Do you think consumerism gives birth to stress?

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   enlight your soulposted 13 years ago

   I want to know that is consumerism is one of the factor which creates stress in our life. From my side it is yes because I'm a good example of it. But now I'm free from it by changing some simple behaviors and I can see and feel the results.

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      Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes too. money has the least to do with happiness, Materialism in North America is where.most of first time home buyer  cannot afford a house,  Why buy into those big houses and expensive properties; low experience in life, rush, push through everyday full of stressed and forced into dissatisfied jobs trying to keep up, with mortgage. Well that is another high risking option most people are willing to take.
      
      Bigger mean more interest rates, mortgage payments, taxes and insurances.No doubt adding up all the pros and cons and you will see much greater advantages of living as simply  is better, Your Home is large enough that matters and small enough for you to handled, your budget will meet your desires and needs.

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2. 60

   enlight your soulposted 13 years ago

   Thank you Castlepaloma. I also agree with you that simple life is the best choice.

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   Peter Owenposted 13 years ago

   Not necessarily simple life is the best. Keeping the the expense vs. income in balance is fine. So if you have a large income, you can have a large house and many consumer goods and still be happy. When the expense side outstretches the income side, this is when the stress mounts.

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      Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Agree, except for most people and our natural enviroment

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         Peter Owenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No, I think most people still keep the ratio in balance, though the number who don't continues to climb. Don't understand statment of Natural environment.

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            Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            About 2/3th of American can afford housing (riches people on earth) and American per capita leaves the largest carbon footprint on the face of the earth. The American dream is more of a myth than downsizing for most to a simpler lifestyle.

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      enlight your soulposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      But don't you think that achieving to that goal is also a pain. Isn't it related to stress? When anyone set up a goal then can't get it, he is trying hard but he can't ... as a result stress. I have passed through this.

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         Peter Owenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         No, unless the expense/income ration goes out of balance. Vigilance and deferred gratification can work without pain. Problem is, many of us prefer immediate gratification and that is when issues start and stress sets in.

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            Castlepalomaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Yes balance is the key, you may be a low energy or high energy person, go with that flow.
            
            My pet pev is much of the instant gratification comes from trying to keep up with their bills and then 8o% of the people end up spending most of their waking hours of their lives not liking their job.

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   pleasure11posted 13 years ago

   Simple is the best.But how many of us really think like this?More expectations,more things,more need,more complexity,and finally more depression.

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5. 44

   Ineseposted 13 years ago

   " What I have found is that when you are NOT stressed and out of balance, you spend a lot less money; you have more time to prepare meals, rather that always buying takeaways, you stay healthier because you are not looking for instant fixes; you are more in touch with YOU rather than constantly looking outside of yourself for “things’ to make you feel better.
   
   In fact being more in balance has helped me to come to the realization that ‘things’ cant make us happy, only we hold the key to our happiness", writes Robyn Henderson in Balance: Real Life Strategies for Work/Life Balance.
   
   My answer/question is: How much money do you spend trying to make yourself feel better about being out of balance? or How much is Enough to live Balanced life?

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6. 0

   Muldanianmanposted 13 years ago

   Yes, materialism is the cause of much stress in modern life.  We have all been conditioned by the media to want bigger and better.  But what we have is never enough.  The car needs to be updated, the house needs improving, our clothes are last season, so need updating.  But none of it makes people truly happy.  In fact, always wanting to have something better stops us appreciating what we have right now.  Also in our desire to have more, we have destroyed the planet.

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7. 64

   Greek Oneposted 13 years ago

   Marriage gives birth to stress...
   
   and having to mow the fricken lawn every weekend is the midwife

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      Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Greek, that's why people have kids.  Eventually they get big enough to mow the lawn for you.  LOL.  Personally, I love to mow the lawn.  I get on my big old riding lawnmower and ride around the property and meditate or listen to music.   It's like a mini-vacation, when I'm out there riding around, I don't have to do anything else.

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         Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         we here in Canada are more environmentally aware, and therefore have banned the use of lawn mowers for a more earth-friendly method of cutting the grass...
         
         

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            Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            LOL, , my neighbor would love that.  He rents out his goats.

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               Greek Oneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               That's sick.. I can not condone animal prostitution..
               
               

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                  Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                    OMG 

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8. 60

   Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

   I don't think consumerism is what causes stress.  It's the lack of resources that causes the stress.

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   renshantingposted 13 years ago

   I personally think stress is moored in the way we think or more rather how we been thought to think. Once we can learn to channel our energy positively we can handle stress easily n consumerism will not be an issue. The same thing applies to peer pressure.

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