Life or
Lifestyle? By Vicki Miller
“When
you live the life you were meant to live, doing the work you were meant
to do, enjoying what pleases you, instead of collecting meaningless
lifestyles trophies, you will be full of joy and energy. ” Thomas
Leonard, Coach University
What
is a lifestyle and how is that different from a life? A lifestyle is
about brand names and buying identity or prestige. Lifestyle gives a
false sense of peace and acceptability that comes from others
recognizing what you’ve bought into (as well as bought). If your car,
clothes, and home are expensive, you’re sophisticated and stylish. If
you have the right kind of job or go to the right social gatherings,
then you receive the superficial approval of others. This means that
your self-esteem is always at the mercy of others, with no appreciation
of you as an individual.
A
life, on the other hand, is very different. A life is what you lead
when you know what matters most to you. It is very simple and comes
from being connected to what you know is important and being willing to
put that first, not matter what others may think. When you create a
life vs. a lifestyle, your self-esteem comes from what’s inside you,
not what others think about you.
How
many times have you seen someone (this used to be me!) work long hours
in a job that they do not enjoy just to be able to maintain an
expensive lifestyle? There was a recent commercial on TV that showed a
man laughing in his yard saying: “I drive an expensive car, have a 5
bedroom home, a country club membership, a swimming pool and I’m in
debt up to my eyeballs!” Every time I see this commercial I think about
the book - The Millionaire Next Door. The book says that most of the
people living in the largest homes are exactly like the man in the
commercial and that the real millionaires are the ones you would never
guess, because their focus is on creating a life vs. a lifestyle.
Lifestyle
is expensive monetarily and personally, because it costs a great deal
to keep up appearances and do what you think is socially acceptable. A
Life is not expensive. Rather than draining personal or financial
resources, a life generates energy and staying power. If we focus on
what we wear, or what kind of car we drive, or where we live, then we
are saying that how others see us is more important than what we think
of ourselves. If we find out what our true beliefs and values are and
choose to live by these, then the opinions of others don’t drive our
lives. This is not an issue of avoiding luxury for its own sake; it’s
about liberating yourself from the mindless consumption that society
dictates. It is about making the choices that are in line with your
values, instead of draining your bank account or energy for no
heart-driven reason.
How
can you make the change? Understand the difference between a Life
(being directed from within) and a Lifestyle (being directed from
outside). Analyze your current lifestyle to see what it is costing you
in money, time, stress, and energy to maintain it. Let go and make room
for what is really important to you, what sustains you and brings you
joy. Remember that who you are comes from within, not what you own!
©
Vicki Miller Thriving
Through Change: Life Transition Coaching
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
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