SELF ESTEEM, MATERIALISM, AND A LESSON FROM OUR PETS “Why do you spend your money on that which is not bread and your labor on that which satisfies not?” – Isaiah 55:2 According to a recent study reported in an article by Rebecca Sato, scientists find that low self-esteem and materialism go hand in hand. “The Lord is my Sheppard, I shall not want.” – Psalm 23:1 KJV What do you really need? Is it possible that God has already given you more then you will ever need? When you are considering a purchase, do you ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” And, if the answer is yes then, “Why do I need it?” and maybe more importantly, “Why do I need it now?” One sign of maturity is delayed gratification. Sometimes if we “sleep on it” what ever “it” may be might look differently to us with the passage of time – that is the “need” may diminish. “Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy what we don't need.” – From the movie Fight Club, based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk The study referred to by Ms. Sato is slated for publication in the Journal of Consumer Research. The researchers have found that “low self-esteem and materialism are not just a correlation, but also a causal relationship where low self esteem increases materialism, and materialism can also create low self-esteem. They also found that as self esteem increases, materialism decreases.” It was speculated that materialism may be a way to cope with insecurity. The researchers said that, “By the time children reach early adolescence, and experience a decline in self-esteem, the stage is set for the use of material possessions as a coping strategy for feelings of low self-worth.” “It would seem that while consumerism is good for the economy, it may be not so good for the individual….There are costs in happiness when people believe that their value is extrinsic.” “In his book “Happiness: Lessons from a New Science,” Richard Layard suggests that most of us want more income so we can consume more. Yet as societies become richer, they do not become happier. In fact, the First World has more depression, more alcoholism and more crime than fifty years ago. This paradox is true of Britain, the United States, continental Europe and Japan. Statistically people have more things than they did 50 years ago, but they are actually less happy in several key areas.” We are brainwashed into believing that there are things out there that we need to obtain in order to “enjoy life” or “feel good” about ourselves. “People believe that buying more and more things will make them happy, when in fact research has shown time and time again that this simply isn’t the case.” In contrast to our apparent needs or struggles, have you ever watched what makes your pet happy or sad, content or unsatisfied? Have you ever noticed that your pet is not at all unhappy about the fact that he or she does not own property? Have you ever heard your pet complain or fret about his or her retirement savings account? Has your pet ever been dissatisfied or unhappy because some THING is missing from his or her life? If your pet is like mine then she is delighted when you shower her with attention, and sad when you are not there to do it. I often find my Amazon parrot sitting on my pillow when I’m out of the room for long periods of time. God brought us into a relationship with our pets, in part, to teach us. Jesus referred to “the birds of the air that neither sow nor reap,” in teaching lessons about living. We may, if we so choose, learn from their example – from their value system. Human beings consider themselves the most magnificent of all of God’s creatures, the most intelligent, the highest of life forms, and yet our animal companions seem to understand more about living a life of contentment. In addition they know how to take only what they need – they know how to care for the environment. They also seem to tolerate our cruelty and stupidity in a way that suggests Divine grace. In short, they may, in reality, be closer to God and therefore wiser then we, the self proclaimed “higher” species. Our animal friends seem to have mastered the joy of living in simplicity. A constant inspiration to me is the lyrics of “Simple Gifts” by Elder Joseph: 'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free, Much love dear ones, Links: http://www.csom.umn.edu/Page6393.aspx http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/pressAndInformationOffice/publications/books/2005/Happiness.htm http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/10/15/want-to-save-the-environment-buy-less-stuff/ |