* global warming,
* the myth of unlimited economic expansion,
* the impact of our Western culture's voracious appetite for "stuff",
* our current uncontrolled global population growth, and
* growing global poverty;
……………..five of the global challenges and changes that will soon have a major impact on both our global human culture, and the way each of us live our day-to-day lives.
As we explored these rapidly developing global challenges, it became evident that both our individual primitive ego, and our collective primitive ego, use denial to avoid dealing with threats to our species survival, or our personal way of life, that appear to be more than five or ten years away.
Our collective primitive ego's unconscious choice to use avoidance and denial, and our overall unwillingness as a species to intentionally mature or evolve our consciousness, are two primary obstacles preventing us from creating effective solutions to the problems and changes that will soon be knocking on our door.
Because they are not yet experienced as impacting us personally and directly, the primitive ego of our inner child is essentially unable to consciously address these impending threats to our way of life. As a result, when these threats do finally arrive, they could have a significantly greater life-altering impact on our daily lives than would otherwise be necessary. Some of these realities could potentially threaten our survival as a species.
We have clearly reached a point in the evolution of our species where our primitive ego consciousness must be intentionally matured and transformed into a more enlightened observing ego consciousness. The future of our human civilization may well depend on our willingness and ability to evolve our species consciousness and develop deeper insights into these more subtle areas of human consciousness.
Our modern scientific knowledge has clearly outpaced our moral and ethical knowledge. We have the knowledge to destroy ourselves but we have not yet learned how to live together peacefully. Our ability to accomplish this important next step in the evolution of our species psyche is rapidly becoming critically important.
If we could become more conscious and self-aware of the energy we are manifesting and projecting into the world we would find ourselves less frightened by the unknown, more able to creatively engage the challenges that are an integral part of life, and most importantly, we would have the ability to manifest a more authentic and matured spirituality; the ability to live more gently with the natural laws of nature and creation….especially those of the earth mother that birthed us.
Part 3: Concluding Thoughts - The Connection Between Human Evolution and The Challenges That Threaten Us.
The purpose of this three part article was not to provide a doomsday discussion on the rapidly approaching crises and changes that will soon be challenging our global culture. It was written to illustrate the significant dangers inherent in all primitive ego thinking; especially our collective primitive ego's pervasive use of denial to avoid unpleasant realities.
In this article I have attempted to illustrate the sobering reality that not only has our narcissistic primitive ego thinking created most of these problems, our collective primitive ego consciousness is now rapidly turning each of these impending problems into a series of potential global crises' by using denial to prevent us from working on, and implementing creative solutions that could begin to reverse the impact that these problems are going to cause.
Like all Stonyhill Newsletter articles, it was written to encourage growth in self-awareness, provide us the tools to evolve both our individual and collective consciousness, and encourage all of us to more intentionally take control of the evolutionary future of our species.
If the wisdom of Primitive Ego Psychology could become a self-conscious part of the adult human psyche, the ability of our species to create a truly compassionate global culture would increase dramatically. The most effective way to accomplish this next step in the evolutionary growth of human consciousness would be to begin teaching the insights and concepts of Primitive Ego Psychology to children very early in their grammar school education. We could radically increase the consciousness of our species in a few generations.
The Future Of Human Evolution: The Intentional Enlightenment Of Human Consciousness
For over 14 billion years the evolution of our human species was driven by chance and a glacially slow random biological process. But with the birth of reflexive consciousness roughly thirty five to fifty thousand years ago, humans became consciously aware of their self-awareness, and the evolutionary growth of our species shifted from simple biology to growth in our ability to think. The evolutionary growth of the human species had suddenly shifted into high gear. No longer limited to simply biology, our evolutionary future would now be determined primarily by the willingness of our species to consciously evolve and intentionally enlighten the collective overall level of our species consciousness.
