Consumerism And Materialism: Must We Be So Outward Facing?

Since when I was young, I've always looked forward to the holiday season, as there was this special and joyful feeling in the air that facilitates connecting with people on a deeper level. For me, everything else was secondary, be it the foods, gifts or anything else.

But you know what they say when you look back in decades. Life(and many aspects of it) has changed. Sometimes, significantly and dramatically.

The Allure And Perils of Abundance

It's definitely a drama when you notice how consumerism has slipped into modern culture, driving us to consume, and consume, and consume until we lose the essence and structure of what it means to consume.

Image Source

Food consumption is a good example of that. We eat when our mind is hungry(which can be always), and not necessarily when our body is hungry.

This creates a disconnection between mind and body, which can be a good ground for materialism to thrive on.

Unlike consumerism, I don't share the believe that materialism is inherently bad. Based on history, some argue that it is a logically progression of our world, given that there's generally much more abundance than past times.

So this creates a good avenue to explore material possessions so to speak, just like a child who has many toys to play with.

However, my problem is that over time the child becomes too attached and puts much importance on the toys, forgetting that they're just toys in the first place.

In some cases, consumerism can exist without materialism, as someone could be driven to consume for reasons beyond personal satisfaction, such as social pressure or boredom. However, materialism always leads to increased consumption.

So this sets the stage for an outward facing perspective, by which we chase something that's out there but we never seem to catch. Either because it is elusive or it isn't out there at all.

Introspection And Extrospection

The holiday season is a great opportunity for reflection and introspection that can lead to realizations. The energy is there, we just have to tap into it.

But paradoxically, this becomes drowned out by the deafening roar of festivity, leaving us with a fleeting echo of reflection during the aftermath, once the decorations are packed away.

Image Source

This has more or less been my experience and observation these past few years. An opportunity for introspection turns into a moment for maximum extrospection. So much for turning good intentions into unintended outcomes.

Today, I still look forward to the holiday season, nothing much has changed on the background. The special and joyful feeling is still there. However, my approach is different now. For one, I've become selective in picking out the essentials from the excesses. Partying, for example, is an excess, not the kind of celebration I'm looking forward to.

Secondly, I treat the holiday season as a catalyst for personal growth. In that, I set intentions and aspirations for the new year, reflect on past experiences, and make conscious choices that align with my values and principles.


Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.