Japanese ikigai, Persian eshq, and modern psychology converge on the same insight: people who can name why they get up in the morning live longer, healthier lives.
Purpose does not need to be grand. Caring for a garden, mentoring a child, or refining a craft is enough.
Daily practices
- Write a one-sentence answer to: 'What did I contribute today?'
- Identify one person, project, or place that depends on you.
- Spend 15 minutes daily on a craft, skill, or service that feels meaningful.
- Review your week each Sunday — what mattered most, what to nurture next.