The life I live is counter-cultural. In a world where people want to get rich quick, I invest slow and steady. When parents use a television set as a baby-sitter for their child, I choose the following: go on a walk, read a book, play a game, draw, something that doesn’t involve a screen. Let’s dive in to a few of the different ways to be counter-cultural.
Spirituality / Faith. The world (or many people in the world) may say God doesn’t exist. It is difficult to think that the world just happened out of nothing. However, regardless of your spiritual beliefs, there must be something more to this life than chasing around things or experiences that make us happy. Culture will tell you there is no God or that it is okay to have many gods. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to believe in a higher power beyond yourself.
Health. People eat whatever they want, drink whatever they want and don’t exercise. This behavior is encouraged by fast food companies, the healthcare industry, and bars/restaurants. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to eat healthier, not consume things that are harmful to your body (such as alcohol and sugar), and to exercise regularly. No, you don’t need to take it to the extreme and work out every single day. Make sure you have balance.
Education. Today’s culture will tell you to pile on student loans and borrow money to get an education. It’s all about the experience. No wonder we live in a world where there is $1.5+ Trillion in student loans. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to work hard, get scholarships/grants, and attend school without taking on debt.
Career. Today’s culture will tell you that you MUST have a 9-5 job in order to survive. The government capitalizes on the workers stuck in the rat race. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to break free from the chains of a paycheck, and set your own schedule, doing what you love and getting paid well for your passion.
Parenting. No matter where you look, there is a child staring at a tablet, or mom/dad’s phone, or plopped in front of a TV set. Nutritionally speaking, kids are consuming an unhealthy amount of sugars in foods that are supposed to be considered “healthy.” Our culture is so wrapped up in being “busy” and “on-the-go” that we have to rely on fast food as opposed to making food from scratch. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to engage with your child on a deeper level through conversation. Sure, there will be a time when the TV set will come in handy for the parent hoping to cook, clean or other, but recognize that these are special occurrences (and make sure the child knows that too). Set the expectation beforehand in order to avoid a meltdown. Change their diet so you can set them up for a successful future.
Financial. Marketers and advertisers are very good at capturing the attention of the consumer. Why do think the credit card rewards are so enticing? Also, why do you think that personal finance isn’t talked about in schools? Today’s schooling intends to produce worker bees and not entrepreneurs because the government wants to make you believe that you need to rely on them. Almost 80% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. They spend money before they even have their check! They save what is left after they spend as opposed to the other way around. To have a counter-cultural mindset is to build savings, work remote, and build your business / investable assets.
What are some of the other ways that you live a counter-cultural life?
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