We are witnessing a shift in generational mindset and beliefs. Back in the day people had the mindset that we work in order to survive. The paychecks we receive from our work would go to paying our bills, putting a roof over our head, and purchasing food and other necessities. Men were predominantly tasked with working long hours to provide for their families. As women joined in this hard work era, they too worked many hours to help provide for their families. As time progressed the situation evolved to where both men and women HAD to work in order to survive and have all the bills paid and living necessities provided.
This hard work era continued to evolve to not only require both men and women to work, but the work became more and more demanding. Suddenly both men and women were finding it difficult to balance work and life. They didn’t want to lose their jobs in order to spend more time with family, but they also knew that their family needed them to not work all of the time. The stress of this delicate tug of war started to impact people’s health on all levels, emotional, mental, and physical. People found themselves “juggling” as much as they could as efficiently as they were able to. The stress of survival, and goal of thriving, was in a way a huge pressure cooker on the human body. Add to this the element of greed and the desire to get “ahead”, and now the pressure got even tighter.
The demanding juggling act and added pressure started to take its toll on people, and soon disease and illness increased. Mental Health became a huge issue, which started to trickle into society through tragic events. Health issues elevated not only because of the stress and pressure, but also because lifestyles enhanced the plummeting of health. People were so strapped for time, that they became dependent on convenience foods, online shopping, and other quick and easy habits. They found themselves getting fast food for dinner instead of taking the time to cook healthful meals for themselves and their family. They no longer wanted to waste time, gas, and effort in going to stores to shop, but would grab their preferred technology device and buy things online. This allowed them to forego standing in long lines and dealing with strangers in the stores.
The newer generations have grown up with this way of life as their foundation, and many have discovered that it’s not the most desirable way to live. They are starting to swing the pendulum in another direction. They are opting for a more satisfactory career versus one of stress and exhaustion. The newer generations are more aware of the fact that their life is limited, and so they care to spend their living years in a more balanced and fulfilled way. Many are opting to eat healthier foods than the greasy tasty foods their parents and grandparents ate. There is more of an awareness to not smoke or develop other unhealthy habits. The newer generation is very conscious of finances, but they are more willing to tap into their creative side to come up with new ways in which to be happy and still get paid. They tend to take life much less seriously than their elders did in their youth and go with the flow more often.
There is a happy balance between a solid work ethic, making a living, and enjoying the things that we invest the time of our living years doing. All work and no play makes for a very unhappy existence. All play and no work makes for a life that lacks a true sense of accomplishment. There is a middle ground, which allows people to work and achieve, and simultaneously slow down to focus on oneself and those that they love. Self-love, self-respect, and valuing one’s own life and existence is coming to the forefront of importance as a way of life.
We see this shift as more and more self-help and self-love is trending. People are now considering the importance of meditation, intuition, prayer, presence, yoga, breathing, mindfulness, visualization, and other techniques of connecting to self. We see this in medicine. People are now questioning modern medicine and moving toward more holistic healing. Where once their ancestors were naïve and trusting enough to take a medication prescribed by their physician with an expectation of feeling better, the newer generations have swung the pendulum back to more natural means of treatment. They are more willing to drink herbal teas, use essential oils, and try sound and oxygen healing. The new generations are questioning the unhealthy food options and commercialization of medicine and treatments.
It is obvious that old ways are in a transitional state toward newer practices. Mindsets and habits regarding work/career, health, self, relations, and almost every other aspect of life are shifting. The newer generations have their own set of pros and cons to face. Some things are going to be easier for them, while other factors will pose new challenges. Overall, the shift away from stress and pressure toward a more balanced and satisfactory life is moving us all in the right direction. A chaotic life keeps us dim, while a life of balance and purpose allows us to shine at our very best. Shine on!