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Do You Have These Symptoms of Affluenza? |
There's an insidious disease that's affected far more people
than the much talked about SARS epidemic. It affects people
primarily unconsciously because it's woven into the very culture
that surrounds us.
What's this disease called?
Affluenza
How do you know if you have it? You can't see its symptoms in the
body because it's invisible - even under a microscope.
It has no known immunization - but it does have a cure.
So what is Affluenza and why is detecting it early so vitally
important to your emotional and mental health? According to
Dr. Jessie O'Neill, affluenza is defined as "dysfunctional relationship
with money, wealth or its pursuit."
But many people who may not even suspect they've been "infected"
by affluenza actually have it without knowing it.
The symptoms?
According to John de Graaf, Producer of Affluenza - the PBS
documentary, some symptoms of Affluenza are:
1. An epidemic of stress, overwork, shopping and debt caused by
the "dogged pursuit of the American Dream".
2. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from
one's efforts to keep up with the Joneses.
3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.
According to O"Neill, here are a few of the symptoms that
have been seen in people:
In corporations and businesses it manifests as a loss
of personal and professional productivity; high turn-over
rate among CEO's and employees, and an increase in
sick days.
In individuals, it takes the form of a dysfunctional or
unhealthy relationship with money, regardless of one's
socio-economic level. It manifests as behaviors resulting
from a preoccupation with --or imbalance around-- the
money in our lives.
Additional symptoms:
A loss of personal and professional productivity
A loss of future motivation
An inability to delay gratification or tolerate frustration
Low self-esteem
Low self-worth
Loss of self-confidence
Preoccupation with externals
Depression
Self-absorption
High regard for outer self/low regard for inner self
Sudden wealth syndrome
Sudden poverty syndrome
Workaholism
Addictions
Other compulsive-addictive behaviors: i.e. rampant
materialism and consumerism
So, what if you have some of these symptoms? What do you DO
about them?
First - Become aware if you have them. (Awareness is the key to
living a full and joyous life)
Second: Clear the cause - instead of working on the symptoms.
(i.e. instead of trying to make more money, lose more weight, get a
bigger 401k account, etc, find what having these will do for you
ahead of time). You may discover that you may not even need
these like you've previously thought you did.
Third: Simplify your life. In other words, imagine being free of the
need for the material way of life.
It's certainly ok to have things, but we know there's a problem
if we're chained by debt to pay off the material objects that we
thought would bring us the feeling of completion. In fact, no thing
can bring us fulfillment, only we can bring ourselves the kind of inner
peace and joy that being connected to life can.
Like today's quote:
"The best things in life aren't things."
- Art Buchwald
There's an old Indian phrase called Koyaanisqatsi - which is the
Hopi Indian word meaning "life out of balance". Our culture has
been suffering from Koyaanisqatsi for decades, and it's time we
wake up and get back to what matters most in our lives.
The "Chasing After" Syndrome
If the majority of our efforts are spent in pursuit of love, money,
fame, recognition or any other fleeting emotion, we are chasing
after things that will never last. Why? Because anytime we seek
anything external to validate us or make is feel better, we've lost
our true Spiritual power and Center.
This is he cause of the imbalance we see so much in society today.
Columbine. War. Corporate corruption. Divorce. Job dissatisfaction.
The examples are many. The solutions are few.
One solution to the "chasing after" effect is to ask yourself:
"Do I
really need this in my life, or can I do without it?"
A Simple Exercise
Quiet your mind for a moment and get connected with your Heart.
Place your hand on your Heart now and close your eyes and take
three deep breaths....
b r e a t h e
Allow yourself to just feel connected to your breath - your Spirit.
Give yourself this moment to be just you - without the busy-ness,
the expectations, the roles, the pressure.
Just find that connection to your Spirit - and you won't need
anything else to make you feel better...
Instead, you'll find it within...
And So It Is...
"Thinking is the source of problems. Your heart holds
the answer to solving them," - Wayne Dyer
"The best things in life aren't things."
- Art Buchwald |
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