Is Your Quest for a Better Life Keeping You From Living One?
Is Your Quest for a Better Life Keeping You From Living One?
Has your obsessive reading the latest hacks and scrolling endless reels taken over your life? If you are like many of us the honest answer is yes or at the least probably. What was meant to improve your life might just be keeping you from living your best life. Your unique agency as an individual will never be found relying on hacks, tips, video reels, or paid influencers. All of these “rules” for a better life are best viewed as suggestions at best.
Let’s keep in mind major corporations are the driving force behind our growing preoccupation with becoming better or in many cases “just enough”. Let’s break down the major avenues the conglomerates use to influence us with their countless hacks, tips, and reels.
Appearance is almost too easy a target to begin our conversation. We will refer to this as the “Appearance Avenue”. What was once dominated almost exclusively focused on a woman’s body weight has become an equal opportunity exploiter by including men. The message has also expanded well beyond body weight to every aspect of the human form. It has gotten to the point that we have coined a new term - “looksmaxxing”.
Messages on the need to change our appearance take on more forms that one can count. There is weight loss, cosmetics, surgeries, exercise routines, diets, fashions, fragrances, and supplements to name just a few. One advantage of age is when looking back you envy how you looked 10-20 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, wanting to improve our appearance can be a positive. The problem arises when the “Appearance” avenue becomes our main highway. Think about it this way: If you spend all your time getting ready to go out you may never leave the house.
The “Health Avenue” is another lucrative corporate highway. How is it that a country with countless health remedies and magic solutions on the market has a lower life span than in many other countries? Solutions ranging from supplements, exercise routines, ice baths, saunas (for those that don’t like the cold), medical procedures, and diets all with amazing promises. Once again there is nothing wrong with being mindful of your health. The fact is staying healthy is far simpler than the health industry wants you to believe. A lot of paths to good health rely more on common sense than the latest money-making trend. Often the reality is more in line with what your grandparents taught you as a child. It is funny how often expensive scientific studies result in supporting “old wives’ tales”.
The “Wealth Avenue” has become increasingly popular. Ironically, wealth and health are not inherently connected. As we all know, a handful of people control the wealth and in turn, power. The word entrepreneur is a common phrase used to describe one’s career path. I wonder if the word has lost a lot of its meaning. Unfortunately, many people are having difficulty starting careers regardless of effort. It seems like what is described as entrepreneur endeavors is just pulling together gigs to stay afloat. The wealth industry knows that the people most vulnerable to “wealth” pitches are those with the least means. Promises for wealth and easy money have been around as long as currency has existed. Use money management hacks and tips wisely and as guidelines that fit your personal situation. Try to lessen the emotional component as you are making financial decisions that are by their nature layered with emotions. The good news is that we all probably need “less than we think” or I should say “less than we feel”. A big myth is that with wealth comes happiness. At the end of the day, we find happiness through relationships and personal development.
And last but not least is the “Mental Health and Spiritual Avenue”. How can a nation inundated with self-help books and gurus be so unhappy? On the happiness scale we fall far below many other countries. You may be surprised to hear such a view coming from a psychotherapist. Again, the problem arises when “self-help” musings are taken as a surefire fix. Take in all the self-help tips, hacks, and reels you want, but don’t let them become your life. Too much self-help material is promoted as definitive solutions. There are countless lists on the best ways to combat depression, anxiety, loneliness, relationship problems. It would be wonderful if “the list” existed. The musings of self-help gurus are frequently like cotton candy for the soul. The taste is sweet and satisfying, but only for a moment.
The bottom line is don’t let the quest for self-improvement take you away from what is meant to be your truly unique path. You are just as likely to discover your true self spending quiet time reflecting or interacting with others than hunkered down in front of a screen.
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