Coping With Contagious Affluenza: Mindful Consumption

Dr. Lilian Cheung, The Huffington Post
January 22, 2014

Our society is suffering from an ever-increasing epidemic, caused by an addiction to the consumption of products, food, and resources. Symptoms may include stress, burnout, a sense of entitlement, a lack of fulfillment, and a depletion of resources. Appropriately coined "affluenza," the disease is defined as a "socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste, resulting from the dogged pursuit of more." Although it's not your typical virus, there's no doubt that it is contagious.

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Do we really need all this stuff? Why are we eating so much? Why can't we focus on what's happening right now? The symptoms and effects of affluenza are plentiful, but there is good news -- relief is possible, and it can be put into action right away. Rather than consuming on an autopilot fast-track, we need to slow down, stop and think -- we need to consume mindfully.

If you're ready to reflect on your own habits, here are some tips to help you make the conscious shift from "more is better" to "less is more..."