It's all about what makes your life fulfilled...not what fills your life
We’ve all heard this many times, but in our entrenched capitalist, win-at-all-cost society, deep down we think “That’s what losers say” and get on with chasing more “things” that we hope will finally bring us meaning and purpose…
What makes your life fulfilled is advertised and marketed to us as tangible things, a new car, a holiday, a new house etc. etc. But what the majority of people don’t understand is it is not the tangible thing that is giving us meaning and purpose, it is the feeling that owning or doing that thing gives us.
Advertising agencies have had this nailed for many years. You see an advertisement that makes you feel good and at peace, it makes you yearn for some feeling of freedom or other intangible………and if you buy this new car that’s how you will feel. The Marlboro Man is the best example.
The problem is as a society we buy the product and expect it will give us the feeling. What we need to do is reverse that and identify the feeling we want first, then go and do (or buy) what will actually make that feeling a reality. When you do this you will find that it is very different things, very different ways of living your life, that will produce that purpose and meaning.
It does not mean that buying things and taking expensive holidays will not bring you meaning and purpose….but be aware and take some time to think about this and try and understand what really floats your boat.