Diverse Lifestyles of the 21st Century: Individualism, Consumerism and Uniformity

Since the turn of the century, it’s safe to say that our society has gotten significantly more diverse and colorful. With the arrival of digital media and online connectivity, the western world has become a heck of a lot more varied and diverse. In place of the uniform conformity that was encouraged in past eras, expression and self-discovery rule the day. 

Of course, how fully you indulge in this wholehearted individualism is up to you. That’s the whole point of the movement, after all; living your life how you see fit, disregarding society’s rules and expectations. The seed of self-expression that was planted in the 1960s has grown into a towering tree, and boy is that tree growing faster than ever!  

The different lifestyles chosen by members of our society take a plethora of different shapes and sizes. Some choose to live modestly and budget meticulously, planning their lives down to their last penny. Others find occupations and living situations that allow them to live wild lives filled with fun, friends and fleeting pleasures. Still others seek material gain over all else, prioritizing the pursuit of wealth higher than family and fulfilment. 

A question remains to be answered, however; which of these lifestyles, if any, best describes your lifestyle? That’s the question we’ll be doing our best to help you answer with this article. Our hope is that we can provide you with a bit of perspective, an objective viewpoint of sorts, to help you evaluate your life and find ways to lead a happier, more fulfilling existence. 

Finding fulfillment on your own terms

Everyone has things that make them happy. Things that make them feel alive, things that inspire them to be the best version of themselves. For some it’s family, for others it’s music. Filmmaking, writing, research, activism and politics all rank among the things that get people fired up and passionate about life. To each his own; it takes all kinds to make a world! 

Unfortunately, this aspect of human nature has been ruthlessly exploited by the corporate entities that do so much to direct the flow of the common consciousness of the western world. The idea of discovering and embracing your own unique identity has, ironically, become synonymous with choosing from a selection of mass produced consumer goods. 

In this materialistic race, it’s easy to lose sight of what you love as its place in your life is gradually taken by a succession of shiny trinkets that add no lasting value to your life. No matter what lifestyle you lead, what your goals are in life or how you put bread on the table, never forget this. Real, lasting happiness is not something that can be bought.

So what type of lifestyle do you lead, and how can you find a bit more fulfillment in your day-to-day life? Let’s take a look! 

The salt-of-the-earth laborer

Far away from the towering skyscrapers and heady social circles of high society, those who lead this lifestyle toil away doing an honest day’s labor for an honest day’s pay. You don’t dream of luxurious cars or extravagant cuisine; you enjoy the simple pleasures of a life lived within the confines of a modest salary. 

For you, it’s enough to spend your free time on passion projects, friends and family. You savour the good moments while they last. Work is hard and doesn’t pay much, but there’s a certain sense of dignity in a job like that. Your dreams are grounded in reality, as you work steadily towards goals such as purchasing a home to raise your family in. If this describes you, you don’t have all that much to worry about; you likely lead a more fulfilling life than the rich and famous. 

The free spirit 

Noble though it may be, the life of a 9-5 blue collar worker is not for everyone. Some personalities find no joy in the thought of domestic pleasures and repetitive labor. You need more than that. You need to create, to see new things and meet new people. You crave sensory and spiritual experiences more than you want a family or material wealth. 

If this sounds like you, keep on doing you! If you find fulfillment in creation and socialization, don’t conform to societal pressures urging you to fall into line with those who find fulfillment in hard work. Also, try to avoid anything that stifles your creative and social instincts; there are plenty of products that will do just that, while leading you to take a job you don’t enjoy just to afford them. Trust us; these won’t bring you happiness. 

The business person with a heart of gold

While their counterparts on the lower rungs of the ladder are often viewed more amicably by society as a whole, there are a fair few business people for whom business is simply a way to help others. You don’t do what you do solely to become wealthy; you do it because you want to make the world a better place. You help those seeking to find a real estate agent, lawyer or construction manager get good service at a good price. 

Your business endeavors don’t comprise the entirety of your life focus, however. You leave your work at the door, and dedicate your free time to family, friends and philanthropic efforts. This is because your life isn’t about making money; it’s about making the world a better place with your money. This is noble in and of itself! 

Conclusion 

No matter what type of lifestyle you lead, the best advice we can give you is to avoid falling for the sales pitches of the thousands of voices constantly vying for your attention. Keep your head down, limit your purchases to what you need, and focus on the important things in life. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again; lasting fulfillment can’t be found in material goods. 

If you take a moment and look around, it’s saddening to see how deeply consumer capitalism has affected our fellow human beings. The lives of so many have been entirely constructed around the pursuit of meaningless purchase after meaningless purchase, leading them to neglect their families, themselves and those around them. 

The good news is that this can be changed. You can change it. All it takes is making a few changes in your own life. It may not seem like much, but cutting out some of the excesses you’ve been pressed into indulging in will affect your life in a markedly positive way. It won’t be long before others notice and follow suit. Try it; you won’t be sorry you did!