Material Goods and Happiness—Can “Things” Buy Us Happiness?
Materialistic things which may or may not hold significant value has seemingly taken over the human race. Most feel as though they have to possess materialistic items to feel happiness or even a sense of worth. Typically, as we have seen over the course of years, it appears that we see many people who either had or never had money to be able to afford the items in which they desire; causing them to pursue such items to feel a void. Being materialistic can be both a positive and a negative in the sense that yes, these man-made items can be luxurious. However, when one isn’t able to obtain that thing it can lead to hatred or even corruption. Materialism is a defining factor of how the American way of life is. These man-made items motivate many to show and maybe even prove to those, that they are capable of having such items. Seeking true happiness seems to be inevitable due to the many underlining issues of these materialistic items.
Firstly, society today is based off of what social media has to say. Many people try to live up to the standards seen on social media. Lifestyles being portrayed in the media isn’t necessarily how that individual is truly living. When individuals are seen by others, the person on the other side looking in on how their life is being represented, will feel they too should have certain things that individual has. In essence, this will cause a financial burden on the individual looking in on that person’s life because what they possess is of value and wealth. Many people who come from nothing and have nothing want to feel as though they are equal and a part of the “elite.” No one wants to be looked down on for not being able to have what’s hot or trending at the moment.
When it comes to happiness, there are numerous ways that makes one happy, yet we are the key to pursing our own true happiness. In the TED Talks, measuring what makes life worthwhile they mention, "We create the conditions for happiness to occur." Simply by changing our surroundings, our goals, creating motivation within ourselves, and traveling to somewhere you've always wanted to go. Anything can bring happiness in which you are trying to find. We can also take note that in the journal, if money doesn't make you happy, they talk about delay consumption where they suggest, "The future may be more emotionally compelling than the past, nothing is powerful as the present." Many people seem to think that they aren't able to achieve the same euphoria as they would have had they received whatever they were after at that moment in time. No one wants to wait when they want to feel that rush of excitement from being pleasured at that very moment. Many seem to think otherwise; most people think that others get a way better feeling of having waited some time before receiving or doing what was going to bring them joy. In all, the delay consumption "provides the benefit of anticipation" causing one to have uncertainty in what they are after helping them to keep focus on the task at hand.
Now in our everyday lives, ones' way of making purchases can play a big part in their life. Being that it’s not necessarily the purchase that will bring them happiness, "Yet, because such irrelevant details of daily life are obscured from view when we focus our mental telescopes on an important future event." When we are in the moment, sometimes nearly all of the time do we think ahead of what will happen later on if we go out and start making purchases without any consideration of where you might be one month or two months from then. For example, if one was to go and purchase a new car, they would be extremely happy at that moment until the following month the car note is due on top of all the other bills they are already trying to pay. Therefore, ones’ everyday spending isn't always going to bring them happiness because there are underlying consequences of those actions that they don't take into consideration. These principles connect to us because having to pay now and consume later is what no one of this millennial generation is doing due to the economy and where we live. The cost of living is outrageous. When we do have the money or come across it, we spend it now to enjoy quickly rather than later because there's a high possibility that we may never get that chance again to experience or have that specific thing.
Furthermore, we as a people need to figure out wants from needs because there is a blurred line in which it’s not clear, especially what’s more important than the other. Some would rather have their life in shambles, but appear as though all is well since they fit the mold. The social norms of what is accepted by society on social media depicts false images and promotes unstable spending habits. Constantly buying materialistic goods just to feed our ravenous yearning for happiness will only last for so long. This causes one to keep going back to find something else to make us feel just as good as or better than the last item purchased. Amit Amin described the hedonic treadmill in his article “The Hedonic Treadmill–If Only Happiness Were as Easy as Marriage, a Big House, and Kids.” Amin writes that “Yes, as we get . . . more wealthy we get happier, but much less than we’d expect. . .It’s called a rat race for a reason.” The moral outcome of finding true happiness is that we won’t. In searching for that true happiness will leave many vexed and hindered, causing severe frustrations with having the inability to obtain happiness how we want. If many could just take a step back to see that life isn’t just about happiness. If one was to be happy all day every day, they then aren’t living life because life is filled with trials and tribulations which help to shape and mold us. If someone isn’t even experiencing all of what life throws, how could they even know what true happiness is? Numerous people don’t know how to find happiness in their own lives because whatever may be going on could be negative, sad, and unpleasant. This could be anything less than to learn how to maneuver in their own mess and to find the good, they too then can find happiness in the midst of the chaos.
Therefore, having materialistic items can and cannot bring true happiness because there are always pros and cons to everything. In “One Rolex Short of Contentment,” they mention materialism forces us into comparison with the possessions of others, a race both cruelly illustrated, and crudely propelled by that toxic website.” In all, materialistic things don’t sustain us with long lasting happiness, but short-term happiness. What we crave of having so desperately will only fill that desire until it’s no longer servicing us how we intended it too. Once we learn to find the beauty and happiness in what we do, rather than what we don’t, we as people can start to be on the path of happiness. Having materialistic goods are only using up the resources of the earth that could potentially being going elsewhere to serve a better purpose. The need to chase after these goods are just short-term fixes until one needs to search for a different item to fill that void they are missing. Materialistic items don’t bring satisfaction, but decimation to our resources, finances, and overall self-worth.