What is downshifting and what it is not

It will be useful for reading both for corporate ties thinking about changing the scenery, and for those who are already under a palm tree and do not remember what day it is and what his name is.

I won't tell you who these people are. Who needs and so knows. And who does not know, this article is unlikely to be interesting. But in short, downshifting is the philosophy of changing the scenery. Lowering your standard of living for the sake of a change of direction. Downshifters strive to do what they love, to explore this world, to know themselves. It's hard to be successful at the same time, and have time for your unprofitable hobbies or just for fooling around. But here lies the main misconception of the system. Downshifters replace the word "difficult" with the word "impossible". Do you feel the difference?

Now they can say that either you're building a career or you're traveling the world. Either you become a recognized professional, or you surf as much as you want. Or… Or… Or… Once upon a time, when the word downshifting was first uttered in 1991, this concept meant successful and accomplished people who, having achieved heights in their profession, wanted to do something else. For the soul. They didn't have to provide for themselves, they didn't have to prove anything to anyone. They were already as cool as the gladiators of the Roman arena. And so, one day, scratching their mighty balls, they decided to create their own personal universe. For myself.

As it often happens, mass culture, having devoured, smacking, a new delicious system of values, regurgitated a stump of beliefs, which consisted only of the formula: "Quit working and live!" This "recipe" left all the charms of change. "We only live once! Think for yourself! Don't let yourself be controlled!" That's just about the background of the question of success, solvency and other nonsense, no one remembered. Like any medicine prescribed to the wrong patient, the downshifting formula began to give unpleasant shoots. And to be honest, it's just to cripple people.

The manager, who was building giant plans for the vice-president's chair and a Mercedes with a driver as a student, learned that he needed to kick ass from morning to evening for at least 15 years, while solving a huge amount of boring and complex tasks and beating all competitors on their heads. A journalist who dreamed of a sign "Editor-in-chief" was surprised to find out that it took ten years to learn how to write awesome on any stupid topic, and then the same amount in place of the deputy editor to learn how to also edit stupid texts of strangers. Complete despondency and melancholy. The sound of the alarm clock is perceived with hatred worthy of a partisan during interrogation by fascists. Time goes by, it's the same every day, but nothing comes. And suddenly he learns that it is possible to live in a different way. You just have to throw everything to hell and be happy.

Then they wander under palm trees somewhere in Goa, look blissfully at the ocean, smoke weed and chat with a bunch of new friends. Life was a success! Although for some reason it's still sad. With each passing month, it becomes more difficult to maintain serenity, smiles for the next friends become more fake. In the morning, the hated ceiling fan causes a persistent feeling of nausea. They wanted to live their lives brightly. They wanted to let this world into themselves. But the world is self-sufficient. He can't be let in. You can only live with him. It can only be learned. The universe opens its doors only to the same self-sufficient people who know their place in it. Because they won it for themselves.

And what have these people won? What dreams have you realized? Who did you want to become and how close did you come to it? Once they decided that the word "difficult" is a synonym for the word "impossible", and created a new "I" for themselves. They did not become excellent leaders, brilliant doctors, masters of the syllable or canvas. They have not become the ones who change their lives because they speak to the universe on an equal footing. They just ran. Because they are downshifters.

Although you probably shouldn't be so categorical. For someone, a new life in a new place turns out to be a real salvation. A blank sheet starts with a new title. Children's passion is finally becoming tangible and realizable. Conquer mountain peaks, study martial arts, finally understand this damn math. And just live doing what you love. That's just… But don't forget that conquering, studying and understanding are the same years, the same difficult tasks. As in ordinary office life, few people have the courage to go to the intended goal again and again. And most of them still take up the old — "drop everything and just live!"

Maybe downshifting is just an attempt to return to the point of departure. This is the hope for a new choice. Now already considered. Now already suffered through years of wandering. Maybe it's just a desire to give yourself completely to what you believe in and strive for. The desire to stand tall. But already in its place.