Amid the doom and gloom of capital markets and dire economic prophecies, it may just be that our western world is undergoing a major philosophical shift: both in thought and in lifestyle. The very social structure that many have built their entire careers and lives around is being upended.

While this trend could be short lived — surviving only until another market boom, it appears that change is in the air for the time being.

Greed is no longer good. Safe is better than daring. Predictability appears more desirable than popularity. Recession dressing and thrift shops are touted, while obvious displays of money symbols (especially if achieved with excess credit card shopping) are regarded as just over the top. Individual creativity is seeing resurgence. Could it be that the "right to be me" is overcoming the sense of existing in a nation of clones?

The creation of individual authenticity in compositions, no matter the media, leaves the mark of you for generations to come.

Supporting consumerist data. According to new research from Knowledge [AT] Wharton, (December 10, 2008) consumers are aggravated and uninspired by the sameness and predictability of shopping malls, which for decades epitomised consumer society.

"People go to the mall and nothing stands out or makes the experience fun or exciting," Hoch adds. "There is no sense of discovery. Nothing catches the eye. It's the same restaurants and the same stores in every mall.

"Clearly people are spending less time shopping aimlessly. I think this is a long-term trend. People are still shopping and spending but they do it less often and it has to be more purposeful."

It is not about the spending, I think we are tired of sameness. We will continue to spend on what pleases us but consumerism will be tied in with the need for real purpose in our lives.

Sameness. And what do we mean by this description? Are we talking about culture /symbol climbing, social stratosphere goals, personal gratification, the quest to be different? With the global exchange of information, it is very easy to spot the social crazes and aspirations of various age groups, at least as perpetuated by entertainment media. Look around. Sameness — in Hollywood epitomised by extreme frontal views and artificial plastic filler from the top of elaborate domes to the bottoms of elegantly coiffed feet.

While we, no matter where we are in life, feel comfortability with our own space and peer group whether jewellery displays, oversized clothing, the unpressed faded, slightly unkempt bored look, symbol-emblazoned athletic wear, detailed meticulous tailored career looks, it still boils down to sameness.

Once you attain the look and inclusion of the group you aspire to, what do you have? Possibly, not the ideological or individualistic differences that make the statement that you think you've made.

Necessity is the mother of invention, said Plato. During tough economic, personal and spiritual times, many of us are challenged to reuse, recycle, restore, and revalue the sameness of our everyday life. Do these individual and family efforts work in synchronisation with corporations reinventing themselves?

When adversity changes the game plan, the greatest ideas often come to the fore. When you have nothing to lose, you are more willing to take risks to succeed.

Wonderful purposeful awakening in Western culture. We have grown complacent, and uninspired in many ways, sitting in front of computers, TVs, Gameboys, movies, restaurants waiting — passively waiting for the latest new idea to come and entertain us.

Some may say it is even worse. We have become mental vacuums, while others will bristle at the suggestion of such passivity. We expect to be able to shop for entertainment and excitement. Many of us have lost the art (and it is an art) of using our imagination to excite and lead fulfilling lives.

What has happened to the work of creative hands: sewing, woodworking, quilting, painting, wall building, weaving, gardening, tinwork, soap and paper making, cooking — from — scratch? These crafts are practised by the very few these days.

We have grown to expect our lifestyle to fly in on a plane, endlessly renewing our plans for excitement and fun. I guarantee that if you sought out the grand dames and grand fathers in your extended family, you would find an entirely different approach to the meaning of life.

We know too from blogs, surveys, and statistics that the level of happiness is lower than it has ever been — in spite of the richness of Western Life. Take the Authentic Happiness, Grit or Gratitude test at the University of Pennsylvania website http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx to see where you fit in this picture.

Could it be that we need to feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose from creating that can never be supplanted by being entertained? Could it be that when we are challenged to imagine, teach and educate ourselves in surviving and thriving in life that we do wonderful things for our souls?

Adversity help us to bring about a better balance in our lives for tough times can very quickly emphasise the things that are the most important to any family.

Russell Bishop on his website, www.lessonsinthekeyoflife.com, and in the Living Section of www.huffingtonpost.com has created transformation keys to help you achieve balance by using the Wheel of Life, a way of evaluating where you are in your current level of life satisfaction and fulfilment. It is called "How to Prepare for your Best Year Yet" featured in three parts. I encourage you to use this time of family togetherness and peace to create your Best Year Ever.