Ikigai : the Japanese secret to a long and happy life pdfdrive com

C ave Dwellers
Modern Humans
Were relaxed most of the time.	Work most of the time and are alert to any and all threats.
Felt stress only in very specific situations.	Are online or waiting for notifications from their cell phones twenty-four hours a day.
The threats were real: A predator could end their lives at any moment.	The brain associates the ping of a cell phone or an e-mail notification with the threat of a predator.
High doses of cortisol and adrenaline at moments of danger kept the body healthy.	L ow doses of cortisol flow constantly through the body, with implications for a range of health problems, including adrenal fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

These processes are, in moderation, beneficial—they help us overcome challenges in our daily lives. Nonetheless, the stress to which human beings are subjected today is clearly harmful.
Stress has a degenerative effect over time. A sustained state of emergency affects the neurons associated with memory, as well as inhibiting the release of certain hormones, the absence of which can cause depression. Its secondary effects include irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and high blood pressure.
As such, though challenges are good for keeping mind and body active, we should adjust our high-stress lifestyles in order to avoid the premature aging of our bodies.