Why do so many people leave city life as
a way of downshifting? Do you think the global
recession is going to increase or decrease
the amount of people downshifting to the
coast or the countryside?
It seems to me that
this is mainly to do with wanting to reduce
stress and slow down.
Life can be so pressurised and fast paced
these days and this can lead to all kinds
of personal and professional pain. It is
possible to slow down the pace of life and
reduce personal stress in a city environment
or whilst living by the coast or in the countryside.
Actually, living in a district that’s
more remote doesn’t work for everyone.
It depends what kind of lifestyle suits you.
What we do know is that having some regular
contact with nature, wherever you live, is
very helpful. It reduces stress and produces
endorphins in the brain – the happiness
chemicals!
I think the global
recession may lead to some people moving
out of town and using
redundancy, for example, as an opportunity
to start anew in an environment that is better
suited to them. However, for some people,
it can have the opposite effect, if for example
they believe that they’re not able
to afford to move or they fear employment
difficulties if they move further afield.
What advice would you give to someone considering
a relocation?
Think about what you’re
moving towards as well as what you’re
trying to leave behind (see my recent blog “Freedom
From” or "Freedom to”).
As with any major life decision, it’s
the inner work that needs to be addressed
first – establishing
motivation, inspiration, personal values,
the real reasons for wanting a change and
the truth about where you wish to move to,
metaphorically and physically.
Do you think there are dangers involved in
packing up your life and moving to a far-flung
destination?
I think I would prefer
to use the word “risks” rather
than “dangers”! There are risks
in any decision and the way to evaluate the
risks and minimise those associated with
the path you decide to take is to do your
research. I would suggest researching culture,
the political situation, healthcare provision
in particular for your considered destination.
I would look closely at finances too. How
will you finance your new lifestyle? If close
to retirement, how will moving to a far flung
destination affect your pension arrangements?
The “danger”, in my opinion is
in making an uninformed or ill-informed decision.
I would also suggest
thinking deeply about who you would like
to live close to in your
new life. Who in your family matters most
to you? Which friends would you like to have
more contact with? Whilst many people are
clocking up thousands of “love miles” visiting
friends and relatives by plane at the moment,
this is unlikely to be realistic within a
very short space of time (probably within
the next 5 years) with depleting oil supplies
and climate change mitigation measures coming
into force.
What would your advice be to someone who
is struggling with where they are in their
lives? Is there something to consider before
taking the leap and making huge decisions
like a relocation or career change?
Yes- your values and overall vision. You
will need to be very clear on your motives
and intention. I encourage my clients to
be authentic, above all, in whatever they
plan to do.
Many downshifters want to run their own
business to help support the financial side
of their new life. Have you got any tips
for people trying to find a suitable business
idea to develop?
That’s a BIG question! In brief it
comes down to values, business purpose, what
you want to achieve by starting a small business.
Most of us are capable of doing many different
things in order to earn a living. The question
is really “What will make us happy
too?” “How can I make a meaningful
contribution to the world and support myself
financially?” I do a lot of coaching
on this and it’s a fascinating and
fulfilling process – often very moving
actually. Something you can ask yourself
is: If your business were a vehicle for something,
what would that something be?
How can people learn to live with
less, especially with the concept of "downshifting" and
returning to a simpler way of living? Won't
they just be miserable when they get rid
of all their creature comforts and nights
out?
Rather than “returning” to a
simpler way of life, for me it’s more
about creating a new way of living more simply.
For some people, life without their creature
comforts will be miserable. They find it
a great challenge to see the value, or experience
the joy, in the simpler things in life. This
is not really surprising given the emphasis
on the message “this creature comfort
will make you attractive, sexy, happy etc.
etc.” in most of the advertising on
television and in newspapers and magazines.
It can take many of us a few decades to realise
that this message is a complete myth!
Some people who are
forcibly downshifted e.g. through redundancy,
ill health or a
relationship breakdown, are quite depressed
to begin with. It is possible to help them
cultivate a different perspective on their
plight and start to see the opportunities
and gifts in their situation. I’ve
found personal coaching to be a wonderful
tool in this respect.
For those who can already envisage a richer,
more meaningful alternative to the rat race,
downshifting can be a blessed relief and
a source of pleasure and tranquillity.
Do you think the concept of relocating your
life in order to achieve happiness actually
works? Or is it just a myth?
I think relocation on its own is not what
will make us happy. To achieve happiness,
we need to be living an authentic life, true
to our values. We need to be honest with
ourselves about what really motivates and
inspires us about life, who we want to spend
time with, what kind of environment we like
to live in etc. Relocating in itself is not
necessarily the answer to all of these things,
although it might well form part of the means
to the answer.
