Show notes
A lot of us are forced to make decisions daily that don’t align with our values. Many of us continue working for or otherwise supporting the evil corporation we wish to divest from, or we continue eating factory farmed meat despite wanting to lean into more plant based options, or we spend all day scrolling for companies we don’t want to have our data. I check social media despite knowing it will worsen my mood and overall health. I have stayed in relationships I knew were unhealthy because it felt easier than starting over. I’ve bought Temu clothes despite believing deeply in more ethical consumption. I drive a lot for someone who preaches about climate change caused by oil companies. I complain constantly about consumerism but I still end up buying shit I don’t need. I have had to vote for people I don’t agree with to avoid voting for other candidates I agree less with. I know sleep is important but I also routinely trade it for shit that isn’t.
Change feels bigger than it is because humans tend to prefer what is familiar. This is sometimes called the status quo bias, and we do it for a variety of reasonable reasons. Maybe it is because we want to prevent a potential loss. Most humans tend to focus on what we have to lose, rather than what we have to gain and this keeps us tied to the “way things are” rather than branching out and trying something new. Maybe it’s the sunk cost fallacy. Our tendency to continue dumping our time, our money, and our efforts into the things we’ve already invested into, even if it’s not beneficial. Maybe it’s cognitive dissonance. Maybe it’s a combination of everything weighing on us to stay the same even when the same isn’t working.
Everyone, including myself, has gotten too comfortable “minding their business” to the detriment of society at large. And over time, the more we act in ways that doesn’t align with what we actually want and value in the world, the more depressed we get. Our decisions aren’t just impacting the world around us, but they are impacting our spirits, our minds, our beliefs. When I feel the best about myself, it’s because I’m doing as much as I can to make my spirit feel aligned with my values. I’m eating right, not just because it’s healthier, but because I have forced myself to be more conscious of the process.
THE SOURCES:
https://positivepsychology.com/cognitive-dissonance-theory/
Practice disobedience guide
BDS movement.
organize clothing swaps with your friends.
Annas Archive.
DSA
READING PARTNERS
Read Julie's Medium Blog.
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Info on War Tax Resistance.
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The opinions expressed by Julie Merica and Make Your Damn Bed Podcast are intended for entertainment purposes only. Make Your Damn Bed podcast is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Read Julie's Medium Blog.
Support JULIE (and the show!)
Support + get some bonus stuff over on PATREON.
Get an occasional personal email from me: www.makeyourdamnbedpodcast.com
Tune in on INSTAGRAM ANDYOUTUBE or TIKTOK
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/make-your-damn-bed.
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