What is "Casual Extremism"?
First of all what us “casual extremism”? Ironically it’s not as extreme as it sounds. It’s not anything to do with blowing shit up, shooting up schools or exposing yourself in public. It’s about allowing extreme thinking to take control of your thoughts and actions.
What I mean by this is that we are constantly bombarded these days by the media and Social channels. We’re challenged to be the best, the most important, the craziest, funniest, fittest, richest, sexiest. Its ridiculous! The most notable posts in Social Media are on the extreme side… They’re the exception. The biggest stories in the news are the most frightening. Regular “scary” like global warming, pollution or the gradual decline of social values just isn’t exciting enough to get the eyeballs anymore, so more focus is put into the extreme stories and sensationalism.. Because eyeballs means money.
Think about the last time you watched an old horror movie or thriller. Bet it didn’t scare you like it used to did it? Or if you watch an old-school horror flick for the first time and you think to yourself “this is shit”, you ever wonder why? Think about it, films like “The Exorcist”, when they first came out were the pinnacle of terrifying. They smashed the box office and people talked about them for years afterwards, but now? Now they’re shit, because we’ve become numb, their effect on us diminishes because of ever-more extreme and intense films coming out. It’s like a smack addiction… We as a race are always searching for the next hit, and it’s got to be better than the last one or it doesn’t hit the spot!
So why is this a problem?
Glad you asked. The problem is that extreme behavior is notable, noteworthy and exciting, and weirdly, socially acceptable. It’s the only thing that gets us noticed, even when it’s anti social, lacking morals or dangerous to ourselves and those around us. Why do you think that day-1 baby pictures or wedding photos get the most likes on social media? They’re “the extreme”, meaning in this case it’s a rare event so it gets people’s attention, but no-one can post those pics daily so it’s unsustainable.
We’ve all seen “that girl” who constantly shows up on Insta wearing only a couple of pieces of string…and you think to yourself “ugh, she’s got no dignity, or class, or self respect. Why does she have 15 billion likes and my post about all that work I put in at the charity event got 12?” The answer is that she’s playing into the extreme, and yes, sex sells but that’s nothing new.
Do you think that girl is happy? Probably yeah. But for how long? How long does the high of getting all those views last before she’s looking for the next hit? And what then? Is she going to wear less string next time? Maybe. But how long can it be sustained? Time is a bastard and she’ll chew that girl up one day just like the rest of us. So it begs the question: Is that high sustainable? Is that brief happiness good, or bad?
Why "Casual Extremism" is bad for your happiness
The problem is that we’re so exposed to “the extreme” by the media, news and never-ending streams of social media, that “normal” is now considered mundane and irrelevant. If you’re having a shit day and being constantly bombarded on social by people “living their best life” and having a blast, (and that bitch on Insta just had some jackass with more money than sense get her a Ferrari for her birthday to buy her affection), not only does it make you feel shittier about your day, but it makes you subconsciously question: “why am I not good enough?”, “why can’t I be like that?”, “why is life so unfair?” Your focus shifts to poor quality questions like this which are not only unproductive, but detrimental to your happiness.
Your level of satisfaction with what should be the good things in your life – you know, the normal stuff like laughing with your friends, a compliment from your partner, a hug from your kid – is diminished by your own subconscious comparison to all this extreme life bullshit you’re exposed to every single day.
Worse, some people go the other way! In the constant struggle for attention and noteworthiness, some people – knowing they can’t be the best – then endeavour to prove to everyone around them that their life is the most miserable, the most full of drama. They actively seek out confrontation and things to feel bad about, dragging themselves and everyone around them down in the process!
So what's the answer?
We can’t change the big picture. Social media and media in general do what they do for bigger audiences and more money… So that trend isn’t going to change. However, we’re all born with free will and the power to choose. We can choose how we engage with this content.
Be conscious of your thought patterns. Be aware of the impact social media has on you. Be aware of how the incessant advertising to be better and richer can knock you off track without noticing it. Simply recognising how you are engaging with this content and will help you to consciously decide if and how something is going to effect you. Don’t let the casual extremism rule you or you’re just another puppet… Wishing and hoping for things you lack, things that you don’t actually need or want in any real sense.
Everyone has challenges, frustrations and setbacks. Anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something and quite frankly, doesn’t give a shit about your well-being.
Think about your own goals. Question yourself often. Question “why do I want this?”
When you see an ad on YouTube explaining how “you too can make ££££s with zero effort overnight!!! ” and you think “yeah that could be me”… Question it. Do you want that? I mean really… Do you want to genuinely put in the work to achieve that goal over the long term? Let’s be real, there is no quick fix. Get rich quick schemes are 99% bullshit so you have to accept that any real goal you truly want… You’ll have to WANT to work that goes into it.
You have to accept that nothing in life is roses and butterflies all the time so there will be challenges and setbacks along the way. If you don’t want the struggle, the challenge, the grind, then you’re just dreaming about being at the top of the mountain without accepting you’ll need to climb the bastard first.
You can be damn sure you’ll quit when the going gets tough because you don’t REALLY want it and love it.
TLDR
- Be grateful for the things you have
- Find pleasure and joy in the small things
- Find a goal you truly want for the right reasons
- Work your ass off for that goal and take pleasure in the small wins
- Accept the challenges and setbacks as a learning experience, and be grateful for them
- Don’t let casual extremism dictate your happiness
- Don’t follow the herd. Fuck ’em. Do what you want to do for the right reasons and find joy and happiness in that
The post Casual Extremism: Why Its bad for your Happiness appeared first on Whats Your Outcome?.
