Affluenza – Are you suffering from it?

In case you have never heard of it, here is a definition of the term:

affluenza, n. 1. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses. 2. An epidemic of stress, overwork, waste and indebtedness caused by the pursuit of the American Dream.

After the usual holiday season over-consumption of material goods, food and drink, do you feel unwell? Are you suffering from Affluenza? You may not even know that you are suffering from it or you may  get a credit card bill or bank statement at the end of the month that will put you in to a state of Affluenza. You may have had Affluenza for many years, but have lived with it in your pursuit of the American Dream, even if you are not American. Bigger, better faster, more, I want it all and I want it now, the cliche list goes on.

We feel pressure all around us from the media, our peers and  loved ones  to consume more and show that we have achieved through material wealth. Even when the chips are down and recession is all around, it is very easy to get that little piece of rectangular plastic out to make us feel better and give us an instant hit! It beats any clinical drug and sends us in to an immediate state of endorphin ecstasy.

So, in conclusion,  if you are feeling the affects of Affluenza, take a closer look at your life and define what you really value, not what your monthly glossy lifestyle magazine or neibour values. If your consumer lifestyle has finally worn you down, change your direction. There is nothing wrong with having some nice things, but measure your need before you buy or commit to a purchase for that instant endorphin hit.  Finally, define your purpose in life. When you have an ultimate goal/purpose, other distractions will melt away.

Tags: affluenza, american dream, indebtedness, purpose

This entry was posted on January 17, 2010 at 1:17 pm and is filed under PJ Ponders?. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.