Materialism, Minimalism, and The Search for Happiness

On a walk last week through a nice neighborhood, the evening sunlight cast horizontal rays across beautiful home after beautiful, million-dollar home. The homes truly are lovely I thought, walking along, but what about the people in them?

Are they happy?

While I hoped they were, I also knew the statistics on consumerism don’t lean in favor of those who focus on accumulating more.

While money and possessions can certainly increase your sense of well-being, they only go so far. In her book Your Money or Your Life, Vicki Robins plots happiness and materialism on a bell curve. She argues that happiness goes up as income goes up and people come out of poverty into a middle class life. But, beyond that, the happiness curve peaks and declines. 

A study by Nobel Peace Prize winner Daniel Kahneman found that the magic income for a family of four in the US is $75,000 a year.

According to Kahneman, until you reach that number, every year as you make more money you feel more happy, content, and at peace. Once your income reaches $75,000, happiness levels stall and then begin to decline as you make more and more money. 

No matter where we lie on the socioeconomic spectrum, it’s likely we’ve been tempted by the culture’s promotion of more – it’s hard not to. 

The average American sees over 5,000 advertisements a day. The vast majority of these ads are aimed at our unconscious drives, with the goal to manipulate us to buy things or change how we think. 

And it’s working. In fact, the average American home (average – not of the wealthy) has 300,000 items in it.

In the past 50 years, we now consume twice as many material goods and the average American home has nearly tripled in size.  

A recent study stated that in America we have 7.3 square feet of storage space for every person. We could literally sleep our entire nation in our storage units!

So what about the opposite side of all this? I wondered. What about minimalism? Those who live with less; with only what they need. 

Would people who follow a minimalist lifestyle say freedom from possessions brings happiness? 

My family and I have lived a minimalist lifestyle for the past year. After experiencing life on both sides – as a consistent consumer with a home full of stuff and now living with just what we need and love, I’d say this: Happiness doesn’t come from an abundance of or intentional lack of possessions. 

No, minimalism, in and of itself, doesn’t offer sustained happiness. The dopamine rush found in decluttering a space or donating an object is temporary. If that’s what created happiness, then you’d have to declutter and donate daily to maintain your joy. Getting rid of stuff is a temporary high just like acquiring more stuff doesn’t bring true happiness. 

While minimalism doesn’t answer the search for happiness, it can be the tool that pries free the door, allowing you to step into a more abundant and joy-filled life.

Here’s how: 

Space

Minimalism makes space to fill your life with the things that do bring true and lasting joy. When you live without as many possessions and discover that your life satisfaction level hasn’t plummeted, you soon realize that joy doesn’t come from material things. You suddenly have space to focus on what brings you joy like building deeper connections with family, sitting in prayer, and practicing hobbies and self-care. Plus, with more space and less stuff, you have lower stress levels from less clutter (backed by science). 

Awareness 

Living intentionally with less increases your awareness of the propaganda of more. You become fully aware of the way advertising can manipulate your emotional brain in attempt to control your behavior. Now, when you do purchase something, you’re buying consciously, not impulsively. Being able to step outside the circle of consumerism and detach from the need for more facilitates joy. 

Solidarity 

Minimalist living is an ongoing process of letting go. When we live simply, we allow others to “simply live” by giving away items to those in need. When we buy less ourselves, we may find more funds in our bank accounts to give to organizations that help those in need. Giving and serving others (vs. acquiring more and more for yourself) are the foundation of a joy-filled life. 

Focus

With fewer possessions and a reduced desire to acquire more, you live with fewer distractions. This facilitates a deeper ability to focus and stay centered. You’re able to spend more time on what matters most and engage more deeply in that activity. You don’t feel like you’re missing out in life by not owning something and you’re not drawn into the lure of advertising. This creates more peace, purpose, and joy in your life.

Freedom

The quote “What you own ends up owning you,” holds true. Your possessions require upkeep, which tie up your time and energy. When you live with less, you’re not as weighed down by physical or mental clutter. Your mind becomes clearer and you begin to make choices that align with your values. You care less about the approval of others and feel free to craft the life you’re called to live. Freedom to stay true to yourself creates lasting contentment.

While minimalism, in and of itself, doesn’t equal happiness, living simply with only what you need does change your life in ways that bring lasting joy.

Is this time in quarantine during the Coronavirus pandemic showing us that happiness isn’t found in the material? 

Maybe. Retail sales were down last month by 16%, showing that Americans are purchasing fewer non-essentials, and studies show that money concerns aren’t the full reason for these recent behavioral changes. 

Perhaps we are realizing more and more that while basic needs must be met, true joy doesn’t come from our possessions.

Let’s use this unprecedented time of slower living to reflect on what’s most important in life. 

Let’s choose awareness over accumulating more stuff and fill our lives with more of what answers our search for happiness.