Irrelevant to Happiness

A 36-year-old Nigerian lecturer in Yibin, Sichuan Province

Consumerism, which is also referred to as materialism, is a condition where one buys goods not necessarily because they are needed, but to get some form of happiness from them, or for the status they confer. In other words, materialism is purchasing things to derive some level of self-esteem, happiness, fulfilment, and status from those things, and usually, those feelings of fulfilment are short-lived. As the saying goes, “Happiness is not about collecting material things. It is about having a deep feeling of contentment and knowing that life is a blessing.”

In my opinion, people favour materialism and become

Fundamentally, it is important for people to know that they are not the things they own and therefore should strive to separate their identity from their possession.

opposed to material possessions for different reasons. As said earlier, some might want to derive fulfilment and happiness, which are transient. Others seek social recognition, making a statement about their uniqueness and style, and/or gaining people’s attraction and acceptance. However, there are some set of individuals who use materialism as a coping mechanism for situations that make them insecure, anxious, or depressed.

Generally, some negative attributes associated with materialism are short-term happiness, loneliness, poor life choices, misplacement of priority, and sometimes debt.

Positive sides of materialism can be associated with an increase in performance level as the short euphoria could become a trigger for better performance and, secondly, one can buy some level of satisfaction. While one does not need to live a lowly life to be simplistic, it is essential to adjust one’s focus and attitude when one buys material possessions.

Some of the ways to escape materialism and fill the internal void in people are to practice gratitude. Fundamentally, it is important for people to know that they are not the things they own and therefore should strive to separate their identity from their possession. Secondly, creating a system of goals and challenges could be a way out. Thirdly, building good habits such as emotional control, time management, discipline, and giving could help reduce the desire for material things. Lastly, I would say avoid the “seeking approval and acceptance game.”