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Materialism’s Devastating Toll on Happiness | Zereen Amy Ahmed | TEDxWhitneyHigh


to a few months ago for my 18th birthday

to a few months ago for my 18th birthday that’s right ask his ring what can I get

that’s right ask his ring what can I get

that’s right ask his ring what can I get through yet for you I looked down at a

through yet for you I looked down at a

through yet for you I looked down at a list of items that I heard and down over

list of items that I heard and down over

list of items that I heard and down over the year – that appealed to me at the

the year – that appealed to me at the

the year – that appealed to me at the time time but we’re now about notice I

time time but we’re now about notice I

time time but we’re now about notice I didn’t know how to ask her but instead

didn’t know how to ask her but instead

didn’t know how to ask her but instead she insisted name something that I can

she insisted name something that I can

she insisted name something that I can buy for you I appreciated the time

buy for you I appreciated the time

buy for you I appreciated the time thought but I knew she wouldn’t fight

thought but I knew she wouldn’t fight

thought but I knew she wouldn’t fight for me I wa I truly wanted we live in a

for me I wa I truly wanted we live in a

for me I wa I truly wanted we live in a society today where the American Dream

society today where the American Dream

society today where the American Dream is becoming more and more materialistic

is becoming more and more materialistic

is becoming more and more materialistic because it revolves around the

because it revolves around the

because it revolves around the consumption of luxury goods grips us was

consumption of luxury goods grips us was

consumption of luxury goods grips us was shopping and buying unnecessary items

shopping and buying unnecessary items

shopping and buying unnecessary items all because the attainment appeal of

all because the attainment appeal of

all because the attainment appeal of these items temporarily fills the void

these items temporarily fills the void

these items temporarily fills the void of irony to be loved to belong and to

of irony to be loved to belong and to

of irony to be loved to belong and to have a higher self-esteem and status in

have a higher self-esteem and status in

have a higher self-esteem and status in society yeah there is a correlation

society yeah there is a correlation

society yeah there is a correlation between materialism and unhappiness or

between materialism and unhappiness or

between materialism and unhappiness or shall I say a causation

shall I say a causation

shall I say a causation you see materialism is one of the main

you see materialism is one of the main

you see materialism is one of the main causes behind everyone’s misery today

causes behind everyone’s misery today

causes behind everyone’s misery today why because in order to maintain a high

why because in order to maintain a high

why because in order to maintain a high profile image people have to spend tons

profile image people have to spend tons

profile image people have to spend tons of money and eventually they become

of money and eventually they become

of money and eventually they become obsessed with material goods people want

obsessed with material goods people want

obsessed with material goods people want to have the best stuff thing so as to

to have the best stuff thing so as to

to have the best stuff thing so as to prove themselves superior over others

prove themselves superior over others

prove themselves superior over others and all of this requires a lot of time

and all of this requires a lot of time

and all of this requires a lot of time effort and wealth which if you stop and

effort and wealth which if you stop and

effort and wealth which if you stop and think about is it really worth it our

think about is it really worth it our

think about is it really worth it our material goods sufficient to supplement

material goods sufficient to supplement

material goods sufficient to supplement you with true joy and happiness you see

you with true joy and happiness you see

you with true joy and happiness you see in reality materialism forces us into

in reality materialism forces us into

in reality materialism forces us into this comparison with the possessions of

this comparison with the possessions of

this comparison with the possessions of others

others

others we’re absorbed into this endless

we’re absorbed into this endless

we’re absorbed into this endless competition that our desire to keep

competition that our desire to keep

competition that our desire to keep wanting more to enhance our image or

wanting more to enhance our image or

wanting more to enhance our image or increase our authority actually leaves

increase our authority actually leaves

increase our authority actually leaves us feeling empty and unsatisfied

us feeling empty and unsatisfied

us feeling empty and unsatisfied complacent if you will it was Mark Twain

complacent if you will it was Mark Twain

complacent if you will it was Mark Twain who once said that comparison is the

who once said that comparison is the

who once said that comparison is the death of joy and I wholeheartedly agree

death of joy and I wholeheartedly agree

death of joy and I wholeheartedly agree yes comparison may be a valuable source

yes comparison may be a valuable source

yes comparison may be a valuable source of growth and motivation if utilized

of growth and motivation if utilized

of growth and motivation if utilized appropriately but the majority of the

appropriately but the majority of the

appropriately but the majority of the is damaging to your sense of self

is damaging to your sense of self

is damaging to your sense of self because what you are comparing against

because what you are comparing against

because what you are comparing against is inaccurate information leading to one

is inaccurate information leading to one

is inaccurate information leading to one of my favorite topics to discuss that I

of my favorite topics to discuss that I

of my favorite topics to discuss that I first learned of in my creative writing

first learned of in my creative writing

first learned of in my creative writing class called the Instagram effect and

class called the Instagram effect and

class called the Instagram effect and since we all knew a platform to display

since we all knew a platform to display

since we all knew a platform to display our material possessions and

our material possessions and

our material possessions and unconsciously fall into the trap of

unconsciously fall into the trap of

unconsciously fall into the trap of comparison Instagram actually serves as

comparison Instagram actually serves as

comparison Instagram actually serves as an ideal foundation for that so the idea

an ideal foundation for that so the idea

an ideal foundation for that so the idea behind the Instagram effect is that what

