Vince Scordo of the interesting and highly practical blog scordo.com wrote a comment on yesterday’s post that struck a chord with me. He wrote: “I especially like your point about ‘life not feeling good all the time’; this is a very important point and an item many people struggle with at times”.
I’ve noticed that the New Age and New Thought movements can be strongly averse to the idea of life not feeling good all the time, and it’s influenced our culture, I think, toward childishness. Adults know that responsibility can be difficult and uncomfortable — but they accept it because it’s the only way we can have a civilized society. And being responsible feels good in the long run. It’s immediate gratification that we need to not be hooked on.
I notice that Vince was raised by immigrant parents who taught him to live frugally and “not like everyone else”. Our culture needed a lot more of this low-consumption ethic in the last few decades. Now the recession has forced many people into living more simply. This does not have to feel tragic, assuming you’ve got your basic needs met. Happiness has never hinged on high incomes or high consumption, and in fact the opposite has been shown to be true.
What frustrates me about New Age thought are attitudes of entitlement toward resources that are inexplicably defined as infinite. Also, the skittish aversion to discomfort. I’d love to hear comments from people who embrace New Age thought. Why would any grown-up believe that life is always supposed to feel good?
Related Posts:
- The Poverty of Hyper-Individualism
- Introducing: Resources For Good Living, Plus Contest With Two $50 Winners
- The Peak Of Happiness
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