So, with Christmas behind us, how was it for you? A season of goodwill and peace to all? A time to focus on family and friends, as well as those less fortunate than ourselves? Even if you wished to ignore the festive season or, more radically, to focus on the values that lie obliterated by the commercialisation of Christmas, it would be impossible not to be impacted by its consumerist angle, heralded way back in September with numerous 3 for 2 offers for Christmas “essentials” plastered all over every high street. The clear message we’re left with after Christmas, as the bills start to roll in, is not one of compassion and goodwill, but of turbo-consumerism. And it’s no surprise as each of us is subject to around 1,600 commercial messages every day which can seriously harm our ability to flourish. In the run up to Christmas, this figure increases dramatically.

At Life Squared, we recognise that consumerism is one of a number of barriers to people living happy, self-determined lives in the modern world. We are a not-for-profit organisation helping people to live happier, wiser and more meaningful lives within the pressure and complexity of the modern world. 

We provide people with accessible ideas, information and tools to help them see their world more clearly and take a more informed approach to living so that they become 'authors of their own lives' rather than being swept away by the norms and demands of the modern world - from the pressure to achieve material success, through to the demand to buy more stuff.

There is plenty of evidence now which suggests that being richer with increased material wealth actually does nothing for our levels of happiness. Consequently, many people are searching beyond the illusions of consumerism and the trappings that society claims will make us happy, for more authentic meaning in their lives.

To help people to focus on what really matters, Life Squared has produced a number of publications (all available free to download at www.lifesquared.org.uk) offering ways of approaching life that can be more supportive of happiness and wellbeing. It’s worth browsing the site to see what’s there. The Mind Diet is all about identifying the things that impact our minds negatively – it’s a 10-step mind diet to help us throw off the mental flab and gain a new outlook on life. There’s also The Modern Life Survival Guide which examines the pressures we all face such as consumerism and the sheer pace of life, and offers practical steps on how to live with greater self-determination and in line with the values that are most important to you.  And if you’re determined that next Christmas will be different, our Xmas²booklet explores some of the activities and ideas that really add purpose, meaning and fun to our experience of Christmas, and offers plenty of suggestions for how we can have a happy and wise festive period.  

To date, Life² has attracted thousands of users and significant support and interest from well-known fans such as Stephen Fry. If you would like to explore evidence-based ways of creating a happier and more meaningful life amidst the chaos and confusion of society’s mixed messages, check out our website at www.lifesquared.org.uk. It just might help you to have a truly happy new year!