Money Doesn't Buy You Happiness
The More the Merrier Doesn't Apply Here
From a young age we’re taught that we have to work hard in order to buy things, right? Buy the fancy car, buy the fancy house, buy buy buy and buy some more until you have a pile of things to donate then start over again. If living in Miami has taught me anything it’s that people will go the extra mile to impress you with the things they have, but they don't actually feel better because of what they possess. Believe it or not, the people who have the most (in terms of tangible objects) often times find themselves feeling empty inside. It's logical when you truly think about it but doesn't that go against everything we've been conditioned to believe? These people only attract those who are attracted to what they have, not who they are. So in they, in fact, spend their lives never truly connect on a human level, just on a materialistic one. That’s incredibly saddening. Imagine living a life where all you do it try extremely hard to make sure you don't get pushed aside on the "relevancy scale". So much so that getting into debt to upkeep the façade is part of it all. And after alllllll of that effort to impress these snobs, THEY STILL FIND A WAY TO SCRUTINIZE YOU. SO WHAT’S THE FREAKING POINT? Is that really what you want? What I want?
.....Seriously...?
Been There Done That
Let me pose this from a perspective of "been there, done that". Last year I had the experience of familiarizing myself with the let's just say "less introspective" crowd in Miami as it somewhat correlated to my job at the time. As a result, I was going out to exclusive parties and clubs, driving exotic cars and decked out in the hottest threads; you name it I was doing it. That experience was one I will always treasure because I learned the following lessons:
Flashiness won’t gain you respect.
Materials provide temporary satisfaction.
You don’t actually have to put on a front for anyone, it’s all in your head.
Spending money to impress others stems from a place of insecurity.
Genuinely cherish those who like you when you have nothing.
Money Doesn't Buy You Happiness
I say all of this to conclude that the theory of "MONEY = HAPPINESS" that we’ve subconsciously been fed through our natural socialization living in the U.S (or any westernized society for that matter) will ultimately lead you down a path of stress, unhealthy habits, and yearning for something real. If you’re in your early 20s like I am please do yourself the favor of simplifying your life.You don’t need the clothes. You don’t need to splurge at clubs to attract people who will ultimately suck you dry. You don’t need all of the extra crap because guess what? Eventually, it’ll all get really heavy (physically + mentally). Eliminate the unnecessary hassle. I truly believe we’re headed down a path of simplicity. People are beginning to realize that this system of unhealthy consumerism isn’t fulfilling. Chances are you already have everything you need. So, reevaluate your habits and cut out all of the fluff. You’ll feel better. I'm in the process of doing it too. It's hard to re-wire our conceptions of what's priorities but once you actively try you'll see that what's really important will never lie present in your ego, or possessions.