"Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It's your masterpiece after all."
-Nathan W. Morris
Many people mistakenly believe, in order to be, appear or feel successful in this life one must accumulate and mass consume. Especially today, everyone wants to go bigger and have more. Discipline and moderation in one's consumption is not de rigueur. Gluttony reigns supreme, especially in the Unites States. More clothes, shoes and accessories, bigger homes to display, uber-luxury cars, weekly exotic vacations, A-list events, the highest end restaurants, etc. is now the ultimate desire. Social media, of course, has played an instrumental role in creating these upscale desires. According to inc.com, "companies are shelling out approximately $255 million a month investing in Instagram influencer-sponsored posts per month."
This new level of the 1997 coined term "affluenza" has broadened to extreme and unhealthy proportions. These mass media created desires are leading our planet and our bank accounts to sinking levels. We are keeping other people in business to our own personal detriment. "The average US household with debt now owes $155,622, or more than $15 trillion altogether, including debt from credit cards, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, auto loans, student loans and other household obligations -- up 6.2% from a year ago." (cnbc.com, Amid Rising Prices, American Families Fall Deeper in Debt).
In addition, for the average person, looking upon this largesse and comparing it to his/her own life has become a recipe for sadness and depression. "While social media has been widely linked to anxiety and depression in teenagers, new evidence suggests that platforms such as TikTok and Instagram can leave middle-aged adults feeling sad, too," according to the nbcnews.com article, Social Media Use Linked to Depression in Adults.
What many are also failing to admit is that a life of extreme excess does not lead to greater levels of happiness or contentment. The lifestyles we are groomed to imitate are hollow and empty in and of themselves. New things cause temporary and momentary highs as opposed to long term contentment. Instead of celebrating non-consuming yet satisfying endeavors (enjoying art, reading books, spending time in nature, cooking with loved ones, etc.), we are pushed into idealizing only that which costs us money, but depletes our souls. Advertising the simple pursuits of healthy and substantial connections through intimate relationships and community -- unless tied to a product -- does not concern businesses. We are constantly being prompted to purchase items that enrich others while robbing from ourselves.
I recently read, "Worldwide, 99% of everything you buy is no longer in use after six months." In a research paper by Megan Wallenius, titled Consumer Culture and the Environment, she concludes, "Our capitalist society thrives on consumer culture; the more you buy, the more money corporations make. These companies don't want you to buy fewer clothes or products, as they don't want to lose any profit...[yet] It needs to be understood that infinite growth is not compatible with a finite planet."
A few weeks ago, I decided to do a complete reduction of my home furnishings and decor, as well as everyone's closets. After selling and donating over half of my/our belongings, I was surprised by the overwhelming sense of peace and contentment that followed. Living without clutter opens up a world of freedom. I immediately felt less anxiety living with less. We also didn't realize how large our home actually is, and how few rooms we truly used -- about half. Although I pride myself on maintaining a small minimalist, high quality closet, about 75% of my wardrobe is never worn. Now going forward, with a growing climate crisis, social unrest, the war in Ukraine, and deepening worldwide food insecurity, taking greater steps away from a consumerist mindset is not only good, but imperative.
