Hustle culture ~ the nemesis of your nervous system

We live in a day and age that glorifies busyness and hails hustle culture as not the pinnacle, but the expected everyday standard we should all adhere to, regardless of our mental, emotional or physical capacity on any given day.

It feels as though we are doomed to always be chasing that alluring future time of arrival. When we will have enough. When we will be enough.

But when will that time be here. Tomorrow? Next month? In a decade?

Are we there yet?

This future-centric thinking keeps us locked in a present that is always less than ~ where our today reality is one where we are burnt out, exhausted and have no capacity for ourselves, our friends, our family.. let alone the juice left in the thank to fill our own cup by engaging in activities that bring us joy, like crafting, recreational sport, reading for pleasure, riding a bike, hugging a tree and any other pastime that doesn’t have to result in a product or a monetizable side-hustle.

Perhaps it’s time we created an antidote to hustle-culture.

In my world, it is called abundance.

Artwork by the brilliant Yumi Sakugawa. Here is her Instagram for more vibey gems.

I am choosing to define abundance by having enough. Enough sleep, enough sunshine, filtered drinking water, contact with loved ones, cuddles with my cat, meaningful time with loved ones, the resilience to respond with patience and kindness when presented with a challenging moment.

Enough money to buy a Porsche? Nope.
Enough money to go to brunch with a friend? You bet.

Do most people who drive a Porsche consider themselves already in the state of abundance? Or are they caught in the trap of feeling like it all still isn’t enough, and wanting and needing more? Hard to say for sure but we can probably guess.

What I can authoritatively speak on is my own experience of abundance. And by my definition, today I have enough.