There are six concepts that are worth adopting from Japanese way of life that can enrich our lives.
Ikigai - Finding your purpose in life.
Each one has to strive and find a meaning for his or her existance in the world. This search for meaning, starts with a clear definition of the purpose of ones own life. If it entails something which helps you make a living,and nothing more,then it is an ordinary one. If the purpose involves something that is for the good of the world or for Loka kalyana, then it is a higher purpose and is likely to be more satisfying and meaningful in your life. Nature pours its energy into your path when the path chosen is pure and for the larger good of the world.
Kaizen - Continuous improvement
Changes in small steps towards improvement
Once the purpose is determined, then one begins by achieving the goal through improvements in small, achievabe steps. Aiming at or attempting bigger leaps will usually end up unsuccessful and puts us off from further attempts. Kaizen is a concept that originated in Toyota car manufacturing unit in Japan.They applied this concept and were able to bring about great improvements in their performance through Point Kaizen, where improvements were implimented in focussed component zones and System Kaizen, where in, improvements were applied to overall governance systems.
Pomodoro - Technique of time management
Most of us have a mental resistance, to tasks which are difficult. To not get overwhelmed by difficult challenges, Japanese have developed a technique of Pomodoro. This helps one to breakdown a task into smaller segments, helps one muster up the necessary will, to move forward, with bigger challenges.
This technique involves 25 minutes of focussed work with 5 minutes break. Every 4 such sessions later, one takes a longer break of 25 - 20 minutes. Achieving segmental tasks helps one grow in confidence, and take up bigger challanges. Ones focus improves and productivity levels also go up significantly.
Hara hachi bu - Be light by stomach.
To eat only until one is 80% full. This concept originated in Okinawa in Japan. It is a technique to cut down calories. One divides his meal into 50% each, eats the first half slowly, chewing properly, following which one can easily dispense with 20% of their meal as the stomach feels full by the time ones completes 80% of the meal. Lighter stomach keeps one active, healthy and enthusiastic.
Shoshin - Approach each task as a beginner
Mind has a tendency to pre judge situations and tasks, this builds up mental resistance and kills ones willingness to perform certain tasks in life.
Shoshin is a concept from Zen Buddhism, where in, one approaches every task with openness, eagerness and without preconceptions. It removes prejudice and helps one overcome the root tendencies of the Mind, which interprets every task in a pre-programmed manner.
Wabi Sabi - Embrace imperfection
The three realities that one has to accept in life are that life is Imperfect, Impermanent,Incomplete.We have a strong tendency to accept only our own imperfections while not of others. The concept of Wabi sabi opens up our mind towards accepting transience and imperfection, in a way they are, even while being imperfect.
This changes the fundamental dimension of the thoughts within,adding comfort.
This concept is not against attempts at improvement in life, but belongs to the CARR concept for joyful living, where C - change what you can, A- accept what you cant change, R- Remove yourself from the situations you can neither change nor accept, and ultimately R- raise above the situation if you cant change, accept or remove yourself from the situation.
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