Reflexive consciousness also gave us the God-like ability to create form; to become co-Creators with the Initiating Consciousness of our universe. Over time we learned to create forms called tools, fire, the wheel, bridges, science, philosophy, human culture, and even the moral forms of good and evil. Unfortunately the creation of good and evil could be accomplished using both conscious and unconscious thoughts.
Primitive Ego Psychology and other advancements in the science of human social and spiritual development have taught us that the forms we create using our primitive ego thinking process are usually unconscious and often hurtful to others. When our behaviors come from our more enlightened observing ego consciousness the forms we create tend to be more conscious and compassionate. The "intentional" evolution of our species conscious is the next step upward in the evolution of human consciousness. Some refer to it as the "conscious evolution" of our species.
The Transformation of Primitive Ego Survival of The Fittest Thinking To The Conscious Evolution Of Our Species
Since most of our thinking energy and attention over the last thirty five thousand years has been directed toward the art of warfare and the scientific advancements that war encourages, we have created an almost exponential increase in scientific knowledge and technology; technological advances that give us the ability to heal and reach new heights of human civilization…….. and the power to destroy ourselves.
Primitive Ego survival of the fittest thinking has brought us a long way, but in the last few decades it has become clear that our scientific growth has far outpaced our growth in morality and ethics. We have evolved our scientific knowledge, but the wisdom to ethically use this scientific knowledge for the benefit of all living creatures has not yet intentionally entered our species consciousness.
Not only are most humans undernourished and living in poverty, not only are we causing the extinction of thousands of species each year, we are rapidly running out of time to evolve beyond the narcissistic consciousness of our inner child's primitive ego and develop the wisdom needed to protect our own species from extinction.
We may live in a world where we can travel to the moon, build computers that are beginning to surpass even the human minds ability to think, and generate electricity from nuclear reactors, yet our collective narcissistic primitive ego consciousness still has half of humanity confined to living in stone age cultures cooking food over open fires.
Only our more enlightened observing ego consciousness is capable of guiding the future "conscious evolution" of our species. Our primitive ego's are far too narcissistic and emotionally immature to do this work.
Reality Is Change: All Living Systems Are Faced With Threats To Their Species Survival
Problems are not unique to our human species and the global problems we are facing today do not need to threaten our future. All living systems are routinely required to creatively cope with threats to their long term survival. All species experience stress when their ability to survive is challenged. They use stress to search for solutions to overcome the problems that threaten them.
In other words, they use stress to adapt to the challenges and changes they are confronted with by the real world. They do not hide behind primitive ego beliefs and ideologies, and they certainly do not use primitive ego denial to avoid the stress that would enable them to find creative solutions to the challenges and crises that threaten the survival of their species.
No living species evolves without challenges. This includes our human species. Life is never perfect. There are always crises to be overcome, dangers to be faced, hardships to be endured, and uncertainties to be embraced. However, the species that survive and evolve always manifest two very important characteristics; they embrace the stress inherent to all living systems, and they are flexible in the face of crises: they are able to embrace change.
Stated simply, living systems use the stress created by challenges to their survival to enable and encourage the evolutionary process. For most living systems it may be a very slow biological process, but they do act, and they do evolve.
Without the stress that survival challenges bring to all living species, the probability that a species will evolve is very small. For example, sharks and cockroaches have been around for tens of millions of years because their ability to survive as a species has not been challenged. They have never had to deal with the stress of species extinction that causes a threatened species to evolve.
Our human species is now at a cross road in its ability to evolve; to survive. We can remain trapped in the denial of primitive ego thinking pretending that life is actually the way we would "like" things to be, or we can find the courage to deal with reality and the stressful challenges that are "actually" beginning to threaten our survival as a species and the future of human civilization on this planet.
I am convinced that we are flexible and intelligent enough as a species to deal with the changes that are coming, but only if a) we willing to break out of the limited primitive ego thinking we are currently using, b) we are willing to intentionally increase our psychological intelligence through the conscious evolution of our primitive ego, and c) if we are willing to openly embrace a more enlightened species consciousness; a willingness to become more human.
