Consumerism can hold you back in a variety of ways, depending on how you approach it.
I went to a warehouse club the other day for bananas, trash bags, and a couple of other small, consumable items. I left the warehouse club with most of the items on my list, but not everything on it. In addition, I had purchased a new trash can and a new desk chair for my home office, a Dr. Seuss book for my daughter, two quarts of queso, and a myriad of other items that were not on the list, nor were needed.
This is not the first time this has happened. In fact, this is not uncommon at all for my family and others.
This behavior is called consumerism. It’s the tendency of people to buy things beyond the necessities. More specifically, it is the idea that spending more money or buying more things benefits us. New things can make us feel good, but there is another side we should consider.
Here are a few potential ways consumerism could be holding you back:
- Financially: Consumerism can lead to overspending and debt, which can limit your ability to achieve financial goals like saving for retirement, buying a home, or investing in your future.
- Emotionally: If you believe that material possessions will bring you happiness or a sense of self-worth, you may find yourself constantly striving to acquire more, which can leave you feeling unfulfilled or even depressed. Furthermore, this can lead to hoarding, which is a topic for a different time.
- Environmentally: Consumerism can contribute to a culture of waste and overconsumption, which can harm the planet and limit our ability to address environmental challenges like climate change.
That being said, it’s important to note that consumerism itself is not inherently bad. We all need to purchase goods and services to meet our basic needs, and buying things can bring us joy and comfort. However, if you find that consumerism is holding you back in one or more of these ways, it might be worth reflecting on your relationship with consumption and considering whether there are changes you can make to improve your well-being and the well-being of the planet.
Help
Like other resources, the use of money should be planned according to the overall theme of your success journey. We don’t have to budget every penny, but financial habits can have a large impact on your success.
We now have limited availability on our schedule for “Success Sessions“. These are one-on-one life coach sessions focused on you to get you started immediately. It’s a bit of discovery, a bit of accountability, and a bit of celebration. We would love to set aside some time with you. Why not start now by scheduling a session?