The Cult of High Aspirations

Should it be enough to meet our most basic needs of survival? Or should we set our aspirations as high as we can? Is it wrong to want more?

For many of us achieving our goals is difficult, but having a goal, and striving to achieve it, is inspiring to movement. Our aspirations, however, often don’t line up with our behaviors. As a 2014 Nielsen study concluded when it found that 75 percent of respondents felt that they could manage their health issues through nutrition, yet 50 percent of them also found it challenging to eat healthily.

We want more than we can deliver.

This disconnect between what we aspire to achieve and what we actually achieve can leave us feeling dissatisfied. It may even contribute to feelings of jealousy towards those who we feel have better or more fulfilling lives.

Take celebrities, for example.

However, that doesn’t mean that people on lower incomes can’t access all the benefits of self-care. We might not all be able to attend the wellness summit with prices starting at $650, and VIP tickets setting you back a staggering $4,500, but we can access wellness at a much more reasonable price point, and sometimes for zero dollars at all.

Self-care simply means putting yourself first, listening to your body and your mind and giving yourself some much-needed attention.

It can sound trite but the simple things can really make a difference. Stroking a beloved pet, taking a walk in nature, or having a bubble bath have all been shown to lower our stress hormones and makes us feel more happy.