Summary: We Each Have The Ability To Create Our Future
In the Personal Thoughts section of the Newsletter I have included a list of suggestions that each of us could begin to embrace and incorporate into our lives to prepare for the changes that I believe are coming. The more prepared we are, the less we will find ourselves "shocked by the changes that we know are coming".
When we intentionally take steps to empower ourselves, by learning about our own primitive ego, and by embracing the reality of "what is" so-as-to begin assertively preparing for the changes that are coming as opposed to simply hoping that the world will somehow function the way we would "like it to function", the less we will experience feelings of powerlessness and unhappiness.
Individuals and species that survive and evolve always deal with the reality of "what is", with high levels of flexibility, and an open acceptance of change. The Navajo's called this "huzho"….. the ability to be "one" with "what is". When faced with drought for example, rather than pray and drum for rain, the Navajo would dance and pray to become "one" with the drought. They survived when others perished. They embraced the realities that faced them. They knew that ignoring or denying the reality of the real world was a sure and certain path to disaster.
We may live in the modern world, but we would do well to challenge the denial inherent in primitive ego thinking and begin to embrace the concept of huzho.
See Index {A} For A List Of The Global Challenges And Changes I See Approaching On The Horizon
See Index {B} For A List Of The More Important Limitations Of Our Inner Child's Primitive Ego Thinking Process
See Index {C} For A List Of How Each of Us, As Reflexive Co-Creators of Form, Can Begin To Consciously Prepare Ourselves For The Changes That Are Coming
(The Stonyhill Primitive Ego Theory of Human Social and Spiritual Development (PET) was developed to offer not only a simple coherent theory for the development and evolution of human consciousness, but to also provide the psychological tools and insights needed so-as-to enable the infusion of "intentionality" in the future growth and evolution of our species consciousness.
PET is a developmental theory of the human ego that could be offered in our public school systems to teach the skills and insights required for growth in psychological intelligence (PQ) and the intentional maturation of our species consciousness, or to those interested in the authentic spiritual growth that comes through growth in one's self-awareness.
Readers can go to www.stonyhill.com for in-depth articles and past Newsletter discussions on the subjects of our inner-child's primitive ego, awakening, happiness, compassion, authentic spiritual growth, and The Primitive Ego Theory of Human Social and Spiritual Development.)
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
The purpose of this three part Newsletter article was my attempt to help readers focus on the dangers of unconscious primitive ego thinking. It is my hope that it has helped readers become more conscious of how unconsciously all of us use denial to avoid the uncomfortable realities that are threatening to impact our human culture.
I hope that if readers take only one thing away from this article, it is the fact that we are not powerless. If we are willing to consciously internalize the real changes that are coming, we each have the ability to intentionally and consciously empower ourselves to creatively deal with them. There is no need to be "shocked when the changes we know are coming actually arrive".
Once we understand the limitations inherent in primitive ego thinking and have consciously accepted the fact that our world is about to undergo significant change, most of us will be asking ourselves what can I do to prepare? What changes can I make that are reasonable?
Some of the suggestions below are philosophical, some are practical. Some need to begin right away, others reflect changes that could be made over a longer period of time. They all however require a more conscious and enlightened understanding of the world.
I make no claim that this list is inclusive. I have no doubt that readers will come up with their own thoughts as to how they could begin to prepare themselves and their families. If you have other ideas on how we might begin to empower ourselves, please send them along to me and I will publish an addendum to this list reflecting your suggestions in a future issue of the Newsletter. Awakening our consciousness is best accomplished in community with others. It is very difficult to awaken alone.
