Comments on: Does Materialism Breed Unhappiness?

By: James Smith

James Smith — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:36:30 +0000

Hi: Just wanted to leave a note on Maslow’s five needs and say I leave it because I believe you are correct:
What if Maslow is this simple:
the basic needs are met getting as much as you possibly can. More is better. More more more more more more more! Having more is the secret to basic life.

Now they have so much about those things you definitely feel secure. Comfy cozy all his grand everybody’s happy and there’s insurance too. The richer we are the more Gates we can put up, the more insurance we can buy, the more guns we can afford to protect ourselves with, and the deeper motes we can date him fill with their boats.

It is Very natural if you are very rich and feel very secure and also surrounded with friends and sense of belonging this beautiful. This is Maslow’s third need belonging it’s met easily by being rich and having lots of things.

It’s a bit tricky to convince ourselves that we have more because we deserve more because we are more than because beyond us there is no more than “me”. It can be the ultimate ego trip very spiritually, sophisticatedly, and socially embedded. If we can rationalize to ourselves a story and fully believe it then we can be truly happy all the days our lives as long as all of our things stay intact. Certainly we need to have the feeling is that we’ve earned that which makes everything just perfect. It may be true it’s up to you but just be sure you get more and more and more.

Now that you’ve gotten so much more and been so successful because of your amazing talents, and God knows how high IQ brain, you can find poor people and you can change them so that they can have the ability to get more. As they get more than they’ll have everything you have but you just don’t want to give them yours (with the generous tax break), they have to get their own. You’ll show them how because you are brilliant, spiritual, and glorious. You are actualized and you’ll help them reach that high point one day if they learn to be understanding all that you understand. Wonder why they didn’t understand in the first place

By: Eckart Tolle follower

Eckart Tolle follower — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:27:44 +0000

Materialism causes us to be greedy, wanting loads of things, this fuels our ego’s which causes suffering to ourselves and to others. It also causes people to cut themselves off from other people and not trust each other. For example, getting the train, people rush on and fight to get on, they always put themselves first, and when you are on the train people ignore each other, If you start talking other people think you are crazy. People have to WAKE UP! and REALISE that they are not the most important thing in this world! there are millions of people on this Earth and people should respect and acknowledge each other. Everyone is Equal. We were all born into this world and we will all die in this world. Materialistic items have no meaning. All we need in this world is each other doesn’t matter whether you are poor, rich, from different backgrounds, To be happy is to live in the Present Moment in the Now. All Moments will pass, you move from one moment to the next.

By: Kristy @ Master Your Card

Kristy @ Master Your Card — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:43:43 +0000

I don’t think materialism is what makes people unhappy. I think materialism is a product of being unhappy. Whenever we’re down and out, most of us turn to either food or shopping. If we’re always feeling down, we can accumulate a lot of stuff that way. I think unhappiness is something that comes from within, and if you’re not happy in life, you have to examine the root, not what’s come about because of it.

By: Geoff K

Geoff K — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 06:14:07 +0000

I agree with the LAL about unhappiness being unrelated to materialism. It’s just that many people with various internal problems often try to make themselves feel better by spending. Buying things provides a temporary high to them. Addressing the need, or internal feelings in the first place, is probably a lot more effective way to be happier.

Also I think focusing on and finding pleasure and enjoyment in what you have, and your relationships, goes a long way to having a happy life.

By: MoneyEnergy

MoneyEnergy — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:02:34 +0000

lol, editor,…. I also didn’t know what BTDT was… and it’s only because you added your editor’s note that I learned it – and I’m definitely not old! I do know other abbreviations:)

The other woman’s argument is certainly true that in general we do, to some extent, value ourselves through things we own. I’m speaking as someone who doesn’t even have a TV or her own car yet let alone a house or a second car. I would characterize my own materialist tendencies as minimalist (and I’m still in grad school). I guess the argument I would make is that there is an intimate relationship between how our minds work and the things in our environment. That’s why clearing out clutter helps so much.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:45:29 +0000

I think a line needs to be drawn between “materialism” and “rampant materialism.”

Lots of people want creature comforts above and beyond the basics. That doesn’t mean we think the next purchase will bring the joy that has thus far eluded us.

I think rampant materialism (keeping up with the Joneses etc) is where you get into trouble. When you have to have things because you just have to. When you always need to have the newest and best. And when you’re constantly chasing that thrill of a new purchase.

By: Baker @ ManVsDebt

Baker @ ManVsDebt — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:28:37 +0000

I enjoyed the post! Things like The 100 Thing Challenge have done wonders for my overall view on “stuff”. I also agree that is nothing wrong with enjoy materialistic things as long as that doesn’t negatively effect your financial, spiritual, family, or physical portions of your overall life!

By: Miranda

Miranda — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:09:38 +0000

I think materialism is more about when you try to hang your entire happiness on THINGS. If all you care about is things, it’s hard to be happy because you can’t ever get enough. It’s impossible! Enjoying things, and having things is different from converting things into your idea of status and happiness. If you always want more, you’ll never be satisfied. If you view more as a bounty to enjoy, I think it’s easier to find contentment.

By: WorkHomePlay

WorkHomePlay — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:03:56 +0000

Thanks for sharing! I totally agree with LAL. A lot of people have the simple goal of financial stability. This includes being able to provide for others (kids, extended family, etc.) People are generally happier when they have these abilities. They’re empowered by the choice to buy something or not. Also, the work it takes to achieve financial stability makes a person happy. The end result is sometimes just icing on the cake.

By: kosmo @ The Casual Observer

kosmo @ The Casual Observer — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:58:22 +0000

I think there is a happy medium. You can enjoy material things without being consumed by the pursuit.

Do I like being able to afford things? Certainly. Would I work twice as many hours to make twice as much money? Certainly not.