I wrote something about the fast lane, which is basically about slaving at work and the rat race. I never heard of the concept known as downshifting, until I read Lalaine‘s article on the subject matter. I agree with her that downshifting primarily requires emotional and financial readiness. Nevertheless, the ultimate consideration is one’s contentment. Are we happy and contented with what we have now? When we achieve something, it’s almost certain that we will want more. Moving forward, it seems, is already programmed in our genes. Stopping and actually stepping back, on the other hand, is a decision that is extremely difficult to make. Here are some portions of Lalaine’s article:
My name is Lalaine and I’m a downshifter. I have chosen a path less traveled, allowing myself to shift into lower gear from what was otherwise a successful professional life, but one that required humongous sacrifice and made me question my priorities. Downshifting? It provides me comfort and confidence to know that there is such a term, and that other people have done it successfully. Downshifting, it seems, is slowly, but surely, becoming a global phenomenon, expanding people’s lifestyle choices. So these days, it’s not anymore about being in the rat race, as opposed to being retired, versus being a homebody. …….
Why are people downshifting? Are these just extreme situations? In the world today a lot of people are driven by forces, which inexorably control their lives. For a good deal of us, including my previous self, personal success and financial stability meant giving in to the powerful corporate machine – churning and weaving, brusquely spinning people’s lives around, in exchange for fame and fortune. To climb the multinational hierarchy, one must inevitably put his and his family’s fate at the mercy of the company. Power, money and accolades have a high price. Highly stressful work conditions driven by total commitment, irregular hours, incessant traveling and short and long-term postings in different countries, these are standard operating conditions which take their toll on one’s life and relationships. …
I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to choose, because downshifting is not for everybody, and certainly not for the fainthearted. As the documentary so rightly pointed out, a person would need a strong constitution, emotional readiness and a certain level of financial stability, (and of course guidance from the BIG BOSS up there), to ease the process. Downshifting means a major departure from one’s comfort zone – you live the same type of life for over a decade and surely a total change in your focus, routine and priorities, would cause ‘withdrawal symptoms’. (To read the entire article, click here)
