Realize that escaping is futile. No matter how hard you may try to escape life’s mundane duties for a glamorous lifestyle like those the media celebrates, it’s impossible to escape ordinary life. So stop wasting time and energy trying to escape, and accept that toil is a fact of life (you’ve got to work to support yourself, you must cook to eat, etc.) and consequences are unavoidable (if you charge an impulse purchase to your credit card, you have to pay it off when the bill comes, and if you drive too fast, you can get in an accident, etc.). Realize that true fulfillment isn’t found in escaping ordinary life, but by connecting to God’s presence in the middle of it.

Think about others. Even though the media urges you to indulge in a self-absorbed lifestyle, remember the many other people who share this planet with you. Many poor and disenfranchised people have less than you – and to them, your lifestyle is something about which they can only dream. Ask God to give you His perspective on your lifestyle, so instead of constantly feeling discontent and wanting to acquire more, you’re grateful for what you have already. Honestly consider the responsibility you have as a Christian to help those who have less than you do.

Embrace your true significance. Realize that, unlike what the media tells you, you don’t have to be famous, popular, rich, smart, accomplished, or good-looking in order to be significant. God values you tremendously – no matter what – and He has significant purposes for your life.

Get rid of the plastic Jesus on the shelf of your life. Don’t reduce Jesus to a figure you think is nice but don’t really rely on. Help your relationship with Him come alive by trading in a nice lifestyle for a way of life that follows His guidance daily. Don’t settle for just believing in Jesus but living however you’d like; trust Him with every part of your life and invite Him to truly transform you. Expect that, while living your life radically for Jesus will involve some tough times and sacrifices, it will also lead to much greater fulfillment than you could ever enjoy from the “good life” the media promotes.

Pursue God instead of happiness, and happiness will come to you. Understand that, if you pursue happiness as an end in itself as the media urges you to, actual happiness will constantly elude you. But if you make your relationship with God your top priority, you’ll discover happiness as a byproduct of that relationship.

Surrender control. Rather than following your own agenda like the hyper-real culture celebrates, recognize that only God is in control of your future. Surrender your attempts to control and trust Him to guide you to what’s best for you.

Look beyond materialism to what matters most. Chasing after material things won’t ultimately lead you to the fulfillment you seek. Despite the media’s emphasis on materialism, look beyond that to focus on what has eternal value: relationships with God and other people. Read, study, and meditate on the Bible regularly to soak in its wisdom and help you keep your focus in the right place.

Honestly examine your life. Take a hard look at every part of your life to determine how the hyper-real culture has influenced your attitudes and actions. Ask yourself: “In what ways has my hope been dictated by the hyper-real world?”, “How do I try and escape reality?”, “In what ways have I been shaped by the hyper-real world? How has this shaping affected my behavior?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected my ability to commit?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected the way I enter into relationships?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected the way I engage with Christian community?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected my sexuality?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected my values?”, “How has hyper-consumerism shaped my behavior?”, “How has the hyper-real culture affected my discipleship?”, “How do I attempt to control my life?”, “How have I valued surface over depth?”, “How have I let hyper-reality shape my identity?”, “In what ways have I tried to pursue happiness through means that are outside of God’s reality?”, “What particular idols of the hyper-real culture do I worship in my life?”, and “What dysfunctions, disappointments, and hurts do I have in my life that allow the hyper-real culture to gain a foothold?”. Find someone you trust to hold you accountable and encourage you as you deal with these issues.