Ikigai is a Japanese idea that translates roughly to "the happiness of always being busy.”

Finding your ikigai is the key to a longer life because it represents the sweet spot of living.

Our most joyful and unforgettable times are typically the most productive times.

Ask yourself this central question: When were you genuinely the happiest in your life? If you are being totally honest, you might find that the most joyful and unforgettable times were your most productive ones.

Human beings are meaning-making machines—perpetual storytellers of the highest order. We are constantly weaving interpretation and texture into every aspect of our lives. Every day, we are organically compelled to justify our beliefs and actions, and for good reason; “meaning” gives us drive and determination to keep on going even when things get tough and we are running on empty. But why?

In an inherently disordered world, our brains operate like principal narrators—realizing cognitive designs out of unpredictability and transforming experience into historied structure. But this isn’t an esoteric coincidence; it is a mental survival device. It’s one of the most essential parts of being human. We can’t stop doing it, and we shouldn’t.

If we stray from the focused states of the mind that keep us connected to our daily purpose, we may decompensate and fall apart. For example, imagine if every person in the world were stripped of their daily purpose for an extended period—like work, school, taking care........

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