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gwunspoken
We know that now more than ever, there is a growing disconnection between parents and their teens, corporates and their employees, and human interactions in general.
This can cause stress, frustration and many arguments within families and the work environment.
gwunspoken looks at the challenges people of all ages have in their relationships with one another and provides experience and advice, allowing all parties to have a voice.... and feel heard.
Join us to hear corporates, parents, educators, teens and the latest advice of how we can in fact live the life we love, in making authentic interactions, because we know... authentic connection is everything.
gwunspoken
You don't need to upgrade to be an upgrade yourself.
Ever notice how your perfectly good phone suddenly feels outdated after a new release? Or how scrolling through social media leaves your life feeling small? That's not an accident—it's by design. Our entire economic system thrives on your perpetual dissatisfaction.
In this rebellious exploration of gratitude, we challenge the "more culture" that dominates our lives—more followers, more hustle, more abs, more everything. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research confirms what we've suspected: consumers spend more when feeling inadequate. But what if contentment could be your most powerful act of resistance?
Gratitude isn't settling—it's savouring. Studies show people who practice gratitude are 50% less likely to engage in impulse shopping and 30% less likely to compare themselves on social media. It literally rewires your brain to value what you have over what you lack. Think of it as installing an adblock in your mind against every ad, influencer, and algorithm trying to convince you that happiness lies in the next purchase.
Ready to join the rebellion? Try unplugging from the "more machine" one day a week. Start a gratitude journal focusing on three things you appreciate that cost nothing. Ask yourself these powerful questions: What do I already have that I've been undervaluing? Where have I fallen into the trap of believing I need more to be happy? What would one week of genuine contentment look like in my life?
Share this episode with someone who needs to remember they are already enough. Because the ultimate flex isn't having more—it's recognising when you have enough.
www.in8code.com
Welcome to an edition of GW Unspoken where we discuss stuff we don't typically talk about but probably should, and we're here talking about gratitude, season 9, episode 7. Ooh, controversial one. This time we're talking about gratitude as rebellion, and that means choosing contentment in a culture of more. You know, because we are in a world constantly telling you to do more, have more, be more. Well, choosing to be content, that's actually a radical act in itself, and here's the problem. Here's the problem with society, with everyone, regardless of how old you are. We are addicted to more. We live in a more culture, more followers, more hustle, more side gigs, more ab definition, maybe even more digital detoxes. More, more, more, more, more.
Speaker 1:Our entire economic system is built on the idea that you're a permanently dissatisfied consumer and you're never enough, and neither is what you have Ever notice how, after every new phone release, your perfectly good concurrent phone suddenly feels slow and outdated, or how, after a few hours on social media, your whole life feels well, probably small. And that's not an accident, it's actually by design. There's now research from the National Bureau of Economic Research that shows that consumers are more likely to spend money when they feel inadequate or left behind, which means an entire economy is betting on you, never, ever feeling content, and here's why this matters. Gratitude is actually a system disruptor. It breaks the cycle of want, buy, discard and repeat. It forces you to pause and actually notice what you already have. In fact, a 2022 study in the journal of positive psychology found that people who regularly practice gratitude were 50% less likely to engage in impulse shopping and 30% less likely to compare themselves to others on social media. There's a big one for you teens out there Gratitude literally rewires your brain to value what you have over what you lack, and that's like installing an ad block in your mind.
Speaker 1:It's actually the secret ingredient, as Tim Bono says, to happiness. It helps you tune out the constant noise of not enough and focus on what's already here and you know what. Here's where it gets a bit spicy. A lot of people here be content and think, hey, that must mean I have to settle. They think it's the same as giving up or being lazy or lacking ambition. But let me say this very clearly Gratitude is not about settling. It's actually about savoring. You can be grateful for your progress and still want more. You can appreciate what you have and still set bigger goals. You can feel blessed and still have a burning desire to grow. Gratitude isn't the end of the road. It's actually the fuel for the journey. And let's be honest, the journey is often the thing that actually makes us excited once we get to the end result. And if you want a little cheeky perspective, think of it this way Gratitude is like a giant middle finger to every ad influencer and algorithm, trying to convince you that you need the latest thing to be happy.
Speaker 1:It's the ultimate unsubscribe. So next time you see an ad for the newest smartwatch that tracks your hydration levels and texts your mum when you're stressed, just remember you don't have to buy the upgrade to be an upgrade yourself. You're already enough, even with your old, slightly cracked potato quality phone. So how do you make this a daily practice? Look, here's the plan.
Speaker 1:Number one try unplugging from the noise. Spend one day a week free from the more machine. No online shopping, no comparison scrolling, no wish list. Just you, your actual life and your current reality. Number two celebrate what you have. Every time you feel the urge to upgrade, upsize or overhaul, stop and ask yourself do I already have what I need? Am I really lacking or just being told I am?
Speaker 1:And number three keep a gratitude rebellion journal. I love the journals. When you write stuff down, it gets it out of your mind Every day. Write down three things, three things you're grateful for. That cost nothing. Pen and paper, not text, not note section. Actually write down. You'll be surprised how quickly this rewires your mind to see abundance where others see lack. So look, we talked about journal prompt there, but here's three more for your journal that we do every single week. Again, a strong suggestion. It's been proven. You write things down, have goals, things get achieved. Here's number one. Again, strongly encourage you to write these down. Number one what's one thing I already have as in you that you've been overlooking or undervaluing. So give it the credit it actually deserves.
Speaker 1:Number two where in your life have you fallen into the trap of believing hey, I need more to be happy? Is it status? Is it wealth? Is it physical appearance? Is it fitting in? What is it?
Speaker 1:And number three what would your life look like if you genuinely were content with what you had just for one week? What would it look like? How would that change your mood, your choices, your relationship, maybe even your finance? Because remember, even people who buy online shopping to buy things to make themselves feel better. It's a double dopamine. It's a double carrot. To get hooked, exciting to scroll through what you want, suddenly purchasing it. That's a dopamine, and a dopamine waiting for it to arrive on your door. What would it look like if you were just content for one week? All right, that's episode seven. We've got one to go and remember. Contentment isn't complacency, it's a quiet, rebellious refusal to be a pawn in the endless game of more. And look, if this episode hit home for you, share it with someone who needs to remember that they are already enough, because the ultimate flex isn't more, it's actually enough. And I'm gary woodford. This is gw, unspoken, where we discuss the truth even when it's convenient, or should I say inconvenient. Catch you next week.