Obsessive Consumerism As A Full Time Job
To build a healthy sense of self, one can’t possibly create it by relying on external outlets, whether that’d be your social status, the number sitting in your bank account, your sexiness, you name it. Anything that is not found within your heart and soul can be taken away from you at any given moment. Don’t forget it.
If the foundations upon which you build your self-esteem are things that are not intrinsic, it’s a dangerous way to live by.
Still to this day, I have yet to figure out why some people choose to take part in an endless vicious circle that consists of keeping up with other people and society’s standards of whatever-the-f***it is. What’s the point? Is there any value to it? Ya sure, maybe it strokes your ego quite a bit, but that’s about it. So if it’s nothing more than a matter of ego, that’s a sign that all the ones who do it have not yet stopped to identify themselves with their ego. Consuming in excess to impress will never, not even in a million years, bring you a profound sense of fulfillment from life.
Soul V.S. Ego
Whatever you do for a reason that is external to you is on your ego’s behalf.
Whatever you do that comes from an intrinsic source is a call that comes from your soul.
I connect with people through their soul, not through their ego.
I couldn’t care less about your status or the car you drive. (heck, I don’t even want a driving license myself so your 97 chevy is no biggie!) No but for real, the light in your heart is all that I will look for. And I believe it’s what every one of us should look for upon meeting someone.
Funny anecdote: the one time a guy tried to impress me (in a show off way) by letting me know that his day was so filled to the max because he was just-living-his-best-jet-set-life I got turned off so quickly and felt kinda bad that he needed to do that to feel like an interesting person. I’m not hating on your lifestyle, it’s awesome for you if you’re filthy rich and living it to the max. (and hopefully doing something meaningful for your community)
But I do think that the moment you need to stuff it in other people’s faces, it does say a lot about the type of person you are. I’m a firm believer that pride is something internal. When you are proud of yourself (for x,y,z reason) and you feel the need to share it to the world, it’s surely a sign that your ego is looking for some external validation. (and that you need to do a bit of soul searching too tbh)
Never Equate Your Self-Worth With External Validation
Here’s how I like to put it.
Your status, your wealth, your material possessions, they are all temporary.
They are all creations that come from your ego. And you don’t wanna be someone who marches to the drum of your ego’s fake arse music.
However, I like to believe that your soul will carry on forever. And so in that sense, what you cultivate inside of yourself and the values by which you choose to live your life have an impact that will last beyond your own existence. Not to mention that the people that will have stood by you in life won’t remember you for your money or your good taste for luxury. They’ll remember you for how you were as a human BEING.
Who are you BEING in this world?
How do you choose to make your mark?
It’s such a pity Consumerism is always seen in negative connotation based on the outliers when it does so much good for the world! It’s the single biggest reason for growth in Africa and when kept in check builds free markets for so many amazing opportunities for a vibrant and sustainable life! Your current life is built on the life of consumerism of those before you and those around you!
I think we focus too much on the outliers the ones who are flashy even when they are in the minority! It just seems more prevalent because of social media and main stream media.
In my family on my fathers side especially it’s the opposite they love to brag about how hard they have it, everyone’s hardships are also a competition and it’s equally obnoxious!
It’s really the person tainting the concept rather than the concept being inherently malicious
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Oh, good! I don't have to repair the holes in my clothes after all :-)
Did @onceuponatime just advised me that he has holes in his clothes? 😳
Ssshhh! I have an image to protect. (But I can always claim they are "fashionable", right?)
Hahaha🙊😂
I mean ripped jeans were once a thing, so I assume @onceuponatime wardrobe with holes in it can surely be trendy as well;)
They are not a thing anymore? Oh no!
It’s so funny because initially I wrote “are a thing” but I ended up changing it for “were once a thing” :P shame on me 🙈😉
Society projects their own insecurities onto everything and big business uses that to sell. It's not a new concept but the industry driven aspect may be relatively new in itself.
We have words for people who subscribe to the latest trends. Posers. They are unoriginal and wait to be told what to think, say and do.
They don't actually know who they are.
We have that over them. Keep it a secret though.
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haha I love it!!
Well said @nathanpieters ! 👌
I agree with you
!sneeze @onepagex
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You have been infected by the King of Disease!
Will you quarantine yourself?
Or will you spread the plague?
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