Article on growing materialism in about 200 words
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We're all materialists, to one extent or another. We all use and enjoy material goods in our daily lives, and most of us simply couldn't get by without them. And there's nothing wrong with that, as long as the desire for material goods doesn't control us and our actions.Materialism becomes an obstacle when we start allowing things (or the desire for things) to control us, to keep us focused on things outside ourselves rather than on things that would be truly beneficial to us, such as our spiritual development, our relationships, our learning, our peace of mind. . . .Materialism is a distraction. It gives us a direction in which we can focus our attention and our energies that seems to be attainable. After all, if I want a new stereo system or a closet full of new clothes, all I have to do is pay money or use credit to get them. I know which ones I want, and I know where to find them. The people who sell things have made it so easy for us to buy that fulfilling our materialistic cravings never has been easier, which is a very unfortunate fact for the millions of people who are now trapped under a mountain of debt with no realistic way out.But what are our motives when we pursue our materialism? Why do we want or have to buy things to satisfy our cravings? Are we working towards happiness in life? If so, we have thousands of examples to see of people who have been "successful" in acquiring material wealth, but who have been miserably empty inside.
Do we feel that we'll reach a level of peace and contentedness by having more things? Again, we have tons of anecdotal evidence that tells us that the feeling of contentedness that comes from buying something fades rather quickly after the purchase is made, leaving us feeling just as empty as before.Many people feel that by acquiring just the right material goods, they can make other people see them in a positive light. In other words, they buy their new car or clothes or electronic gadget in order to impress others. They're often setting themselves up for great disappointment when others don't react as they think they should."Material" as an adjective means tangible, touchable, real, physical. One dictionary's third definition of the word as an adjective says, "Of or concerned with the physical as distinct from the intellectual or spiritual." When we become focused on materialism, then, we're spending a great deal of time and energy on something that is completely apart from our intellectual and spiritual selves. We may rationalize and claim that if we obtain a certain material object then we'll be more at peace spiritually, but that simply cannot be the case.Charles Dickens knew all about materialism, and he gave us the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol to illustrate the problems with materialism. As a youth, Scrooge was treated very poorly by his family, which led him to look to money as a form of security, something that he could trust. His love for money leads him to lose the woman he loves, and after that he leads a lonely, bitter existence as his life becomes simply a quest for more and more material wealth.The Spirits show, him, though, just how many people are able to be happy at Christmas without the benefit of material wealth, and this helps to lead him to see just how flawed his thinking has been, and just how miserable he has become by focusing only upon the material and never cultivating friendships, relationships, or spiritual growth. Once his focus shifts from the material to the spiritual, Scrooge is able to become a happy man.
Do we feel that we'll reach a level of peace and contentedness by having more things? Again, we have tons of anecdotal evidence that tells us that the feeling of contentedness that comes from buying something fades rather quickly after the purchase is made, leaving us feeling just as empty as before.Many people feel that by acquiring just the right material goods, they can make other people see them in a positive light. In other words, they buy their new car or clothes or electronic gadget in order to impress others. They're often setting themselves up for great disappointment when others don't react as they think they should."Material" as an adjective means tangible, touchable, real, physical. One dictionary's third definition of the word as an adjective says, "Of or concerned with the physical as distinct from the intellectual or spiritual." When we become focused on materialism, then, we're spending a great deal of time and energy on something that is completely apart from our intellectual and spiritual selves. We may rationalize and claim that if we obtain a certain material object then we'll be more at peace spiritually, but that simply cannot be the case.Charles Dickens knew all about materialism, and he gave us the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol to illustrate the problems with materialism. As a youth, Scrooge was treated very poorly by his family, which led him to look to money as a form of security, something that he could trust. His love for money leads him to lose the woman he loves, and after that he leads a lonely, bitter existence as his life becomes simply a quest for more and more material wealth.The Spirits show, him, though, just how many people are able to be happy at Christmas without the benefit of material wealth, and this helps to lead him to see just how flawed his thinking has been, and just how miserable he has become by focusing only upon the material and never cultivating friendships, relationships, or spiritual growth. Once his focus shifts from the material to the spiritual, Scrooge is able to become a happy man.
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