behind the Instagram effect is that what

behind the Instagram effect is that what people present to the outside world is

people present to the outside world is

people present to the outside world is usually an edited version of their

usually an edited version of their

usually an edited version of their reality

reality

reality you’re depicting a polished life

you’re depicting a polished life

you’re depicting a polished life stretching the truth leaving out the

stretching the truth leaving out the

stretching the truth leaving out the negatives and creating an illusion of

negatives and creating an illusion of

negatives and creating an illusion of the type of person that you desire to be

the type of person that you desire to be

the type of person that you desire to be not who you really are

not who you really are

not who you really are but what you have to realize is that

but what you have to realize is that

but what you have to realize is that when you’re cropping your photos to make

when you’re cropping your photos to make

when you’re cropping your photos to make them look all perfect and aesthetic

them look all perfect and aesthetic

them look all perfect and aesthetic you’re actually cropping out your own

you’re actually cropping out your own

you’re actually cropping out your own reality and studies show that living an

reality and studies show that living an

reality and studies show that living an an authentic life is actually a

an authentic life is actually a

an authentic life is actually a contributing factor of a half of

contributing factor of a half of

contributing factor of a half of unhappiness about two years ago

unhappiness about two years ago

unhappiness about two years ago Australian teenager by the name of the

Australian teenager by the name of the

Australian teenager by the name of the Senate O’Neill who had followers on

Senate O’Neill who had followers on

Senate O’Neill who had followers on Instagram and bottled products for

Instagram and bottled products for

Instagram and bottled products for various companies online actually her

various companies online actually her

various companies online actually her quit Instagram but why why would someone

quit Instagram but why why would someone

quit Instagram but why why would someone who me over $1500 her pose suddenly just

