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| Want to kill consumerism? Being happy with less is the way to do it. |
Simple living and consumerism both offer the promise of happiness. That is about all they have in common.
Simplicity seeks happiness internally. Consumerism seeks happiness externally.
Simplicity teaches us to aspire to a better life with less. Consumerism teaches us to perpetually desire more.
Simplicity teaches detachment from the empty promises of the merchants of materialism. Lasting happiness while engaging in consumerist exploits is unlikely to happen - it is intentionally designed that way to keep consumers constantly unsatisfied and looking to buy relief.
Simple living teaches us to be selfless. Consumerism teaches us to be selfish.
Simplicity teaches us to love all living beings. Consumerism teaches us to love all our things.
Simplicity teaches us to not compare. Consumerism teaches constant comparison, and gives lessons in jealousy and insecurity.
Simple living teaches the use of minimal materials. Consumerism teaches blatant overconsumption.
Simplicity teaches us to live in the present moment. Consumerism teaches us about a future world of endless desires, and the past’s inevitable dissatisfactions.
Simplicity teaches peace of mind. Consumerism, even with all that “great” stuff, can only teach dissatisfaction.
Consumers eventually learn of the limitations of trying to buy their way to an ever elusive contentment. Slowly, reluctantly, the unsatisfied turn to simple living, a tried and true method for attaining lasting happiness, peace, and contentment.
Many are waving the white flag and surrendering to the reasoning inherent in the practice of simplicity. Letting go of endless material pursuits, simple living practitioners are allowing the simple life to lead them to more satisfying and authentic ways of being.
The results speak for themselves.
Simple living has been serving billions of satisfied customers for thousands of years. Satisfaction guaranteed.
That is a promise that can not be beat at any price.
Simple living has been serving billions of satisfied customers for thousands of years. Satisfaction guaranteed.
That is a promise that can not be beat at any price.
I have often said that we are not really a consumer society--if we actually "consumed" things we would be eliminating many of the environmental issues we have created. If we consumed things, actually used things up, we would find so much more satisfaction in the things we have. We are an acquisative society--we acquire things and when they no longer please us, or just as they begin the show the lustre of being truly lived in, we dispose of them. And then we acquire again.
ReplyDeleteSo very happy to have found you again.
M
That is so true. When you look at "consume" to mean "to expend; use up", it might apply to how we are consuming our planet, but it sure does not apply to the goods and products we buy. We get so caught up in the getting that we fail to enjoy the having. Welcome back.
DeleteAmen to all of the above.
ReplyDelete