Hard questions

It’s true that money is tighter, the world is a little more worried and we all feel a little more pressure from the world around us.  We all have basic needs and many of us are lucky enough to have food shelter and clothing and there are, of course many that don’t.

For who have our basic needs met there is always the tendency to want more, to feel like we have to go without and that our lives are not somehow complete if we don’t get that extra holiday, the new car or the extension built.  In times like these it’s a good opportunity to ask some hard questions. 

Many of us feel trapped in jobs we cant stand with mortgages or debts we have to service and ultimately we can feel stressed, anxious or fearful of the future.  The antidote  is rarely immediate and certainly never easy, but by asking ourselves what we really need in life we might start to move towards a life that is less weighed down by the choices of when were younger.  To feel lighter its important to offload thinking that keeps us stuck, such as needing to upgrade or take that extra holiday. Ask yourself, do I need to buy that new car, can I still enjoy a well cared for used car?  do I need to buy more clothes when what I have looks fine and still fits? 

This is not about abstinence, it’s more about making conscious choices based on need rather than impulse.  Inertia can lead you to a life that you don’t want so how about thinking and asking yourself where you want to go before making any choices?  Your life is never going to be easy all the time but you can invest in an easier existence by buying less now to have more freedom in the future.

A recession? Seeing friends and loved ones can be like getting a pay rise

The disastrous events in the world of international banking and finance over the last week have caused feelings of insecurity and fear. Institutions thought to be safe have crumbled and we have all had reason to think of how to make sure what we own is safe.

Studies show that despite rises in standards of living in the last generation, we are not necessarily any happier and more media time has been devoted to the concept of happiness over recent weeks with a good example by BBC political reporter, Brian Wheeler who suggests that now might a be a good time for our politicians to focus on our general well being.

There are many things that we think will make us happier and most of these will cost money and more importantly require us to take on debt to buy them. Debt is something we are told is almost unavoidable once we become adults, from the point we go to university to our first car or that expensive long haul holiday. A quick phone call and the quote of a 16 digit number on a plastic card and we have that new opportunity to improve our mood.

What if we tried to think differently about what makes us happy? What are the simple changes we can make to recognise where we are already happy and also where we can do things that are within our grasp and do not require us to build our mountain of debt. Research by Nattavudh Powdthavee suggests that our communities and friendships can be measured financially and contribute hugely towards our mood and confidence. Going from seeing friends and relatives once or twice a week to seeing them more often can be worth an additional £15,500 per annum. Dr Powdthavee points out that this impact on mood suggests the need for government policies to encourage greater social interaction. The modern drive to work longer hours and to travel further to do so is contrary to the assertion that we need only make more time to spend with loved ones or to make new quality relationships to increase our fulfillment in life.

As we know, work life balance is not easy to achieve, however, small changes in what we do during our week such as making time for a coffee with a friend, or watching a film on T.V. with a loved one can contribute in a gradual way to shifting mood and demonstrating the way to keep improving our happiness.

Simplify your life by turning down the volume

We are living in an age of noise and movement. Shops open 24/7, television offers choice beyond what we dreamed even 20 years ago, information is coming at us from every source, our rooms are filled with wireless signals that allow us to access the Internet form anywhere and we use technology so that we can work from home and yet never be away from work.

Every Modern City?

This is of course progress, it is convenient and when we can afford it we all try and benefit from it. The credit crunch is taking a grip and the need to work and keep up with the demands of our kids, the expectations of society and our personal frustrations at never escaping the rat race lead us further into a rat race of debt and hollow ambition. Here’s a link to an article by Laurael Ives in The TImes which offers some interesting tips on coping with and countering busy city life  http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article4587980.ece.

It is naive to think of being able to escape all this and in most cases most people wouldn’t want to be without it completely, but there is a need for balance a point where we take what we need from life and then enjoy being in control of our choices. Sometimes it’s just what we need to take a walk somewhere quieter and simpler….

A time to relax

Another aim of this blog is to highlight ways to make life a little more quiet, to turn down the volume so you can still enjoy the sounds but you can also hear yourself think. In making things a bit simpler, you get to spot the pieces of life that are quietly waiting to make you smile.