Quality vs. Quantity:
We find ourselves living today where very little thought is given to quality over quantity. It’s the “I want” mentality that has created this way of thinking and the technology to produce tons of low quality inferior items at the expense of well chosen quality items. This is what enables big box stores to sell us a bunch of items that are toxic for the environment and as we are increasingly finding out laden with various materials that are also toxic to us causing a huge host of health issues. The problems are numerous when we value how much instead of the quality of things.
It is important to build awareness in the value of quality vs. quantity and the importance of relationship with the things we have. A bunch of junk we do nothing with is worthless a quality item we spend a lot of time with is invaluable. In this sense the value of a handmade product can never be surpassed by one made do to the advances of modern technology enabling machines to make things to feel our every whim. That encourages a dangerously unhealthy relationship leading to the destruction of both the environment and our mental health. If you don’t believe me take some time to look at the effects of clutter alone on mental health.
It is worth recognizing the value of minimalism for both our psyches and the environment. Utilization of the realization that we live in a modern world and through recycling and upcycling we can find innovative, creative and beautiful ways to meet our needs and make an effort to live in a more sustainable way. Taking garbage and making it into beautiful useful and/or artistic ways keeps it out of landfills and also meets needs of things that we might otherwise need to purchase. In turn supporting the big manufacturers that are destructive to our environment and the cause of many social ills we face today.
Core Values:
Core values are useful to define on many levels from our individual level to the greater world. When we are clear on what our values and goals are we are more able to move forward in our lives with integrity and passion. Whereas, I can tell you what my core values are and why I believe they are important I cannot tell you what yours are beyond guiding principles in your life. If you are clear on your core values and what you really want, not what you believe you should want, or what you are told you should want but what you really value then you can set a system in place where your core values can help you empower your life.
*Consciousness- awareness that who you are and what you do has effects beyond yourself. Recommendation consider the Butterfly Effect. There is a wonderful movie by that name.
*Important things- family, community, education, work (ability to support self, family), the earth itself. Can you think of others? How do they influence your decisions? How will you use them to guide your life choices?
*What would you do if you could do anything and money were not an object? Does this fit with your core vales? What happens when it does not?
More coming but I just want to get your juices flowing in considering quality vs. quantity as we also have entrapped the less wealthy members of our society as capitalism has it so that they can only afford to buy the cheaper less durable goods creating a cycle there.