Materialism
In western culture, we are consumed by materialism. Ads, infomercials, shops, magazines, lure us into wanting more. The constant need for validation in materialistic objects has become the norm. When I was younger, a tamagotchi was the on-trend gadget or looking after your nintendogs was what everyone did. Although I no longer look after a digital pet (sucked at it anyway - my tamagotchi died at least once a week and my nintendogs were constantly ‘famished’), the materialistic wants move to fashion, having an epic car, designer brands and even your house. Why do we want these objects? Some of us want it more than others, but it is still an important concept as materialistic objects are all around us…
Why do we yearn materialistic objects?
There is no way in hell I’d leave the house with crocs (sadly, 11 year old me would beg to differ) and I can’t help but feel ecstatic when there’s a sale at my fave store. But why? Why do we want more and for some of us, like me, why is difficult to know when you’ve taken consumerism too far? After all, we are the same people on the inside regardless of what we wear or the things we own. One reason is because there is the assumption that if we buy a certain product that we will be ‘happier’ or ‘more socially accepted’. Buy something from blah blah and you will look amazing, get a hella lot of compliments and your night will be the best night of your life. Think of wealthy people such as celebrities… for some of us, we wish we could live in their mansions and have designer clothes. Basically, we’d love to be crapping hundred dolla bills (make it rain). Being rich is perceived as ‘goals’ or ‘successful’, a hefty amount of $$ = more materialistic objects. Yes, being wealthy means that we have enough money to attend to our basic necessities to survive, but one of the main reasons as to why we want to be wealthy is because of the hella lot you can buy. materialism materialism materialism. It would be pretty cool to own an island or live in a mansion because we think that our lives may be easier, more stress free and most importantly we will be happy, but this isn’t always the case…
There is no way in hell I’d leave the house with crocs (sadly, 11 year old me would beg to differ) and I can’t help but feel ecstatic when there’s a sale at my fave store. But why? Why do we want more and for some of us, like me, why is difficult to know when you’ve taken consumerism too far? After all, we are the same people on the inside regardless of what we wear or the things we own. One reason is because there is the assumption that if we buy a certain product that we will be ‘happier’ or ‘more socially accepted’. Buy something from blah blah and you will look amazing, get a hella lot of compliments and your night will be the best night of your life. Think of wealthy people such as celebrities… for some of us, we wish we could live in their mansions and have designer clothes. Basically, we’d love to be crapping hundred dolla bills (make it rain). Being rich is perceived as ‘goals’ or ‘successful’, a hefty amount of $$ = more materialistic objects. Yes, being wealthy means that we have enough money to attend to our basic necessities to survive, but one of the main reasons as to why we want to be wealthy is because of the hella lot you can buy. materialism materialism materialism. It would be pretty cool to own an island or live in a mansion because we think that our lives may be easier, more stress free and most importantly we will be happy, but this isn’t always the case…
The downside of materialism
Perhaps you’ve had a flick through a magazine or someone’s lavish instagram and thought… GODDAM. I want those clothes or I want that house. Basically, you want that materialistic object because they were smiling in that pic with that product, therefore your life would be totally awesome with it. And if this product is unattainable, (perhaps because it’s expensive as hell) you think… Oh man, my life SUCKS. You’re then led on a downward spiral of consumerism. Wanting more more more. Never being satisfied of what you have, always longing to have more to be one step closer to the perceived happiness derived from lavishness. And then there’s the constant comparisons. Comparing your apparently less on par life to their apparently incredibly spectacular life. Comparing yourself to anyone other than yourself is useless as you are you, completely different from any other being. But comparing yourself to others based on what they have is worse as it means that you’re valuing objects. Objects that are meaningless and heck, can’t even talk back (unless you’re on Toy Story). So listen to what you mama said, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. Or in this instance, don’t yearn to be a cover, instead, yearn to see what that book has to offer inside !
Why materialism doesn’t equate to happiness
Having multiple Rolex watches is pretty cool but does it help them as a person? Does it make them a ‘better’ person because they have more materialistic possession? NO NO NO. Happiness doesn’t come from the brand your wearing or how big your house is, it comes within yourself - tax and cost free. Think of your fondest memories - the ones that make you smile, burst out laughing, but most importantly, HAPPY. Would you trade those memories for a Prada tote?. Remove the conditioned assumption that more things = happiness. Instead of striving to be wealthy or owning more things, strive to be a better you. Immerse yourself in an environment which helps you grow, surround yourself with positive people and happiness will come from within.
- Andrea x
Perhaps you’ve had a flick through a magazine or someone’s lavish instagram and thought… GODDAM. I want those clothes or I want that house. Basically, you want that materialistic object because they were smiling in that pic with that product, therefore your life would be totally awesome with it. And if this product is unattainable, (perhaps because it’s expensive as hell) you think… Oh man, my life SUCKS. You’re then led on a downward spiral of consumerism. Wanting more more more. Never being satisfied of what you have, always longing to have more to be one step closer to the perceived happiness derived from lavishness. And then there’s the constant comparisons. Comparing your apparently less on par life to their apparently incredibly spectacular life. Comparing yourself to anyone other than yourself is useless as you are you, completely different from any other being. But comparing yourself to others based on what they have is worse as it means that you’re valuing objects. Objects that are meaningless and heck, can’t even talk back (unless you’re on Toy Story). So listen to what you mama said, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. Or in this instance, don’t yearn to be a cover, instead, yearn to see what that book has to offer inside !
Why materialism doesn’t equate to happiness
Having multiple Rolex watches is pretty cool but does it help them as a person? Does it make them a ‘better’ person because they have more materialistic possession? NO NO NO. Happiness doesn’t come from the brand your wearing or how big your house is, it comes within yourself - tax and cost free. Think of your fondest memories - the ones that make you smile, burst out laughing, but most importantly, HAPPY. Would you trade those memories for a Prada tote?. Remove the conditioned assumption that more things = happiness. Instead of striving to be wealthy or owning more things, strive to be a better you. Immerse yourself in an environment which helps you grow, surround yourself with positive people and happiness will come from within.
- Andrea x
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