who me over $1500 her pose suddenly just

who me over $1500 her pose suddenly just give up all that money hot money well

give up all that money hot money well

give up all that money hot money well the truth was later depicted in the 96th

the truth was later depicted in the 96th

the truth was later depicted in the 96th caption she made edits to revealing the

caption she made edits to revealing the

caption she made edits to revealing the minute the manipulation been Danity and

minute the manipulation been Danity and

minute the manipulation been Danity and insecurity behind each photo photo a

insecurity behind each photo photo a

insecurity behind each photo photo a Senate claimed that an Instagram

Senate claimed that an Instagram

Senate claimed that an Instagram platform was contrived perfection a to

platform was contrived perfection a to

platform was contrived perfection a to get attention and so she put social

get attention and so she put social

get attention and so she put social media but she’s not wrong how often do

media but she’s not wrong how often do

media but she’s not wrong how often do we find our fun constantly checking

we find our fun constantly checking

we find our fun constantly checking Instagram to see the number of ice

Instagram to see the number of ice

Instagram to see the number of ice hang on photo photo how often will count

hang on photo photo how often will count

hang on photo photo how often will count the number of all the words we have to

the number of all the words we have to

the number of all the words we have to unfollow some others are not following

unfollow some others are not following

unfollow some others are not following us back stop I myself have taken

us back stop I myself have taken

us back stop I myself have taken numerous pauses in between my homework

numerous pauses in between my homework

numerous pauses in between my homework just to check the amount of likes I

just to check the amount of likes I

just to check the amount of likes I received on a photo or attempted to

received on a photo or attempted to

received on a photo or attempted to maintain an aesthetic feed which would

maintain an aesthetic feed which would

maintain an aesthetic feed which would only allow me to post certain photos

only allow me to post certain photos

only allow me to post certain photos that I didn’t care about instead of the

that I didn’t care about instead of the

that I didn’t care about instead of the ones that I truly wish to share the joy

ones that I truly wish to share the joy

ones that I truly wish to share the joy of as Ascenta stated we’re no longer

of as Ascenta stated we’re no longer

of as Ascenta stated we’re no longer living a 3d life but being sucked into

living a 3d life but being sucked into

living a 3d life but being sucked into this virtual reality that well isn’t

this virtual reality that well isn’t

this virtual reality that well isn’t even reality and so once again this

even reality and so once again this

even reality and so once again this competitive nature arises people are

competitive nature arises people are

competitive nature arises people are posting photos of their designer brand

posting photos of their designer brand

posting photos of their designer brand purse that they just bought or their

purse that they just bought or their

purse that they just bought or their expensive new shoes and the lengths that

expensive new shoes and the lengths that

expensive new shoes and the lengths that we go to create these deceitful images

we go to create these deceitful images

we go to create these deceitful images it’s absolutely ridiculous but what you

it’s absolutely ridiculous but what you

it’s absolutely ridiculous but what you have to realize is that you are

have to realize is that you are

have to realize is that you are comparing your behind-the-scenes with

comparing your behind-the-scenes with

comparing your behind-the-scenes with someone else’s highlight reel

someone else’s highlight reel

someone else’s highlight reel and if comparing is how you evaluate

and if comparing is how you evaluate

and if comparing is how you evaluate your self-worth then you’re losing the

your self-worth then you’re losing the

your self-worth then you’re losing the battle because there will always be

battle because there will always be

battle because there will always be someone who’s bigger better stronger or

someone who’s bigger better stronger or

someone who’s bigger better stronger or prettier smarter kinder and so on and so

prettier smarter kinder and so on and so

prettier smarter kinder and so on and so you accept it and you move on

you accept it and you move on

you accept it and you move on acceptance actually being one of the key

acceptance actually being one of the key

acceptance actually being one of the key essentials of happiness so everything

essentials of happiness so everything

essentials of happiness so everything that I’ve talked about today ultimately

that I’ve talked about today ultimately

that I’ve talked about today ultimately has a devastating toll on happiness in

has a devastating toll on happiness in

has a devastating toll on happiness in fact the happiness that materialism is

fact the happiness that materialism is

fact the happiness that materialism is supposed to provide isn’t even authentic

supposed to provide isn’t even authentic

supposed to provide isn’t even authentic it’s artificial simply a supplement used

it’s artificial simply a supplement used

it’s artificial simply a supplement used to recreate these emotions that we

to recreate these emotions that we

to recreate these emotions that we desire to experience our definition of

desire to experience our definition of

desire to experience our definition of being content today that some item will

being content today that some item will

being content today that some item will make us happy is simply image is simply

make us happy is simply image is simply

make us happy is simply image is simply a product of our materialistic society

a product of our materialistic society

a product of our materialistic society that in truth will never give you the

that in truth will never give you the

that in truth will never give you the same valuable experiences some

same valuable experiences some

same valuable experiences some intangible things can give you

intangible things can give you

intangible things can give you personally something that I value very

personally something that I value very

personally something that I value very much is friendship because it produces

much is friendship because it produces

much is friendship because it produces companionship joy warmth and the most

companionship joy warmth and the most

companionship joy warmth and the most loud pure but obnoxious laughs things

loud pure but obnoxious laughs things

loud pure but obnoxious laughs things that material goods can’t give me just

that material goods can’t give me just

that material goods can’t give me just recently I

recently I

recently I lost a friendship a friendship with

lost a friendship a friendship with

lost a friendship a friendship with someone that I would give up all my

someone that I would give up all my

someone that I would give up all my material goods for in a heartbeat just

material goods for in a heartbeat just

material goods for in a heartbeat just to have it back because it made me

to have it back because it made me

to have it back because it made me genuinely happy unlike all these other

genuinely happy unlike all these other

genuinely happy unlike all these other items that are trying way too hard to

items that are trying way too hard to

items that are trying way too hard to replicate an emotion that simply can’t

replicate an emotion that simply can’t

replicate an emotion that simply can’t be a friendship that I want it back as a

be a friendship that I want it back as a

be a friendship that I want it back as a gift and maybe friendship is interesting

gift and maybe friendship is interesting

gift and maybe friendship is interesting well then look for the little moments in

well then look for the little moments in

well then look for the little moments in life that make you smile for example 15

life that make you smile for example 15

life that make you smile for example 15 your first bite and 20 commercially

your first bite and 20 commercially

your first bite and 20 commercially thought makes cinnamon mill or curling

thought makes cinnamon mill or curling

thought makes cinnamon mill or curling into bed on a Friday night after a long

into bed on a Friday night after a long

into bed on a Friday night after a long week and I’m getting even little breeze

week and I’m getting even little breeze

week and I’m getting even little breeze because who doesn’t look at weekends and

because who doesn’t look at weekends and

because who doesn’t look at weekends and if you notice all of these moments have

if you notice all of these moments have

if you notice all of these moments have one factor in common so I guess the

one factor in common so I guess the

one factor in common so I guess the conversation now okay so what your items

conversation now okay so what your items

conversation now okay so what your items and lead a minimalistic life neither am

and lead a minimalistic life neither am

and lead a minimalistic life neither am i trying to reprimand Instagram true

i trying to reprimand Instagram true

i trying to reprimand Instagram true happiness isn’t that hard to find once

happiness isn’t that hard to find once

happiness isn’t that hard to find once you learn to let go of all these things

you learn to let go of all these things

you learn to let go of all these things that are taking up way too much space

that are taking up way too much space

that are taking up way too much space and preventing room for other things

and preventing room for other things

and preventing room for other things that bring you true joy such as spending

that bring you true joy such as spending

that bring you true joy such as spending time with friends and family giving back

time with friends and family giving back

time with friends and family giving back to one another and random acts of

to one another and random acts of

to one another and random acts of kindness it is only then that we will be

kindness it is only then that we will be

kindness it is only then that we will be truly satisfied and find that we are

truly satisfied and find that we are

truly satisfied and find that we are comparing ourselves significantly less

comparing ourselves significantly less

comparing ourselves significantly less than before remember at the end of the

than before remember at the end of the

than before remember at the end of the day the greatest form of wealth is

day the greatest form of wealth is

day the greatest form of wealth is happiness thank you

”

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