The Path of Consumption

Yesterday's blog post ended with a question about the utensils you are using and the cup you are drinking out of in light of what your eyes see daily. The question in essence is asking what are the tools you may or may not be using that lead to your hearts desire. Then the second aspect of the questions is are you overflowing with what leads to purity or darkness. For example, I received the REI catalog about the latest outdoor and fashion gear for a particular season and this week in the mail I received the annual members benefit to receive 20% off any one product. Now previously I have not thought about what I need from REI until the members discount came in the mail and suddenly I have a desire for something, what I am not sure, but I have a discount that comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee for as long as I own given product. The choice is simple, either I consume a product or I choose not to consume. Now, I do not think whether I buy something from REI shows my heart to be full of light or darkness, but the behavior I choose from the previous days of my life often shape my behavior for the days ahead in my life.

This is our modern life in North America and we often take the path of consumption. It's not wrong, but the abundance of our consumption has led us in the wrong direction. We have equated our products as our identity. This path of allowing marketers to lie to us has taken hold of our lives in tremendous ways. The example above is simple, but becomes telling of our life in other areas of how live and give. Often times we can start to view people vs. products which sometimes leads to us viewing products over people.

Here are a few questions for you and your family to process together.

In what ways have you allowed marketing to lie to you and sell you a false identity?

Are you consuming products or building relationships?
(Measure this question by the depth of your relationships vs. the amount of products you own.)

We are wired for relationships and the utensils we have been given should help us build relationships, if we are drinking out of a pure cup.