Materialism Has Taken Over Society

For three years I have made the choice to live in hotels. With this choice came challenges and obstacles and a clear definition of what it means to be humble, free and spiritual. Before I made this choice I lived in a materialistic world. I thought clothes, houses and tangible things matter and was necessary for my happiness. I was even judged and criticized by prestigious people in my life because of the way I chose to live. At first this took a toll on me emotionally and mentally because it made me confuse materialism with spirituality. The perceptions of others was that I needed a house or apartment to raise an efficient family. I took this as a personal attack at the time which grew me into uncontrolled anger and depression. Until I open myself up to a different world that materialism didn't exist. When you are judge on the possessions you have or own it is based on people perceptions and false identification of what matters the most. That is being happy with self and not defining your well being with material things. I know we all have heard the saying, "When your dead you can't take it with you anyway."

In order for me to gain full happiness with myself I had to learn to separate from the world of materialism. It doesn't mean I don't own or have anything. It means that if tragedy struck tomorrow and I lose everything I own it would not affect my happiness. Yes it would "suck," but I know it can be replaced. For example, My husband are in the middle of making an offer on a piece of land to have a house built. Now when the house is done it will be nice but I am happy without it and I will still be happy with it. If it burned down the day after I moved in I still will be a happy person. My happiness is from within not from what I own.

Now I do have to be honest. I was not always this humble are satisfied with losing out on something. I grew up in an environment that we put a lot of emphasis on material things. My daily conversations began with, "I want, I need, I have to have, I get." The first time I experience a lost of something material was as small as my Coach boots. Lets just say you would have thought a family member had passed away. I wanted my boots back and some small possessions of mine that I had left behind. This gives you insight into how a small material object can have a devastating affect if attached to it.

I have followed the media on the economic recession and have seen people losing there houses and jobs. I empathize with each individual but I also see the positive aspect. Those same individuals get to take time and see what matter most out of life, "Themselves." I have heard that it takes a tragedy for people to look at themselves from within for strength, survival and happiness. Your job is replaceable, your house is replaceable, your family and your self is not. The economy is in a rough situation right now , but it gives you and me plenty of time to reconnect with who we are and our family.

The economy has taught me that materialism exist more now than ever. People are depressed , unhappy, and have lost themselves in the material world. This is the greatest time to find what you are made of. When you live life from with in you have no good or bad choices. There is no accidents. You have the power over what happens to you. I might have lost your attention, but focus and let me explain about perceptions and the way we look at life.

For example if you and another person bumped into each other, but you fell. Do you blame the other person? Do you feel victimize if the other person is not apologetic. Or do you look at yourself and think I had something to do with this. What could I have done to prevent this. The next example will hit closer to home for you because alot of people are out of work. The day you were laid-off, fired after 10-15 years of working how did that make you feel? Did it make you want to start a blog and blow off steam about how the company didn't appreciate you? Or do you look for symbols or messages this occurrence is bringing to your life? Do you reflect back on all the days you didn't want to go to work, and now you don't have to. Or did this job make you miss the opportunity to see your kids first steps and a chanced to be involved in their lives and now you have chance.

Materialism has incarcerated the world into believing that our things that we have are our happiness. It is blocking our ability to develop into the masterminds that we are. Take time to reflect and see what world would you rather live in. The material world, which can bring you all the worldly things and be taken away. Or the spiritual (with self) world that you can own material things but your things do not define who you are.