The term ‘goblin mode’ has landed, as if 2022 couldn’t get any crazier. You may be one of the hundreds of millions that have no clue why goblin mode is popping up all over the news and social media. Or, you may be one who’s already gone full goblin mode and chosen a life of unapologetic laziness and greed to feel better in these desperate times. In either case, we should all be aware just how dangerous goblin mode is to ourselves and the society we find community in.
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What Does Goblin Mode Mean?
Oxford University Press, the organization behind the Oxford Dictionary, has defined the trending phrase ‘goblin mode’ as “unapologetically self-indulgent, lazy, slovenly, or greedy, typically in a way that rejects social norms or expectations.”
No doubt you can imagine how easily this type of self-seeking lifestyle can rise to fame on social media.
It’s as if children from some 90’s video game have found the keys to the kingdom and pronounced victory over the traditional values of hard work, success, and selflessness.
Does goblin mode define current events?
The world is still reeling from the real cost of the pandemic.
It’s not just our dollars and cents that have become more chaotic, but our routines and relationships.
I remember at the start of 2020 there was a legitimate fear of running out of toilet paper.
We were all grabbing as much as possible even to the detriment of those around us.
The same happened with gasoline, furniture, toys, and cars as the pandemic stretched on.
And all the hoarding and taking and keeping and protecting and looking out for our own best interests instead of others has manifested into not just a fun new phrase but a poisonous lifestyle that can ruin a nation.
Unapologetically Self-Indulgent
Self-indulgence revolves around pleasure or idleness, typically focused on one’s own person, as the term suggests.
Self-indulgent people are rarely celebrated.
Now, let’s be clear what we mean here.
Taking care of ourselves is great.
Even pampering is wonderful now and then.
But a self-indulgent lifestyle is not about promoting our health and wellness.
Self-indulgence is often at a point of excess or at the cost of other things.
And if you add unapologetic to such a lifestyle, it’s easy to see how more important things in life are being trampled on with cheers and celebration.
Examples of Unapologetic Self-Indulgence
- Eating whatever you want, even if it’s bad for you or those around you, and not caring
- Not helping your group or team on an assignment and gloating in scoring well without contributing
- Living for short-term gratification with little to no consideration of the future
- Making yourself happy at the expense of your family
- Throwing caution to the wind by living dangerously or above financial means
- Putting yourself first and laughing off any criticism
- Having the means to live more responsibly but choosing not to
- Reveling in a lifestyle that makes it more difficult for others to live reasonably well
- Choosing not to engage in activities that take effort in order to stay relaxed or passive
- Enjoying the hard work of others knowing you could have helped ease their burden
- Choosing distraction over deliberate action when we face challenges or difficult situations
Dangers of Going Goblin Mode
A community is only as strong as the members within it.
Like it or not, we are all part of a community.
Some communities are small, and others very, very large.
Communities begin with neighbors, friends, or co-workers, and continue with towns, cities, and countries.
When individuals within a community are focused on the common good, mutual respect, and caring for one another, there is power and unity.
But when a community is comprised of individuals who are looking out for themselves, hoarding, or devouring in excess, the community loses unity and becomes weaker.
The saddest reality of all is these negative tendencies hurt the individual who’s gone goblin mode the most.
While only looking out for our own happiness or pleasure feels good in the moment or after a grueling work week, it leads to isolation, lack of purpose, and lower quality relationships when prioritized over other responsibilities.
Think about it.
- Would you want to be friends with someone who only looks out for themselves?
- Would you trust a greedy employee?
- Would you help out a lazy neighbor?
The types of behavior traits people have who unapologetically go goblin mode made them literally and figuratively a stench.
Hard working, honest, and caring members of society don’t want anything to do with goblin mode folks.
All they get are some social likes, a few laughs from their goblin mode buddies, and a whole life of heartache, isolation, and regret.
Let’s give a unified response to these goblins and their lazy, greedy ways by paying them no mind.
No attention.
And certainly, no applause.
What Can We Do for Self-Care Without Going Goblin Mode?
Personal health is important.
In fact, the healthier individuals are, the healthier a community is!
5 Healthier Self-Care Tips Without Going Goblin Mode
- Practice being present. Put technology and other distractions down when focusing on something important.
- Prioritize sleep. Our bodies were made to rest, yet we run on fumes. Quality sleep works wonders.
- Look out for the interests of others. God’s economy sometimes feels upside down compared to the way our world often works. If we focus on doing what’s right for other people, we’ll find other people often do what’s right for us.
- Be honest with ourselves. It’s OK to withdraw, relax, and have fun. But let’s be honest with ourselves first when we know we’re neglecting other priorities like work, commitments, and relationships.
- Learn. Education is a miraculous way to see the world differently. Even practices like relaxation and renewal can become more effective when we know more. Make time to read or listen to experts and implement ideas that are wise and helpful.
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- Leave a comment below and tell me what you think of Oxford Dictionary’s word of 2022, goblin mode.
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