Why consuming doesn´t make you happy?

Why consuming doesn´t make you happy?

As I´ve been living economically "poorer" life for a while, I came to some enlightenments of money and buying. In the first place I was complaining why can´t I afford to do that or buy that, but at one point (and with the useful observations and "shaking of shoulders" from my dear husband) I realised that while I actually haven´t got that much money to spend, I have lived a more fulfilling life. Why is that?

There is an old Brasilian story which resumes the point quite clearly. Take a look:

"Because we´re not happy even with the current, historically high living standards, how come would we think that getting more of it would make it any better". (Havia et. al)

You probably have read about the "big bad" consumerism, a nowaday´s phenomenom which is said to bother the rich nations. And for reason the te

rm has gained its bad reputation.
Not only is overconsuming exhausting our planet, nor it has made us any more content. Calculating ecological footprints, if everyone would live and consume like Finnish people, we would need 3,5 globes to provide for this kind of lifestyle. And needless to say that the deterioration of our planet will be a cause of even bigger unhappiness to us all in the future- and already is to many people in developed countries.

Well how about the thing with buying and happines then? Who cannot deny that buying a beautiful new cloth doesn´t make happy?

The key is actually in understanding that buying and consuming in themself are not bad. It comes to that WHAT you buy and WHY?

If you´re buying for status or realize that shopping is like a hobby to you, you might be on the wrong road.
The truth is that buying things never really makes the quality of life any better. After buying that new beautiful cloth you actually feel happy..but only for a short period of time until you have to get that feeling again and return to the shop to get a new one. And there you are in a vicious circle, hunting to get satisfaction to your life.

But when you dig a bit deeper down you´ll realize that consuming actually causes aspects that brings your quality of life downwards:
- to buy more you need more money which in turn means more work - more debt - less time etc. 

You should rather ask yourself are the things that you desire really the things that you seek in life? Do you put your money to things that are they based on your values?
A central cause for happiness is living according to your own values. If it is important to you to spend time with your family, it would not be logic to spend all the time working overtime justifying at the same time that the money you make by it is for the good of the family. Your child will more probably remember the nice time spend together with you rather than the new toys you always bought.

It is obvious that everything cost money, so therefore it is important that you choose carefully where you spend. 

And what happened to me? I am experiencing that "downgrading" in my lifestyle is actually helping me to appreciate the "smaller" things in life which make me happy. The everyday occurences. Time with you loved ones. Stop to enjoy moments, slower life. Life comes more satisfying and fulfiling. Not living the life of "after I´ve accomplished this I´ll be happy". I have come to notice that these "small things" are actually the big things which create the happiness. Releasing yourself from the artificial needs created by advertisers that cause endless dissatisfaction gives time to discover and enjoy what are the things I enjoy in life. And then, I just enjoy them.

In the end what the heck you do with all that stuff? A beautiful spanish song puts things in their perspective and concludes:
"The life is dust, can disappear in a moment. Nothing you brought, nothing you will take with you..only what you had inside.." (Tercer cielo)