As a society, our lack of owning up and taking responsibility is causing some very significant downfalls which will not be sustainable long term. Our '
I want it yesterday' way of life is based on one fundamental principle - '
I want more, now'.
It's a huge loop that consists of want more, work more, spend more - rinse, repeat. We're actually trapped, very much like rodents in a wheel, running hard without getting anywhere.
The reality, at least the one many people avoid believing, is that we all have the ability to stop the endless cycle. Like most things, you just need to apply yourself to a solid plan versus waiting for someone else to swoop in and put a band-aid on your financial or mental injuries; it's not going to happen.
Let's discuss a handful of ways that we can solve our carelessness, overconsumption problems, and downright laziness. Given time, choosing and focusing on one of these will turn your life around. Are you up for the challenge or are you content with the constant dilemmas you face?
- We eat too much. The food industry is one that is trillions of dollars strong. We all have to eat, right? From high end to fast food restaurants, our society is not lacking for a place to eat. The problem? High quantity mixed with low quality puts nutritionally poor food into our stomachs.
Solution: Become educated in proper nutrition. Use your hard earned money to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and eat a plant-based whole foods diet. When you calculate the fact that you'll live a healthier and happier life you will be doing yourself a great service.
- We spend too much boosting pride. Insecurity is very prevalent in this society. It took me a long time to realize that I was trained to be insecure from childhood. Perhaps it's not a problem limited to this day and age, but speaking from personal experience alone, it's a huge problem now. In order to keep up with our peers we want to buy more, have more, and obtain more items that do little less than boost our pride. This mentality will inevitably take you down a path of credit card debt and deep anxiety.
Solution: Gain insight into why we take certain actions and become more self-confident and aware. Simplify your possessions and keep the minimum for a comfortable life. While 'comfortable life' has a different meaning to everyone, the key is that it's YOUR comfort that takes the lead, not the comfort of a peer that just bought a new iPhone. This reduction in spending will free up time, allowing us to work less, and spend more time with our families.
- We watch too much. Too much television, reality shows and game shows means we're watching other peoples lives instead of living our own adventures. This causes us to envy others and become sedentary. Why go climb a mountain when watching it on TV is just as good?
Solution: Go outside and begin enjoying the simple pleasures in life that don't have to cost an arm and a leg. Appreciate being outside, walking through your local park, and laughing with friends. Build genuine relationships with significant people, not the people we see on TV.
- We Are Too Complex. Multi-tasking work and family, to-do lists spanning multiple pages, and thinking about B while doing A are all things that add up to more complex but less fulfilling lives. We're selling everything we have to be able to live 'as if'. As if we were happy, satisfied, or even content, when none of these things are actually true.
Solution: Simplify our lives. Get rid of clutter, get rid of all the extra baggage in terms of stuff and emotional traumas that we choose to carry around. Leave just the essentials. Live in the present. Simplify, work less, enjoy more.
There are loads of other ruts people are stuck in. Take 15 minutes to list all the ways your life would be better if it was simpler. List some in the comments below - maybe it'll help the next reader realize their reality.
-Alex
译文:
高消费主义正毁坏你生活的四个信号
如今的社会，由于我们缺乏坦然自若和责任感导致了我们的生活受到了极大的毁坏．我们的生活方式基于一种原则－－昨天我想要的，有了．现在我想要更多．想要更多就得有更多的钱就得工作更多，循环往复形成了怪圈．实际上，我们是被套住了，就象困于滚笼里的老鼠，不停的跑动却被困于原处．
事实上至少有一个事实大多数人是不愿意承认的－－我们都有能力避免在这一怪圈中无尽的往复．象许多事情一样，你仅仅需要有一个稳定的生活方式，就可以避免象待宰的羔羊让别人磨刀霍霍在经济和精神上给你留下创伤，此类事情也不会再发生．
那么接下来我们来讨论可以解决我们粗心，过度消费和懒懒散散的方法．这些方法有很多．花点时间，选出一个方法并实践它，你会发现你的生活有了巨大的改变．你是决定面对这个挑战还是继续艰难窘境？
１．我们吃的过多．食品工业创造了无尽的财富．我们都得吃！不是吗？从高级餐厅到快餐店，我们社会从不缺少吃的地方．问题是高产低质的食物也进入了我们的身体．
解决方法：接受适当的营养教育．用你辛辛苦苦挣来的钱买新鲜的水果和蔬菜，吃素食．当你在计划使自己活得更健康过得更快乐的时候，你就给自己帮了大忙．
２．我们为自己的面子花费太多．没有安全感在这样一个社会是非常普遍的．我们从小就被训练成没有安全感．也许这种情况并不局限于我们这个年纪与时代．单从个人经验而言，这是现在的一个大问题．为了向我们的同龄人看齐，我们想买更多东西，拥有更多东西，获得更多东西来维护我们的面子．这一强烈的愿望势必将你置于信用卡债务和深深的焦虑．
解决方法：深入了解自己做这些的目的，更有自信并了解自己．简化你所拥有的．你只需拥有使生活舒适的最少东西．由于每个人对舒适的定义不同，那么关键就在于你要引领这种舒适而不是刚买了苹果手机的同龄人．在开支上的减少会使我们有更多的时间．我们不用长时埋头于工作，我们有更多的时间来陪我们的家人．
３．我们看的太多．我们看太多的竞赛，实境类电视节目．我们关注别人的生活胜过过我们自己的生活．这使得我们嫉妒别人的经历而自己却甘心沦为看客．为什么要去爬山呢？看电视上的人爬山不是一样的吗？
解决方法：走出户外．享受简单的乐趣．这些乐趣不需要以缺胳膊少腿为代价．享受户外时光，与朋友到当地公园散散步，聊聊天．和在你现实生活中有成就的人建立真诚的友谊．
４．我们过得很复杂．进行多重工作任务的同时还要兼顾家庭，待办记事清单丢在那里厚厚一叠，做这件事的同时心里还记挂这其他的事．这些除了使生活更复杂不会使生活更充实．我们付出所有使自己能过自己想象中的生活，我们想象着自己很高兴，很幸福和很满足，而事实并非如此．
解决方法：简化我们的生活．放弃一些无谓的东西．丢弃我们长期负载的繁重的物质和情感包袱，留些必须的．活在当下，简化思想，轻松工作，享受生活．
还有很多人固守着刻板而乏味的生活．用十五分钟在下面的评论处留下你使生活更轻松的方式，也许会对后面的读者有所帮助．