Love people, use things, the other way around doesn’t work.
Video Artist: Ainoa Pedroso
We live in a materialistic society. We value others for what they have, not for what they are. We value ourselves for the things we have, so we spend our lives chasing after things that make us happy.
Somos materialistas, no se trata de criticar a nadie, esto no va de culparnos ni castigarnos, sino de observarnos. Este artículo no pretende hacerte sentirte mal, sino de ayudarte a darte cuenta.
What is it to be materialistic?
Being materialistic today is not only normal, it is practically unavoidable. Society constantly pushes us to think that happiness is in having things, in buying things. The mission of advertising and marketing is to make you buy something (obviously) and for this they resort to emotions. We are constantly bombarded with the idea “you are not enough”.
To be Cool, to be Cool, to be Happy, you need to have stuff. A fashionable pair of sunglasses, a brand-name handbag, or a high-end car. The message that one is not worth anything on one’s own, but needs to have branded things to have value, undermines our self-esteem from the time we are children.
We live our whole lives pursuing material goals, believing that these will bring us happiness. It is logical and normal that we think this way because it is what we have been told all our lives. Some well-known characters such as Jim Carrey or Mike Tyson have stated it on more than one occasion: He who thinks that having a lot of money and material goods will make him happy, has never had them.
When one does not know oneself, does not know one’s shadow, does not know one’s wounds, one cannot live in peace. When one is not at peace, neither all the money, nor all the brand name clothes, nor the biggest house, nor the most luxurious car will make him happy: Know thyself.
Do you agree with the reflection? Leave us your comment.