See Index {C} For A List Of How Each of Us, As Reflexive Co-Creators of Form, Can Begin To Consciously Prepare Ourselves For The Changes That Are Coming
A good place to begin a journey to deepen our self-awareness would be to go back to the article and read through the list in Index B called "The Primitive Ego Thinking Process Is Reflected In:" and see if we can identify two or three primitive ego behaviors that we unconsciously use in our relationships with others. Once we have identified a few, simply begin to pay attention to them whenever we catch ourself using them and ask ourselves the following questions……...
- What is my inner child trying to protect me from?
- Is it helpful, or would I rather use a less emotional, more adult approach?
- What might that new more enlightened, adult approach look like?
- If I get angry easily, what is making the primitive ego of my inner-child fearful?
The majority of these statistics came from Rajendra Pachauri, head of the U.N.'S Nobel Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.(Http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1839995,00.html)
QUOTES
All the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed.
By playwright Sean O'Casey
Being defeated is only a temporary condition;
giving up is what makes it permanent.
Marilyn vos Savant
The first step toward change is acceptance.
Once you accept yourself, you open the door to change.
That's all you have to do.
Change is not something you do, it's something you allow.
Will Garcia
Before you begin a thing remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.
Kathleen Norris
Index A): A List Of The Global Challenges And Changes I See Approaching On The Horizon
The following is a summary of what I believe will be some of the critical challenges that we will soon be facing as a human culture. I have no doubt that there are other challenges coming that I have not included so feel free to add to the list.
The important thing to remember is that none of these challenges can be effectively solved using only our primitive ego consciousness. They will require a far greater flexibility, a willingness to deal with "what is" rather than "what we would like things to be", and the courage to change despite the uncertainties that many of these challenges present.
- The dangers of religious, political, and cultural tribalism (we are no longer defined in tribal language, we must quickly learn to let go of tribal ideologies(religious, political, and economic) and embrace the reality that we have become a global species)
- Theism: the dangers inherent in mainline religions antiquated tribal definition of God (see Issue #31 of the Stonyhill Newsletter)
- Master narratives and tribal ideologies (religious, political, and economic) that displace truth
- Our blind acceptance of the myth called unlimited economic expansion (see article above)
- Global over population (see article above)
- Our blind dependence on fossil fuels
- The danger of world poverty (many empires have fallen when its people faced hunger)
- The depletion and redistribution of the earth's natural resources(our planetary life support system is showing signs of stress and malfunction)
- Global warming ( many scientists are now warning that our previous models are no longer accurate and that the changes are coming more rapidly than previously predicted.)
- Food shortages (billions of people are suffering with hunger and poverty…many are children) (see article above)
- Lack of access to adequate health care (people living in poverty, roughly ¾ of the worlds population, do not have access to modern health care) (see article above) According to United Nations figures, the lack of effective family planning in poverty areas of the world result in population growth of 70 million to 80 million unwanted pregnancies annually, 19 million abortions and an estimate 150,000 maternal deaths. Women burdened with the care of these unwanted children are trapped in poverty. The men often abandon these women when faced with providing for all of their unwanted children. Population growth and poverty are mutually supportive and self-sustaining.
- Global financial systems are currently driven by greed and the illusion of wealth
- Availability to access fresh water for drinking and for irrigation.
- Species extinction of land and ocean based life forms (we are currently in the middle of the greatest species extinction the planet has every seen….virtually all extinctions are the result of environmental changes created by human culture)
- The rapidly growing digital information and collective intelligence that computers are beginning to compile regarding our personal lives (for example most automotive dealers can obtain bank financing for you, get the vehicle insured, close out your trade in vehicle with the bank that currently holds your mortgage and the insurance company that insured it, and issue a new title and a registration from the Department of Motor Vehicles at 9 p.m. on a Saturday night with nothing but your social security number!!)
