Ikigai also boosts longevity. That's why if you consider your job as ikigai, you should never leave it. And if you see ikigai in your hobby that brings you happiness, stick with it.

Following these simple rules, Okinawa residents don't retire and remain active until a very advanced age. Even after leaving their jobs, Okinawans find some other activities. For instance, they do something useful for their community. The reasons behind it are understandable. According to medical research, Okinawans show a low incidence of dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Further, we'll discuss how exactly constant mind activity prolongs human life.