What do you get when you cross inspiration and experiences? Insperiences--one of the hottest new marketing trends.
For the past few years we have seen a consumer society dominated by experiences. In fact, a recent Unity Marketing survey found that consumers' spending on experiences nearly doubled in 2005. What's new, however, is that experiences, which have been traditionally viewed as unique and fulfilling activities in which individuals participate outside the home, are now being brought into the domestic environment.
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Another sign of the insperience trend is the growth of in-home retreats. Whether feeling stressed out from a tech-filled culture that keeps people plugged in 24/7/365, or seeking comfort and security post-September 11, 2001, people are looking for ways to soothe the psyche, promote togetherness, and build sanity into their everyday lives. They are finding these qualities in what Dawn Ritchie calls the emotional house. In a recent article Ritchie wrote, "Everyone is stressed and needs a place to escape and regroup."
Toll Brothers, the luxury homebuilder, is responding to this need by offering new homes complete with "calming rooms" designed for meditation, yoga, or massage. Those not looking to build a new house are turning underused space into personal specialty rooms like wine cellars and tasting rooms, meditation and yoga rooms, and in-home spas.
I really recommend that you set aside at least a corner of one room for meditation where you build a little shrine or altar and where you have a chair or cushion appropriate for your meditation practice. Then when you have a few minutes to meditate you can just sit and do it - you won't have to make a production of it.
Having thought about this (specifically your comments, Ellie), it strikes me that there is a very fine line between having rituals and making a production. There are several rituals I have integrated into my meditative practice which, in the past, supported my practice. However, in the last several months I have given those rituals the power to be barriers or excuses for not doing my meditation. Time and energy did not allow for both the rituals and the meditation so I just eliminated both. It is as if I forgot it was the meditation that was truly important--not the rituals. Hopefully I will now remember to ask myself, is this practicing a ritual to support my meditation or is it making a production to avoid my meditation?
ReplyDeleteCarolyn L.
Excellent question, Carolyn!
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, I didn't mean to be disparaging of rituals. Mainly I was thinking of the "production" of getting out the mat and cushion and setting them up someplace. It's easier if you can just go to your meditation spot and sit. But I think your observations about ritual are very good.