Author: Isha
To be a materialistic person means to be excessively concerned with material possessions. A person who is overly materialistic may find their life lacks true fulfillment and meaning. If you feel you are a materialistic person and it’s causing you unhappiness in your life, continue reading to discover how you can lead a less materialistic life.
What causes you to be materialistic?
To find a solution to being materialistic, it is important to understand the underlying reasons why you may be materialistic. Having brand new clothes, a car, or the latest phone seems to define many people’s social status. With the current trend of having accounts on multiple social media platforms, like Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, the temptation to compare yourself to others has become almost unavoidable. You might respond to this by becoming more materialistic and forming your identity around the possessions that you use and own. Though it’s okay to own and take pride in some of your possessions, defining yourself by them or acquiring them in order to “compete” with the people you see on your social feed, can have a negative impact on your mental health and leave you with a feeling of emptiness.
How do you overcome materialism?
Some simple rules to follow are to use what you buy and only buy things that you truly need. While shopping, you should keep the value of money in mind. For example, if you work, think about how many hours you put in to earn the money you are about to spend or even consider how you could use the money for larger investments (ex: education, vacations).
With the exception of extreme poverty, psychologists have found that there is no interdependence between materialistic wants and happiness.
Changing the way you perceive yourself and understanding the importance of your peace of mind is essential to help you overcome materialism. With the exception of extreme poverty, psychologists have found that there is no interdependence between materialistic wants and happiness. Your identity and happiness is not based on what you own. Rather your actions, goals, purpose, and relationships with others create the foundation of who you are. It is important to focus on your personal goals, journey, and experiences instead of being motivated to enhance your public image.
Sources:
https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/08/15/14-tips-for-a-less-materialistic-livestyle/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/out-the-darkness/201203/the-madness-materialism
