Adding to Cart, again? Does drowning in the materialistic ocean make you swim through life?

Dream of having every trendy thing in your possession, that amazing but expensive dress, that new phone case. Better yet, a new phone. How will you feel then, when you have everything? The happiest? Trendiest? Mm, Richest?
By no means am I mocking; I have been a victim of the Hedonic treadmill. I haven’t bought a Labubu, but sure, a trendy dress that goes in the same pile, calling it ‘Oh, shopping is my coping mechanism now.’
But you know who pays more than us in this, our environment. The fast fashion industry produces 92 million tons of textile waste annually, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second.
That 10-step skincare routine, excess use of face sheet masks, and eye masks look aesthetically pleasing, but what happens after their plastic covers are disposed of every day? A more important question should be, do we need such mass consumption, 10 products of one thing? 10 more ways to overpollute with dumping and creating waste.
Will consuming massively make your life better? Make you look better than others.
Or have Low self-esteem, because of the constant comparisons leading to feelings of inadequacy. And a high score of unrealistic expectations, which makes you more disappointed when not fulfilled than being temporarily satisfied. Most of all, overemphasis on external validation, and no doubt, we all want to be validated externally. Accepted by people. And also the financial stress, still causing us to feel empty. My point, is it all worth so much investment?
No. Right? But how do we stop?
Well, it starts with a mindset, a habit. How about we prioritize experiences, like travel, learning, or relationships, which can bring more joy. Reflect on the things you are thankful for that you have. Set minimalistic goals, making minimalism a new trend? Because, common, overconsumption only benefits the industries in the end.
Recognize your patterns, how they affect your happiness. Align your spending with your values and make environmentally conscious choices, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
The waves will always pull you, making you follow along with the herd. But remember not to get consumed. Do not swim deep, because in the end, you will always drown in the desires.