- Energy storage: our batteries and hydrogen cell technology is not yet sophisticated enough or capable of storing power generated by solar, wind, and ocean waves to supply the power needed to operate an electric car or provide stored power adequate to run the average home
- The myth of rugged individualism vs. the power of community: most new creative advances happen by teams of people not individuals alone, no one group or individual possess absolute truth….the world is gray and every issue is defined by shade of gray (middlepath thinking), and we will survive not as individuals, but through the evolution and spiritual growth of our species as a whole.
- Humanities tendency to see earth as an object, rather than a living, evolving life support system for all life on the planet.
- Lack of systemic thinking and our current throw away mentality ( see article above)
- Radical sustainability and accepting the real cost of everything we manufacture and purchase must quickly become fundamental realities in every decision we make as individuals and as a species.
And finally here are some additional predictions of specific changes that are almost certainly coming:
- The cost of fuel is going to reach $5 to $8 dollars a gallon within the next five to seven years (the era of inexpensive petroleum based energy is coming to an end (we are running out of cheap oil, India and China will begin to drive prices up as their economies come on line, Europe has been paying $5 to $8 dollars a gallon for years, and many of the exporting countries will need their oil production to power their own internal economies);
- Property tax assessments are going to see significant increases in the next three to five years as local and state governments struggle to balance their budgets;
- The price of food and other day to day household items are going to rise significantly due to probable double digit inflation in the next couple of years;
- The costs of manufactured items are going to increase dramatically in the next ten to fifteen years as we begin to include the real costs of producing those manufactured item (increasingly costs for green manufacturing, the cost of recycling and green disposal, a carbon tax to deal with air pollution);
- Given the amount of money that the governments of the world are throwing at the current economic crisis it is fairly certain that our financial markets will recover over the next few years as everyone goes back to business as usual, but when the expected inflation hits and the myth of unlimited economic expansion begins to unravel, stock market investors can be pretty certain to see the appreciation of their investments begin to slow down or even drop to reflect more realistic forward looking returns as the economy begin to reflect the new 21st century realities we are talking about;
- The price and availability of commodities such as copper, zinc, antimony, steel, titanium, lead, gold, tin, silver, indium,potash, magnesium, and other natural resources are going to change dramatically as China, India, and other developing countries begin to consume ever increasing amounts of these natural resources. Prices are going to increase as the availability decreases. The demand for these commodities is already exceeding our global ability to provide them.
It is impossible to forecast exactly when any of the challenges and crises listed above are actually going to arrive, but they are coming, and when they do they are going to significantly impact life as we know it. It is reasonable to assume that the majority of these changes will begin to exert significant impact on our way of life within the next 10 to 15 years; some will arrive much sooner. In the Personal Thoughts section of the Newsletter I have included some ideas on how we might begin to prepare so as to minimize the impact these coming events will have on our lives.
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Index (B): A List Of The More Important Limitations Of Our Inner Child's Primitive Ego Thinking Process
Here is a partial list of some of the more critical limitations of our inner child's primitive ego thinking process that needs to be replaced by more psychologically intelligent, enlightened, and observing consciousness thinking. As we become more intentionally aware of our knee jerk tendency to use primitive ego thinking, we will find ourselves intuitively moving toward the manifestation of a more enlightened social behavior. Once you know that there is a primitive ego controlling the way you relate to the world, change will begin.
It is important to remember that the primitive ego of your inner child is not bad…..it is simply the ego of a child. It is not reasonable to ask a child of 6 or 7 years of age to run your adult life. No child of that age has the life experience or understanding of the adult world to make effective choices.
Almost always, our inner child is simply using childhood survival skills to try to keep us safe from such things as perceived danger, criticism, abandonment, being ignored, not heard, and shame. We need to thank them for attempting to take care of us, but we also need to encourage them to let our more adult consciousness find a more enlightened and mature way of handling things.
