Material Possessions and Personal Values in 21st Century America

Introduction

Today, statistics of the United States being an overly materialistic nation are not complicated to find. Materialism is a uniformity that has taken a fairly large toll on Americans, specifically those of the 21st century. As the anchor of society, materialism along with consumer goods have gained a significance that infringes upon the ultimate concern that should actually be focused on. The focus has shifted from faith and artfulness to passing one another in forms of currency and personal possessions. To a very large extent, materialism gives the assumption that consuming goods and owning possessions will make an individual happy, well-established, connected member of society. However, materialistic values are unhealthy' and as Americans we need to reorient our lives away from material possessions or monetary gain back unto what really matters.

The Dangers of Material Possessions

Americans of the 21st century live in a consumer society. This means that we live in a society where we dedicate a large portion of our time, thoughts and resources towards consuming certain materials that we believe to be positively correlated with our happiness. This sudden conviction that material possessions improve a person’s social as well as their personal well being pervades America. People as a nation are drained by and possessed with the need to buy things and have better than their neighbors because it makes them feel superior and better than others and no one wants to feel less than someone else. However, it has been proved that the belief of materialism as actually lowers both areas aforementioned. Many psychological studies have actually shown that there is a greater risk of both anxiety and depression when linked to materialism.

With that being said, material objects only provide momentary fulfillment while lifelong happiness fulfills the soul. In The Sacred Arts of Life written by Thomas Moore, it states “But to the soul the most minute details and the most ordinary activities, carried out with mindfulness and art, have an affect far beyond their apparent insignificance” (1). While Materialism has dug in unburiable hole, it has also produced unhappiness. In order to reach the ultimate concern we must rid everything that does not focus completely on faith. In this case that would be material merchandise , and monetary values. The focus must be shifted back to ourselves and that can simply be done by just pausing. Our souls cannot thrive at a fast pace which is why some people are incapable of committing to certain things. They therefore take the emptiness that they contain and fill the void with unnecessary products. Taking the time to stop and smell the roses would as Moore states, “bring us into wonder about the cosmos, about the far reaches of time past and present, and about ultimate values” (15).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the prevalence of materialism in 21st-century America has had a significant impact on our society, leading many individuals to believe that consuming goods and accumulating possessions is the key to happiness and social standing. However, psychological studies have shown that this pursuit of material wealth actually contributes to higher levels of anxiety and depression. The allure of material objects may provide fleeting satisfaction, but it fails to fulfill the deeper needs of the soul.

Works Cited

1. Moore, Thomas. The Sacred Arts of Life. HarperOne, 2018.