The spontaneous tendency of our culture is to inexorably add detail to our lives: one more option, one more commitment, one more expectation, one more purchase, one more debt, one more change, one more job, one more decision. We must now deal with more “things per person” than at any other time in history. Yet one can comfortably handle only so many details in his or her life. Exceeding this threshold will result in disorganization or frustration. It is important to note here that the problem is not in the “details.” The problem is in the “exceeding.” This is called overloading. (loc 762)
Often we do not feel overload sneaking up on us. We instead feel energized by the rapidity of events and the challenge of our full days. Then one day we find it difficult to get out of bed. Not all threshold limits are appreciated as we near them, and it is only in exceeding them that we suddenly feel the breakdown. (loc 813)
...overload—We have more “things per person” than any other nation in history. Closets are full, storage space is used up, and cars can’t fit into garages. Having first imprisoned us with debt, possessions then take over our houses and occupy our time. This begins to sound like an invasion. Everything I own owns me. Why would I want more? (loc 927)
To date, people do not operate on the principle of overloading. Instead, they operate on the basis of “one more thing won’t hurt.” Yet this is only true if it is true. Once we are maximally loaded down, adding one more thing will hurt. The pain of overload is real pain. (loc.955)
Margin
No comments:
Post a Comment