All of us are doing are best to survive in a broken economic system.

Side hustles can be fun and meaningful. But for a huge percentage of a generation, they're also necessary.

Self employment can be liberating. And it can easily blur the lines between what you do for yourself and your income.

Either way, our capitalist system brainwashes us to believe that time is money and social media is power.

Have you ever felt guilty for simply relaxing? Working on a creative project just because—with no attachment to monetizing? Do you feel as if you must share every cool thing in your life on social to keep building a following? Does every activity need to be for the goal of personal betterment?

Mainstream commentators often credit these patterns to narcissism —"your self-esteem comes from likes", or "you think you're special and can sell socks on Etsy while the rest of us work".

On the other hand, many spiritual teachers teach that these drives are your fault—you're not prioritizing your energy, or your have limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.

While narcissism is a legitimate epidemic in our society (more on that in another post), and we absolutely can learn to work more effectively with our energy and shift limiting beliefs (this is a huge part of the healing sessions I offer), these toxic patterns are not that simple.

The feeling that everything you do must be monetized, or for personal betterment, or to build social followings, comes down to systems of work and economy that no longer fit our evolutionary path forward.

And it comes down to survival.

Younger generations are are inheriting a dying and unjust world wherein the very rich get richer—and so do their children—and everyone else is losing wealth, home-buying opportunities, access to basic healthcare, and fundamental financial and environmental safety.

Getting out of our cultural trappings is much more complicated than the "law of attraction" teachings many are fed. Yes, we are powerful creators, but our collective creations are, in fact, co-created.

We are co-creating with the divine…and each other.

None of us is an island. The effects of our actions do impact the well-being of others—and their actions impact us.

I share this because sometimes it's good to know you aren't crazy for struggling. AND because we can collectively change these dynamics.

You have more power to change yourself—and the world around you—than you probably realize.

One small thing you can do today is SAY NO to the capitalist, colonial, patriarchal BS that tells you to monetize every minute of your life. To only express your creative energy if it will be compensated or rewarded with likes.

Do something just for fun. And don't post about it on Instagram.

Though this seems small, it's an act of rebellion. It loosens the cultural shackles that keep us running like hamsters on a wheel. It teaches you a new way of being, just for a moment. And over time, it will shift your energy…and therefore the energy around you. These little acts of self care support the revolution we need.