The Primitive Ego Thinking Process Is Reflected In:
- Our tendency toward splitting; using lack and white, all or nothing thinking
- Belief that happiness comes from the world, not internally
- Lack of introspection and self-awareness
- Often very emotionally reactive in relationships with others
- Tendency to take things personally
- Survival of the fittest, vertical power, power over others, the need to be in control
- Temper tantrum when needs are not met
- Sense of entitlement
- Perfectionism
- Perceives others as objects
- Is only able to offer conditional love to others
- Sees world through the eyes of one's inner-child, emotionally stuck in the past
- Unintegrated split off parts of self
- Our tendency to blame others for our feelings; the inability to own our own feelings
- Our high level of self-focused narcissism; our lack of empathy, mutuality, and compassion
- Our "me first" mentality, our tendency to use vertical power, survival of the fittest thinking
- The belief that happiness and evil comes from the world; inability to see that both evil and love come from our own hearts
- Our inability to delay satisfaction; to look beyond immediate needs and pleasures
- Our belief that all of our beliefs represent absolute truth; our need to be right and in control
- Our aggressive behavior when any of the above are challenged by others
- Our inability to be self-reflective; to intentionally work on becoming more self-aware
- Our tribal belief that "others" should not be trusted; us vs. them judgmentalism of others
- Our inability to let go of the past and live in the moment with the reality of "what is"
- Our inability to listen to others; especially when we disagree with them
- Blind obedience to authority figures; eg. the belief that the bible is the literal word of God and should be obeyed without question; the belief that autonomy is unsafe and leads to punishment
- Use denial to avoid uncomfortable realities unless we are being directly and personally impacted in the here and now.
- Our tendency to deny reality or "what is", and embrace the hopeful illusion that the world will somehow actually function the way we would "like it to function".
- The inability to recognize that no one can make us feel anything that isn't already inside of us.
- Our impatience; our insistence on "getting what we want, when we want it"
- Our need to aggressively protect us and keep us safe from perceived threats to our well-being. Our primitive ego continually scans the world for threats. It sees "others" as potentially dangerous. It easily become very suspicious and fearful of anyone who is different. Given the reality that we see what we expect to see, it means that our primitive ego often sees the world as very threatening and very easily becomes frightened. When a child is frightened it often becomes aggressive and combative. Our primitive ego believes that the best way to remain safe is to reject those who are different, and to isolate ourselves from outside threats. ( Fearful, aggressive, right wing extremists are driven by primitive ego fears. They aggressively fear terrorists, homosexuals, blacks, orientals, immigrants, and those who have different tribal beliefs such as religious, economic, or political beliefs)
Index C: How Each of Us, As Reflexive Co-Creators of Form, Can Begin To Consciously Prepare Ourselves For The Changes That Are Coming
- Learn to become more self-aware of the energy and behaviors we are manifesting. Especially those unconscious behaviors that are on auto-pilot or what I refer to as "knee jerk responses". Almost always these unconscious automatic behaviors are simply childhood survival skills unconsciously driven by our primitive ego. Unfortunately they often get in the way of our ability to create compassionate communities and friendships with other people; a serious problem when we realize that the changes that are coming are going to require us to work cooperatively in community with others. Teamwork and systemic thinking will make the changes and problems that are coming much easier to solve. They were created by human culture, and they will best be solved by human culture. If we try to isolate ourselves or attempt to work alone to cope with the challenges that are coming, our potential for success will be significantly reduced. The Marlboro man will quickly find himself isolated, alone, unhappy, powerless, and struggling simply to survive.
- Eat less meat. Much of the methane and carbon based gases that cause global warming come the global production of beef. Experts suggest we begin by eating vegetarian one or two days a week. The reduction in global warming CO2 and methane would be significant.
- Limit the use of fish being used as food for pets. This one change would go a long ways toward protecting our critically stressed global fisheries.
- Start a community or coop vegetable garden. A garden coop can supply a significant amount of your annual consumption of fruits and vegetables…..and significantly reduce your exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides.
- Start a compost pile to supply your garden with fertilizer. Petroleum based fertilizers are going to become very expensive as the price of oil resumes it climb.
