Plague of Materialism

Hey! How are you all doing? I apologize for my current irregular posting pattern and this would remain for about a month more as I’m too engrossed in preparing for my exams which are highly overstated in India because of which students have an unnecessary baggage that, in turn, has no positive effect but adverse mental effects. I would rant about the entire non-benefitting and futile education system in India in detail but let’s not ruin today’s spirit. Hah!

Speaking of today’s topic, I have been so desperately wanting to talk about it because I am highly skeptical about the onslaught of contemporary money-oriented society. Today, the world is becoming intoxicating and ruthless day by day. This originates from humans’ gluttony and the burgeoning zeal to achieve as many things as possible.

Materialism has rendered the humans nothing but self-destruction at their own hands. Many a times, even knowingly, we tend to do things that don’t seem right or that are against one’s grain. The craving to own branded items and modish things and possess humungous sums of money stems from the greed and the sense of acquisitiveness to have every tangible thing in one’s possession for pomp and show. It is so ironical that humans, being the most mindful creatures in this world and having been bestowed the abilities to think and feel, tend to be dominated and controlled by non-living things that don’t have a mouth but whose looks speak volumes. This is also closely related to conforming to the ongoing trends about which I had written an article a while ago[Link to check it out: https://quirkytalksss.art.blog/2022/02/17/following-the-trends-blindly/ ]. Getting back to materialism, it is a venomous contagion that has got to most of the humans. Being materialistic is also a sign of being immature and yes, I just mentioned most humans are materialistic a large proportion of which includes adults and they obviously aren’t mentally mature though they chronologically are. They proclaim to be big people but they are really not because they can’t get themselves out of this worldly trap. They are too absorbed in their avarice to even notice it. Don’t take my word for it  but just observe your surroundings for a while and you can even browse the web to check that mature people aren’t materialistic as they are too spiritual and thoughtful to get distracted by such mundane and trivial fantasies. In addition to this, materialism doesn’t evoke feelings of satisfaction and happiness. This is a mere mirage that buying things leads to gratification. The more you fill the box, the more it seems empty.

This is the link to an analytical study on relation between materialism and happiness and spirituality and happiness: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329103799_A_Mixed-Method_Study_of_Materialism_and_Spirituality_Two_Sides_of_the_Happiness_Coin

If I talk about the repercussions of being materialistic, they all are obviously devastating. It is because the ever-lasting  and overwhelming desire to have things tends to make you go off the rails and you allow yourself to go to great lengths to achieve this. As a result, you fail to stay within your capacity. You never feel gratified with the things you already have and always want to have yet more. This not only makes you ungrateful but also such attempts to grab these unrealistic symbols of joy transform one into an inhumane and callous person. You tend to lack virtuous traits like compassion, loyalty etc. and in turn, give way to vicious ones like greed, acquisitiveness, discontentment etc. You simply don’t remain a human anymore and it makes your life miserable and you lose even what you have. Okay, this is sounding very dejecting, so, just a reality check, it is not happening yet and you still have time to stop mourning over not being able to buy a Guess purse or Fila sneakers and be mature enough to edify yourself that they don’t even guarantee you long-term happiness. So, start today and try to curb your materialistic passions!

How do you think materialism affects us? Comment down to pen down your views!

Kindly don’t mind the errors if any. Not an expert in English. Thanks for reading!😊