Shifting the Goalposts from More Stuff to Better Stuff

Shifting the goalposts from more stuff to better stuff could be a game changer. How so? Such a shift in mindset (awareness & action) means living more consciously and sustainably. It means asking myself the question, "do I really need this, or is this just another quick fix?"

Up to now our focus has primarily been on faster, cheaper, newer. And we've subsequently lost touch with what's important to us (our core values) as well as a sense of happiness, wellbeing and community.

From a traditional point of view economists have always been focused on growth - more roads, more malls and more money! When we add all of this up together we get GDP (gross domestic product). Our rules and regulations are designed to perpetuate this notion of endless economic growth. However, what this equation fails to take into consideration is that we live on a finite planet with limited resources.

Thus, the problem is the goal of more growth and more stuff itself. What if we shifted the goalposts from "more" to "better" instead? This would result in a better quality of life for both humans and the planet. For example, what if we shifted our focus to better quality education, renewable energy, better relationships, better and healthier food (food not mass produced with chemicals and depleted minerals)? The answer lies in local solutions to local problems that can then get scaled-up for increased effectiveness.

So how do you go about identifying if a solution is transformational or not? Here are some things to consider.

1. Does it give people (at the local level) more power or is it just the same old concept of giving more money and power to big corporations and governments? In other words, does it build authentic democracy?
2. Does it create a sense of awareness around the fact that happiness and well-being doesn't come from buying more stuff, but from connected relationships, basic needs being met (such as electricity and running water), wellness and having a sense of purpose (please see here for my post on how to discover your purpose http://simoninglis.blogspot.com/2013/10/how-to-discover-your-lifes-purpose.html)?
3. Does it take into account all costs involved in the process, including the cost on people and the environment? There has to be a shift from simply externalizing costs (as most business do), to internalizing costs, thereby taking responsibility for ones actions.
4. Does it contribute to equity by narrowing the enormous gap between rich (people who have way too much stuff) and poor (people who struggle to have their basic needs met)?

When a transformational initiative ticks all these boxes, then you can be sure it begins to move beyond the traditional maxim of more is better. Examples of such initiatives could include things like a bike sharing program, a green cooperative (there's a great one called Ethical Co-op in Cape Town), a solar company or an urban farm.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a game-changing transformational initiative, ask yourself is it sustainable, equitable, and democratic? If it is, you're on the right path to a better, more integrative and holistic future.