Can you really buy happiness? The answer may surprise you. Studies show that over time, those with a materialistic mindset are less happy and less healthy than those without. And when you consider that we now live longer than ever before, this is even more concerning. So why do we still believe that wealth will make us happy?

Materialism fuels competition and envy, which makes us feel worse about ourselves and others – not better! It’s addictive, too: just like drugs or alcohol, money can give us highs but ultimately leave us empty inside.

Materialism leads to depression and anxiety, studies show

You probably already know that materialism is associated with lower self-esteem, but did you know it’s also linked to depression? Studies have found that people who define themselves as “successful” by what they own” are more likely to report lower levels of happiness and higher levels of anxiety.

If you aren’t convinced that this makes sense yet, consider this: materialism has been linked to narcissism and other overconfident attitudes about oneself—both of which are tied to depression.

It gets worse: materialism is also linked to stress! People who are more focused on money tend to have higher levels of stress—and since stress can lead directly back down the road toward depression (or even trigger it), this is a big problem for our health and well-being.

It’s addictive, too.

Materialism is a form of addiction. It’s not as severe as alcoholism or drug addiction, but it’s still a compulsion to consume that causes harm to the user. Those with a materialistic mindset are driven by their desire to have more things, which can become an all-consuming force in their lives—and it doesn’t have to involve spending money.

People who value money over time tend to be less happy and less healthy

A recent study found that people who value money over time tend to be less happy and less healthy. This is because when we’re focused on the future, we only partially enjoy the present.

Focusing on our goals and accomplishments instead of enjoying what’s happening in front of us prevents us from being happy now.

Is a materialistic mindset worth it?

So how can you escape this trap? The first thing is to think about what really matters to you: Is it making more money or spending more time with your family?

How about working out every day or traveling around the world? If you don’t know what’s most important to you yet (or if your answer changes), that’s okay—keep reflecting on it until you do! Then make sure whatever decision comes up will help move things forward.

A materialistic mindset can make you miserable

Money can buy things that make life more pleasant, such as food and shelter. But your life won’t be any better if you chase it for its own sake. 

The reason is simple: money isn’t the only thing that makes us happy. We may be better off with less money and more time to spend with loved ones or doing activities we enjoy!

Of course, this isn’t meant to imply that people should never strive for wealth or spend their time on material pursuits. On the contrary, there are many benefits of working hard to earn more than you need for basic survival. But instead that we should refrain from pursuing these things at the expense of our health and well-being or at the cost of spending time with those who matter most.

Materialism fuels competition and envy, which makes us feel worse

A materialistic mindset creates competition and envy, which are not good feelings.

There’s no reason to live in constant competition with everyone else—it’s just not going to make you happy! So instead of trying to be better than everyone else, focus on building yourself up and improving your own life.

This will lead you down the path toward true fulfillment and happiness!

Materialism can make us feel unhappy with our family, friends, and community

• You can’t buy friends.
• You can’t buy family.
• You can’t buy community.

This is a common theme in our lives these days. There is a sense of separation, isolation, and loneliness that seems to grow with each passing day as materialism becomes more prevalent in our society.

As we chase after things that can’t replace what matters most in life (like meaningful relationships), we often lose sight of what matters most: the people around us who share our interests, support us through thick and thin, and bring us joy every single day.

And it can lead to lower self-esteem and a diminished sense of identity.

If you feel like you have to have something to be happy, or if you envy the possessions of others, consider that this is a sign that your heart may be more focused on materialism than on other essential things in life.

Materialism does not necessarily involve hoarding items and displaying them for others to see; it also includes being overly concerned about how we look and what others think about us.

Materialism can lead us to feel inadequate when comparing ourselves with those who appear wealthier or more successful than we are, which creates feelings of jealousy toward them.

It can also make us feel less than others because they seem better off.

This can cause us to isolate ourselves socially and emotionally. People with a materialistic mindset may feel like no one understands them because they don’t spend time with people interested in things other than money or power.

In other words, don’t let social media fool you!!

Money gives us things that can make life more pleasant, but if we chase it for its own sake, our lives won’t be any better

Money may not be able to buy you love, but it can buy you things that might help you find it. But when we pursue money for its own sake, our lives aren’t any better.

We need time with family and friends, happiness, and good health to enjoy life. Money can help us get those things, but only up to a point—and that point is pretty low!

It’s okay to want to be successful and earn a good living. But if you’re doing it for the sake of more stuff, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

As we’ve seen, having a materialistic mindset is linked to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. It also makes us feel unhappy with our friends, family, and community.

And when we spend too much time thinking about money or chasing it for its own sake, it can make us feel worse about ourselves and even less confident in our identity as human beings who care about each other rather than just having more stuff than everyone else.

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