Living the pop culture life will leave you empty and may just shorten your life. While this is the case, most of us westerners are living it on a daily basis. Pop culture permeates through our lives from TV, to schools, to the work place, to our coffee. This morning, while I was getting a Starbucks coffee, I noticed a Sheryl Crow CD. This was not a CD of Sheryl Crow songs but songs she likes to listen to.
In the past people would follow prophets, doctors, philosophers, and other people they saw as wise and looking out for their well being. These days the case has changed drastically. These days we follow celebrities, the teachings of people who tell us what we want, our friends, and others we deem exciting.
How is this not good? The public image of celebs is one of people who live wild lives, can't stay in a committed relationship, drink to much, and so many other things that just aren't good for us. Yet, it seems exciting and we can live vicariously through them. But, when we try to live like that ourselves we hurt our family and other loved ones, we do physical damage to our bodies, and tempt others into the same empty lifestyle.
Beware people who tell you what you want to hear. There are so many things I want to hear. I want to hear that it will all be ok and I don't have to do anything for that to happen. I want to hear that I am going to live safe and comfortably while doing exciting things in life. I want to hear that there aren't consequences to my actions if I do something stupid. Yet, none of these things are true. If I want everything to be as close to OK as possible for myself and the people I love then I have to do something to help it along on a daily basis. You can't have safe comfort and true excitement and riskiness at the same time. I know a guy who wants to be safe in life. Yet, he has sex with a lot of women. The risk is making his life not safe. And, consequences.... every action has a reaction. We can't avoid that. So, why would I want to hear someone tell me what I want to hear? I would so much rather hear someone talk to me about something good for me and back it up with reasons it's good for me.
When it comes to medical situations we want a good doctor and would prefer the best. When it comes to finances we try to invest my money with the best fund managers. So, why when it comes to the rest of our lives why don't we follow the best? There are good people who live exciting lives. There are many examples of that. People who are healthy both physically and mentally. They have great relationships with the people around them. They are happy and at the same time live an exciting life. Why don't we follow them? They live lives that aren't pop culture but are more fulfilling, more exciting, and more joyful than those of us who follow pop culture.
We need to choose our personal leaders wisely. They will direct our lives.
