How to Escape Materialism and Live a Happier and More Abundant Life

Do you sometimes struggle to shake the feeling of needing more than what you already have? When we regularly dream about what we wish we had, we engage in a scarcity mindset that keeps us from feeling fulfilled and happy. Thinking that accumulating possessions brings you happiness is like walking towards a mirage on the horizon and believing that we will eventually feel satisfied. We may think we’re getting closer to finding our joy, but once we hold these things in our possession, it brings only a temporal sense of fulfilment. So how do you find lasting feelings of happiness and abundance? It lies in the realisation that what you own does not create your identity and that you already have a lot more than what you are consciously aware.

Learning to minimise your attachment to material possessions makes room for more abundance and happiness to flow into your life. By practising feelings of awareness and gratitude, you will naturally experience less envy, greed and other low-frequency emotions that keep true happiness out of your reach. When we experience uncomfortable feelings, we often look to external things to try to alleviate our pain. We buy new things for the rush of satisfaction it gives us while not addressing the deep-rooted longings inside of us. The lesson to be learnt is that true happiness does not come from the accumulation of wealth and possessions but from creating a more meaningful existence filled with good relationships, challenging and rewarding activities, accumulation of knowledge, service to others and a sense of connection to something larger than ourselves. It is through these aspects of our lives that we develop a stronger sense of ourselves.

Living with more gratitude for what you already have and letting go of what you think you need and want is not easy. It takes a conscious decision every day to make different choices in your life. Here is a list of 10 ideas to help you escape materialism and welcome more authentic happiness into your life.

Make a list of everything you are grateful for – Write it down and remind yourself of all the things you already have in your life that you can be thankful for and consciously give thanks every day.
Distribute kindness – Random acts of kindness are a reminder that there are more important things that bring happiness than material items. Enjoy being kind and compassionate to those around you. Even the simple act of smiling at someone and making someone smile in return can be the drop that causes the ripple of change in your life and others.
Think positive – Don’t get caught up in a scarcity mindset where you constantly think about what you don’t have. Instead, give weight to positive thoughts. The more you do this, the more you will train your mind to have good thoughts rather than negative ones.
Value your experiences – True happiness is not found in our possessions but in the feelings and memories we associate with our experiences. Decide to embrace life and all of the incredible opportunities it gives you. When you take life by the horns, you will see and feel everything you are gaining.
Love – Invest in the people you love. By spending time with family and friends, getting to know them better and building intimacy, you will welcome more love and happiness into your life.
Value yourself – Look after your health and take the time to get to know yourself and what you look for in life. By developing a greater understanding of yourself, you will feel more in tune and less in need of material substitutes.
Find a purpose – Being connected to something that extends beyond us can give us the meaning in life that we crave. For example, volunteering for a cause or following a spiritual discipline can generate peace and happiness.
Become more environmentally conscious – Understanding that our materialistic choices have a widespread impact on the environment can motivate us to make more ethical choices. By making small changes that will help the planet, we will be able to lessen the hold that materialism has on us.
Make a list of your simple pleasures – Becoming more aware of the little things that bring you happiness helps you incorporate them into your daily ritual. By doing this, you will feel less of a need to fill the hole with external things.
Find hobbies you enjoy – Get into that creative, free-flowing space. Immerse yourself in a project that you love and enjoy being able to put your heart and soul into it and forget about the outside world.

Escaping the pull of materialism is a conscious decision that you can choose right now. Remind yourself of the wealth you already have and open your heart to discover and embrace all the intangible aspects of what your soul is craving. You will feel more in tune with your identity and experience a more reliable, enduring and profound sense of happiness.