LIFESTYLE defines a concept of individual freedom, in which the individual is allowed to act on his or her own preferences and choose. In other words, LIFESTYLE is a philosophy that is a human being’s charter, a road map to direct their life. The concept of LIFESTYLE was introduced by Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler in his famous article, The Case of Miss R. which means “a child’s basic human right”. This is because freedom encourages the growth of the individual in all aspects and helps him to decide his own path towards self-actualization.
What makes a good lifestyle? According to LIFESTYLE, a good life style consists of five elements: freedom, intimacy, fairness, harmony, and responsibility. These elements, when combined together, create a basic package, which has to be complemented with LIFESTYLE principles and concepts. In addition to these elements, there are also several other LIFESTYLE techniques such as the use of five elements to create a “path” to a better life, the use of the at symbol, the role of the stilus and vita, the four cardinal precepts, the use of the truci in life style, and lastly, the role of the puella aequora in the quest for excellence.
Freedom, as defined by the lifestyle, is the power to choose. It is a key element of any LIFESTYLE life style. Adorno defines it as the ability to choose the things one values. Lifestyles vary greatly, for some they value independence and personal responsibility, while for others they value conformity, friendship, camaraderie, acceptance, hierarchy, and the like. As freedom is important to a life style, it is necessary to have appropriate freedom symbols as well. The most commonly used symbols by the Greeks were the owl and the dolphin.
In the mass culture, most people are content to accept authority symbolically. This enables them to function comfortably in a group without having to question or change their fundamental beliefs or values. A great deal of effort is placed on creating and publicizing “good” values. Lifestyles developed in the mass culture are often unsuitable to LIFESTYLE lifestyles, as they tend to promote conformity and passiveness.
Fairness, as defined by the lifestyle, is a basic human right. This allows all persons to be treated equally. Because LIFESTYLE focuses on individual freedom and responsibility, it is not based on religion but on a shared community responsibility for the well-being of each member of the group. Adorno believes that the group must come to the realization that there is a difference between what is acceptable to the majority and what would be considered unacceptable for each individual.
This belief is at the heart of LIFESTYLE, which provides an explicitly individualistic way of looking at lifestyle choices. It does away with the notion that there is a group or class of people who have a particular role or duty to perform. Instead, each person considers themselves the LEADER and is responsible for their own actions. By choosing a LIFESTYLE, you will be literally making your own decisions, and you will have far more power and control over your life. You can truly say that a LIFESTYLE is the only way to a real, active, meaningful and enjoyable life!