more of us work much harder than necessary and it’s not for survival but instead, it is for more and more possessions and more and more achievements to fulfill the pride of our egos and measure up.
If we really want to avoid this trend, we must lead by example and live for ourselves, families, health, and our peace of mind. We have to know that our life truly depends on being able to do this. That should be the number one motivation.
Throughout our history, American culture has been publicly criticized for its obsession with riches, wealth, and social status. We have to make the decision to not succumb to a nation that is driven by these unhealthy, narcissistic, capitalistic ideals.
Right now in the midst of unnecessarily working harder than ever, and juggling more than many ever imagined, Americans are unhappier than they have been in the last 30 years. We are depleting ourselves. Time won’t wait for us to carve out our own niches and begin to include new and healthy lifestyle practices on a daily basis. We have to change the standards of what we respect and recognize as true achievement and living rich.
True achievement is never at the expense of our own health and quality of life. Living richly is living with a healthy body and a healthy mind. It is having time in our day for self-care and self-reflection.
True achievement is being aware of how important it is to take care of the most precious possession we have which is us. It is not being ashamed of saying that we need time to regroup and refresh. It is living a life doing what we love and what brings us to balance, peace, and joy. Our lifestyle choices will determine how well we live and our level of mental resiliency.
Dr. Gettings is a double board-certified adult and child psychiatrist. Dr. Gettings’ mission as a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry is to bring mental health awareness to the mainstream and dismantle the misconceptions and stigma associated with it. Through preventative medicine and integrated wellness education, she empowers individuals to make the conscious decision to live their healthiest life. Dr. Gettings’ platform includes domestic violence advocacy, mind-body medicine, and disease prevention.