By: Noman Baig
In the post-modern era, happiness is directly related to money. This concept is well fed into our consciousness through media, jobs, the government, entertainment industry, celebrities, books, modern philosophy, economics, etc. We usually see this taking place more in the developing nations, such as ours; Pakistan. Considering how we ship and bow down to the western capitalist ideas, it is quite easy for our markets to capture our subconsciousness and advertise to us the most flashy, useless, money grabbing items of all.
The bi product of the capitalist system we live in, is consumerism. Which in my opinion is a social issue which is and has been drastically growing from time to time, and we haven’t been able to pay much attention to the root cause of it since we are too blinded by our envy of materialistic goods.We are told the more we are able to consume, the happier life we are bound to have. This is said and shown repeatedly, ever since one’s a child. Therefore, growing up, one links his or her happiness only with how much money he or she has or how much he or she can buy.
In terms of the concept of happiness. The entire media industry runs upon hedonic well-being; the more the pleasure, the lesser the pain will be.
It is due to the media industry combined with the hedonistic approach that individuals these days chase high after high after high.
Which is why today we see millions of people engaging in pornography, drinking culture, clubbing, drugs, parties, sex, prostitution, rapes, online dating, exposing more skin, cigarettes, pot etc
Individuals as young as 10-13 engage in activities as such only because of the way media portrays it. It provides people with a quick and easy escape from life, a quick high.
Given in modernism, nobody really wants to work their way towards happiness. Everyone feels tired and agitated and worked up to the most, misunderstood, over or underwhelmed and therefore losing themselves in some quick and easy high seems much more convenient than earning happiness.
The modern market, or economy is running on making individuals chase things they don’t need or want or will even ever use. They only portray a lifestyle of ease and elite that everyone wants to have.
Living in today’s world – who doesn’t want an elite lifestyle? Who doesn’t chase happiness and comfort?
The dangerous, manipulative yet powerful strategy they’ve come up with, in order to keep the individuals chasing, is linking and showing and feeding into minds that happiness is earning money, spending money, and everything and anything involving money making.
According to the rule of Laetus, we understand how some of the happiness can be driven from material possessions.
This validity that the thirst is legitimate til a certain point. Most of the world we see today, is below the lines of poverty.
To be able to have basic rights, such as food, shelter, clothing, education and access to healthcare; who wouldn’t be glad to be able to afford all of this?
Once this is all taken care of, individuals still want more.
This is also where the second level of happiness comes in – Felix. The idea of being better than the rest of of the clan.
Once you’re done with the basic needs of life, to boost your ego, you need to know that you’re above them. You’re somewhat better than the rest of the people.
And, media is entirely based upon advertising you to the latest materials you will require to feel above everyone else.
It’s not just the capitalist system, it’s also the very nature of a human being to want more, to do more as the conscious of a human is never fully satisfied. It keeps looking for more to chase.
earning happiness.
Coming to the eudaemonic concept of happiness, it requires a greater consciousness to think about your purpose, your goals and your inner and outer growth and well-being.
Not many people find themselves in this level of consciousness.
It could be because of how flooded we stay with materialistic ideologies, celebrities, social media etc.
It certainly destroys or at the very least distorts the image of “self”. Due to this, people only look towards outer substances to fulfill their inner void, or the lack of happiness.
Even if an individual can reach this point of conciseness he or she might go towards nihilism. Given how our society is today – completely running on money and materialism.
The system only diverted the human conscious into wanting and needing and chasing more and more money.
It is not about needing or wanting; it’s about portraying a lifestyle. And, since happiness is very often faked, and made up, people have slowly forgotten what real happiness lies in.
The system has made us measure happiness in terms of materialistic things. A world tour would make one more excited than eating a simple dinner at home with his family. A brand-new car would always win over an old cycle. A Harvard degree would turn you up more than any other local degree. The list goes on.
People always need an upgrade. Even if it’s the same thing with a tag saying “upgrade” on it. That’s how today’s market is running. It’s all directed towards within. Towards oneself.
Due to this reason the third stage of happiness has become almost impossible to reach. The stage of Beatitude.
It is the stage of giving back to people and contributing to the overall environment.
Since people have become more and more greedy and are occupied with jealousy and envy – they are less likely to help other people and to uplift the society or contribute to the wellbeing of it in any shape or form.
The linkage of oneself, happiness and money has only strengthened over time. And, it’s only going to strengthen furthermore.
The more you can buy, the happier you will be. The more respect people will pay you, the more doors will open for you, the more popular you’ll be.
It’s the way the system is designed today, the great designs require money, it feasts on money. It feeds on one’s lack of deeper consciousness and it’s well-fed definition of how money is everything you require in order to achieve true happiness.
If one fails to earn enough, the system does not let them survive. Not for long.
And the only way to earn enough, is to have the thrust of money. To know and to trust the system when they say money is happiness.
Without this mantra, the system will continue working due to its puppets, but an individual would be kicked out without a second thought.
Given all of this, very less individuals live up to reach the final level of happiness which is Sublime beatitude.
It is the level of spirituality, philosophy, and complete calmness and happiness.
This level is hardly ever reached since more and more people direct their happiness towards outer things.
That’s how we are being programmed. To seek happiness in material wealth, through media, government, market, the system, economics etc.
Therefore, we can easily understand how and why our happiness is super materialistic these days. And it will stay the same for decades to go.
