This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
The social construct drives inertia, driving us all on the single focus of getting through their daily lives, away from anything meaningful.
Generally speaking, even if people want to be more responsible about saving the planet, there are so many forces conspiring to keep them living the way they currently do, it is almost impossible to change.
All the silly things we have come to believe and live by like:
Use By Dates on food
Processed food being better than fresh
All the different house cleaners we need
The kinds of clothes that define status at the office
The status of transport
The way real estate value is defined
And on it goes. It is very difficult to bust out of something which completely consumes everything you do all day long and believe without question. Even as it may well be, in the main, totally ridiculous, potentially insane and extremely wasteful.
Barry Palmer 50+
Your use of "we" may be misplaced within a TED conversation. You are preaching to the choir.
There are many people who do not question the many practices, customs and unspoken beliefs that shape their lives, but few of them are here at TED. Those who do not question their own lives must first be awakened.
W. Ying 10+
It is not "The social construct drives inertia, driving us all .... away from anything meaningful".
It is invalid happiness !
....
(1) Valid happiness is the short-time feeling of things being a-step-better
. . for keeping our DNA alive.
(2) Invalid happiness is the short-time feeling of things being a-step-“worse”
. . for keeping our DNA alive.
. . E.g. Having junk food, drinking alcohol, smoking tobacco, abusing drug,
. . .... making too much money(causing inequality, crimes, wars, .... human self-extinction).
(3) “Invalid happiness” is out of the valid scope of our instincts formed 10,000 years ago.
....
(For details, see the 1st article, points 1-3, 14, at
https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D&id=D24D89AE8B1E2E0D%21283&sc=documents).
Jennifer Nielsen
I guess my point is more centrally that people don't pay attention to the real truth in many of these things and in the main, see no reason to. In general, we all just continue to accept all kinds of things because there are (reasonably) more important things in our lives. 'Bigger' things like raising the kids, getting a promotion, saving for the most perfect vacation, having meaningful conversation like this. While these matters are integrally important, I really believe that it is paying more attention to the little things we often dismiss that will make a real difference to changing the way we live.We need to in order to create any kind of group integrity. Which is what we need to save our own futures.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
I think one reason you may be getting responses of the sort below is that your question suggests one of two possibilities. One is that those who you know well and interact with have demonstrated to you these sorts of lives and beliefs. Another is that you do not actually see this in yourself and those around you but believe this to be true of a different population of people about whom you assume such beliefs and habits.
Some people are trying to help if you see this problem within yourself and your circle. Others may be more interested in raising the question of whether your assumption is actually true for those outside of your circle.
Colleen Steen 500+
You continue to write as if it IS your "personal struggle"..." the innocent ignorance with which most of us live our daily lives, completely unaware of the extent to which we are manipulated by marketing, news and the influence of friends that I refer to."....."In general, we all just continue to accept all kinds of things because there are (reasonably) more important things in our lives".
You seem to be projecting your own beliefs Jennifer.
You write..."I really believe that it is paying more attention to the little things we often dismiss that will make a real difference to changing the way we live.We need to in order to create any kind of group integrity. Which is what we need to save our own futures."
It feels like you are dismissing all the good and beneficial things that people are doing in our world. "BE what you want to "SEE".
greg dahlen 20+
I do like the idea that people change gradually and at their own pace. Even changing 5% is better than not at all.
Colleen Steen 500+
How about if the people who USED to make bags and bottles NOW work with recycling proceedures?
gale kooser 20+
You are never alone when it comes to this or other things that go on in life. Just reach out to someone who can help you.
gale kooser 20+
Colleen Steen 500+
With your question and comments, you are simply reinforcing the beliefs you present. There are no "forces conspiring" to keep anyone from making better choices in the life experience. If you choose to believe the things you mention in your introduction, it is a choice you make in every moment. If you choose to believe something different, take the steps you need to take to "bust out". If you continue to say it is "impossible", that is the reality you create for yourself. If you believe you can move beyond the idea that there are forces conspiring against you, that also is the reality you create for yourself. Good luck with changing your perception and "busting out"......it is a choice:>)
Grace Greene 10+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Do you know many people who do not seek meaning in their lives and who do not do things every day or week that are meaningful to them?
I am not asking whether they don't do things also that don't mean much to them.