Are You Materialistic?
Let’s talk about something that affects most, if not all, of us: materialism. This word might mean different things to different people, but I’ll share with you my definition in a moment. First, however, I want you to know that in sharing this blog, I am not looking to pass judgement on your relationship with material possessions. If I’m judging others for their materialistic tendencies, it’s likely a reflection of my own. What I do wish to point out is the attachment we have to our possessions.
And now for the definition—it came to me that materialism is needing something to feel like somebody. Written differently for emphasis, materialism is needing some thing to feel like some body. It is to need validation from having whatever thing in order to actually feel alive as a person. Another way to say this is that we have an attachment to the thing (and it doesn’t necessarily need to be a physical object itself—it could even be an idea of things).
Attachment = Suffering
The issue here is that when we’re attached to things, we are in suffering. We’re dependent on the things, and we feel as though our own self-worth is tied to them. This takes us out of our authentic selves and throws us into a state of scarcity. When we suffer from materialism, we don’t feel whole or complete as we are.
I think the most important thing here is to recognize the suffering that materialism creates in our own lives. When we engage in this behavior, we are unable to experience acceptance and peace, as we continually need more and different things to fill a void and make us feel complete. This is what is often referred to as the hedonic treadmill.
Don’t Let Things Own You
Am I saying not to like or buy things for yourself or others? Not in the slightest. We all have things we enjoy in this world, and they can add real value to our lives. The key here is to cultivate an awareness of the attachment and need you have with these things, and then to shift that when it becomes too strong. It’s better to own things than for them to own you.
In having this type of awareness, we can maintain our own self-worth simply by being who we are. When we feel too much attachment to things and ideas, we can disengage and come back to a place of acceptance and self-love. In doing so, as a bonus, we end up enjoying and appreciating the things we have more, because we are no longer dependent on them to give us a sense of wellbeing.
If you’re interested in continuing your personal growth and development, follow me on Instagram (@thenoelneu) and tune in to my new show The Empath Hour™, on IG live every Thursday at 9 PM EST. I’ll see you there!
Much Love,
Noel Neu, The Songwriting Therapist™