Getting Into The (Blue) Zone: Secrets To A Long & Happy Life
We’re interested in pursuing a prolonged career and sharing our music with you for years to COme.
That will require MaintainINg Our physical, mental, financial, and spiritual well-being.
More than anything though, pursuing a path like this requires integrating who you are with what you do, why you do it, and Where You place yourself doing it.
place may be the single most important ingredient in this recipe of iNtegration.
Dan Buettner, the author of The Blue Zones: Secrets For Living Longer, has spent the last 25 years studying why people in “blue zone areas” live seemingly longer and more fulfilling lives.
here is a link to his Organization’s website:
https://www.bluezones.com
A blue zone area is a small region of a country, or a city, that has a larger than normal percentage of ITS POPULATION LIVING A SIGNIFICANTLY HEALTHIER life for longer than the average Person.
Okinawa, JAPAN, is probably the most famous and widely known of these blue zone areas. it is not uncommon for people there to continue working and contributing to their community until well past 100 years old. They practice Ikigai, which is essentially working on purpose for the benefit of others, on something you are interested in and value, using your skills and natural abilities.
Buettner has recently been making the rounds on various podcasts sharing some of what he has discovered. On one of these podcasts, he shared the 7 most important elements that lead to human flourishing in these blue zone areas.
The seven (7) factors are:
1. Food – two parts to this: 1) having enough food, and 2) eating a healthy diet
2. Shelter – having adequate housing and infrastructure to allow for flourishing
It is these first two that so many people around the world are lacking.
Even in developed nations, THIS is A PROBLEM FOR A PERCENTAGE OF THEIR POPULATIONS.
3. Education – the sweet spot is some college
At minimum, a high school education is correlated with maximum flourishing. Education is aN INFRASTRUCTURE lacking or denied to many people all over the world.
4. Meaningful Work – this gives people a sense of purpose and connection with others
5. Long-Term Committed Relationships
this does not necessarily mean a spouse, but a community of people that are important to your life, AS THEY ARE to theirs.
6. A Sense of Giving Back & Helping Others
this can be related to meaningful work, but is also found in activities like mentoring, volunteering, pitching in on projects, supporTing family and friends, or being a part of a group or team that is working towards shared outcomes.
Buettner claims that the single most important factor to increase happiness and flourishing is the last one:
7. Where You Live
some parts of the world are better than others in bringing about flourishing.
He gave examples of people moving from Moldovia, WHERE THEY AVERAGEd A 4 OUT OF 10 LEVEL OF LIFE SATISFACTION, TO A COUNTRY LIKE DENMARK, WHERE, with nothing else changing, within a few years, they experienced life satisfaction of an 8 out of 10 on average.
You can also increase your happiness if you live where there is more sunshine and if by the water and/or mountains.
where you live is the basis of Buettner’s interest in studying blue zones. Nevertheless, it seems a logical conclusion where you live shapes your experiences and well-being.
(Having lived in many places in the USA, I have found this to be true from my perspective.)
If you can’t move to a new location, there are three things you can do to increase your odds of having a long, happy life where you are:
1) Cultivate and curate a group of friends, 3 to 5 is optimal, who you can: a) have meaningful conversations with, B) you can count on and call on a bad day, C) they will care, and D)who you like as persons.
2) Increase your financial security. this is 3 times more positIVely impactful than consumerism (having, buying things)
3) Have a best friend at work…it makes a huge difference even if the work is not aligned with your interests, purpose, skills, or such.
Buettner says the two most important things you can do if you want to position yourself for a long, healthy, and meaningful life are:
1) move to a place you love
2) develop and nurture your social network.
In that order.
Being Financially free amplified the importance of Buettner’s conclusions in my own life.
I spent over 20 years working and commuting 70 hours per week, plus moved all over the country for job opportunities and promotions. I did little to cultivate community where I lived in each place, and I have felt the absence of this connection to place and community as a Result.
Interestingly, I spent a lot of time considering where I wanted to live, and I thought I made that happen. However, I was not following the same set of guidelines that Buettner’s Research has shown to be most effective.
(That has been changing this year, so more to come on that in future posts).
What has been missing from your life that would increase your chances of living a long, healthy, and fulfilling life?