Let's Get Grounded Before The Silly Season

As Christmas vastly approaches I reflect on many things. One being this….When you ask someone what is important to them in life, especially around Christmas, most will respond their family, relationships, children etc. However when observing our actions, we actually act in a reverse manner.  We are living in a fast growing rapid world. We aim for a quality life, only accessible in our generation. We live affluent lifestyles, living way beyond our means. The last time I wrote about this topic in a university course, I received a High Distinction, and this is why….

With greater economic growth, societies have easier access to higher quality food, transport, clothing, entertainment and we see lower costs for resources, giving each individual a greater quality of life. It is this quality of life that the general public deny they are involved in. When asked most individuals will tell you their main priority in life is personal relationships, however few will behave in this way.

Too many spend hours working to afford the era of materialism, accumulating spiralling debt and actually spend less time with their important relationships. 

Social media also shows that affluence is the way of life. Although aware the era of materialism holds negative outcomes for their futures, individuals argue they are too time poor to be concerned about these negative impacts. These views are only intensified with endless advertising making it difficult for individuals to understand the impact this new era of lifestyle holds

It only takes a short and quick google search to see that the more we want, the more irritated and unhappy we become. In fact, several studies have been conducted to measure the correlation between a person’s income and their level of happiness.

There was a greater level of happiness between low and middle income earners, however this level of happiness levelled off the higher the income became. The more we make, the more hours spent working, to pay for things we assume will bring us happiness. This levelling off of happiness showed higher income earners have less ‘in the moment happiness’.

It is not only us who feel this affect, but the children in today’s society. They have the world at their fingertips (which is also a positive for them). However shops are lined with sparkly robotic out of this world products. Parents wanting to give them everything they never had. But what exactly is this teaching them, and us for that matter? 

I'm not here to play 'Christmas Grinch'

So how exactly do we become grounded in these months leading up to Christmas? Go shopping, and enjoy your gift buying (after all I am not here to play Christmas Grinch), but before you do try this. Make yourself a cup of tea (or coffee) and go sit outside.  Leave your phone inside, and just sit. Spend five minutes feeling the temperature, whether that be 40 degrees here in Australia, or the cold elsewhere. Listen to the different sounds around you and smell the fresh air.

 As you actually take 5 minutes to taste your beverage, think of all your relationships that are valuable to you. Their faces and smiles. Think about the months after Christmas and reflect on hours spent working trying to pay off those credit cards. Or if you are like me who doesn’t own a credit card, think to yourself, will all the stress of Christmas really mean much in March next year? 

Chances are it won’t.

Chances are you would much rather be sitting here reflecting on the laughter and memories made on Christmas day. The moment of being with that loved one, truly there looking at their smiles and engaging in conversations that will last a lifetime.

Once we learn to be contempt, we learn happiness isn’t in the things we buy, yes it brings momentary happiness, but it is quickly replaced. Happiness comes when we are truly in the moment of here and now (not an easy task to learn).

Happiness isn’t in the material possessions we own, but the people and life we have around us. If you successfully sat for 5 minutes feeling, smelling, listening and reflecting, hopefully it bought you some sort of peace, some form of grounding. Affluence this Christmas will quickly pass only leaving you in debt, stressed or missing out on the things that really matter. Spend this Christmas in the here and now, as this is what will matter more when your older then what you bought. 

RIP to poppy who spent his last Christmas with us last year xxxx