| I remember reading a newspaper article about a | | | | Yes, things, if bought without the real need for them, |
| person who lost all he had and for the first time in his | | | | cause more misery than happiness. It's an unnatural |
| life became really happy and free. At that time I | | | | way to produce happiness which backfires making us |
| thought this could not be true because I wrongly | | | | feel exactly the opposite to what we hoped. |
| assumed that material things bring happiness. I now | | | | People who spend money to travel are on a higher |
| know that material things do not influence how much | | | | awareness level than those who spend all their salary |
| happiness you feel, no matter how many nice things | | | | on furniture, clothes and newest gadgets. People who |
| you have. | | | | create small passive income sources over the time |
| In the past I used to go shopping all the time. I used to | | | | whilst avoiding unnecessary purchases are happier |
| spend more than I earned but no matter how much | | | | than those who slave all their lives in jobs they hate in |
| new stuff I bought, after a short-lived happiness, I felt | | | | order to afford a house that pleases their ego. |
| as miserable as always, or even more miserable. I | | | | All the depressions, nervous breakdowns and other |
| couldn't understand why I felt this way. After all, I had | | | | emotional dysfunctions are caused by this very |
| all this new and exciting stuff. Material things are | | | | misunderstanding of what brings us happiness. People |
| supposed to make people happy, right? | | | | who search for happiness in things will always be |
| Not quite so. The habit of buying material possessions | | | | greatly disappointed because it's impossible to find |
| to lift your mood is just an addiction, and as any other | | | | happiness in anything physical. Happiness can only be |
| addiction, it has a negative impact on you. | | | | found by getting in touch with your true essence and |
| You can easily tell at which level of awareness the | | | | within your experiences. |
| person is by asking him/her what brings them | | | | Please don't get me wrong - I'm not against material |
| happiness. Or better still, simply ask which one they | | | | possessions. They are great if they are used for their |
| value more: things or experiences. People who are on | | | | purpose. For example, chocolate is there to end your |
| a low awareness level will undoubtedly choose | | | | hunger and not to make you forget your failures. New |
| material possessions because they still think that things | | | | clothes are for your body and not for your ego. Every |
| make them feel happy. | | | | single thing has it's purpose, but that purpose is never |
| Most people search for happiness all their lives without | | | | about changing your mood in some way. |
| finding any, because all their effort is directed to the | | | | Things are not meant to be clung to either. If you get |
| outside of themselves, to the world of illusions. If you | | | | attached to anything physical in this universe, you are in |
| look inside for the answers instead, you will understand | | | | trouble. You will be miserable as long as you cling to |
| that happiness can be found not in things, but in | | | | anything outside of yourself. |
| experiences. | | | | If you suffer from misery caused by material things, it's |
| When you think about something positive in the past, | | | | time to make some adjustments in your life. Go on a |
| your thoughts will undoubtedly be about pleasant | | | | material possessions "fast" by avoiding shopping for 30 |
| experiences instead of material possessions. People | | | | days or so, except for food, of course. If you live with |
| love to remember the moments they spent with loved | | | | someone, ask them to buy food for you - that would |
| ones, the travels abroad, warm friendships and exciting | | | | be ideal. Also, get rid of stuff you don't use and try to |
| events. Rarely do you find a person reminiscing their | | | | find peace and happiness within yourself by going into |
| fashionable clothes or a flat screen TV. | | | | silence or meditating. |
| Every experience changes us in some ways, makes | | | | After a month of such change you will be a different |
| us refine our likes and dislikes, urges us to grow. When | | | | person - guaranteed. You will become more |
| you experience something, it stays with you forever, | | | | emotionally stable, small incidents will no longer upset |
| no matter how long ago it happened. Only experiences | | | | you and you will radiate happiness independently of |
| make people unique and interesting. | | | | what happens to you. So go ahead, try it - you will like |
| It's easy to trick yourself into thinking that buying new | | | | the taste of a simplified life. Remember, the more |
| stuff all the time is natural. You see 99% of people | | | | detached from material things you are, the happier you |
| doing that, how harmful can it be? Unfortunately it's | | | | become. |
| very harmful because it causes us to be miserable. | | | | |