- Grow fruit trees in your yard. Barter for vegetables that others are growing.
- Live closer to work. The cost of fuel is going to continue to climb significantly over the next three to five years. The shorter your commute, the less you will be spending on car expenses and fuel. Consider riding a bike to work…..or walking. Some experts predict that fuel will undoubtedly increase to $5 to $8 per gallon in the coming years.
- Eliminate Debt. The money you pay on interest to carry your debt load is a waste of valuable financial resource for you and your family. Adopt a pay as you go philosophy. Save ahead for those larger ticket items that you know are coming….car, home repair, etc.
- Reduce your overhead. Down size. Most people are living in homes far larger than they need. A home requires fuel to heat, electricity to run, maintenance and repairs, property taxes, lawns to mow and maintain, etc. The larger your home, the larger your overhead. Reducing the number of cars, televisions, computers, stereos, clothes, etc can help to reduce overhead costs too. Most of us are drowning in "stuff". The larger your home, the more likely you are to have rooms full of "stuff".
- Simplify your life. When you slow down you will find yourself reading more, spending more time with people you care about, eating better, exercising more, and surprisingly, needing less "stuff" in your life.
- Purchase smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Many people own cars that are larger than they need. The larger they are, the more fuel they require to operate.
- Begin now to replace old windows with modern insulated windows. Most of the heat energy in a home is lost through doors and windows. Increasing the R value of insulation in the walls of your home and upgrading the insulating factor in your windows and doors could save you significant money as the cost of home heating fuels and energy begin to increase. Spreading the cost of these improvements over the next five to ten years will ease the financial impact on your household budget. It is important to remember that increases in home heating fuel costs are going to keep pace with automotive fuel costs.
- Reduce wants and focus on needs. This is part of simplifying. As you shift from primitive ego "wants" and begin to focus more on "needs", your life will automatically begin to slow down and simplify. Remember, the cost of "stuff" is going to continue increasing. Experts predict inflation could reach high double digit numbers in the next few years. Your financial resources are going to be under significant pressure. Saving money where you can will become very important.
- Recycle. Remember the real cost of the "stuff" we purchase needs to include the cost of green manufacturing, green disposal, and green recycling…..especially the hazardous materials contained in the "stuff" we purchase. These real green costs are going to be increasingly included in the over all cost of manufactured goods in the coming years. When added to inflation, the pressure on your financial resources is going to be significant.
- Fight the primitive ego tendency of using denial to avoid those things we would rather ignore. Become more conscious, self-aware, and learn to live in the real world. Learn to become more "psychologically intelligent". Our primitive egos always want "more", not less.
- Replace expensive habits like going out to dinner, going to concerts, golf, skiing, music collection, etc with less expensive hobbies such as reading, hiking, learning a musical instrument, learning another language, digital photography, volunteering at your local hospital or a local non-profit agency, etc.
- Limit the size of your family. Global overpopulation is a major cause of poverty and malnutrition….especially among children. Children in larger families often are denied the opportunities available to children from smaller families.
- Begin aggressively saving for your retirement. Most people are poorly prepared to finance a comfortable retirement. Be sure to keep your retirement funds well diversified. It's a rare retiree that doesn't wish they had saved more for their retirement. Downsizing, simplifying your lifestyle, and eliminating debt can be very helpful tools when saving for retirement.
- Develop streams of income. Many people reject small hobbies or business ventures because they can not "live" off of them. Financial planners today are emphasizing the concept called "streams of income". When you have enough streams coming together, you could eventually end up with a good sized river! A river that could take a lot of stress and pressure off of finding or maintaining a "job". This concept can be very helpful for retirees.
These are not suggestions that need to be made immediately, but the sooner you begin intentionally making these changes, the more you will find yourself prepared when the challenges and crises we talked about in the article actually arrive. Empower yourself so you are not "shocked" when the totally expected actually arrives.
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