Capitalism and (Un)Happiness

1 John 2:15-17 - Do not love the world or the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world-- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions-- is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing along with its desires...

           The ultimate goal of capitalism is profit, 100% profit.  Basically, you give up nothing and get something in return, or, you give up something of lesser value in exchange for something more valuable.  Capitalism is designed around profit and then more profit.  As if “profit” is some abstract, immeasurable, infinite thing everyone can get.  That’s where there is a problem though; profit of any kind is always very finite, whether that is some kind of material, object, or currency.  You don’t “create” profit; it’s there for the taking.  Capitalism is based around the fallacious idea that anybody can be rich if they work hard enough.  In order to become rich, one must take money/resources from someone else first by means of selling a product, a service, taxation, etc…  The rich cannot exist without the poor and vice versa.  It’s all about the balance of resources (or imbalance, if you will).  That isn’t the issue at hand here, though, because I am no economy guru.  In fact, the concepts I (think I) understand in the business context are very basic at best.  Most importantly, I question, how does this fundamental model of capitalism reflect in western society’s lifestyle?  Is it good?  Is it bad?  How has it affected our psyche?  

The business model of capitalism is “more, more, more... never-ending more,” and the psychological model matches that exactly.  This capitalistic train of thought has infected our minds, producing a very negative affect on our psyche.  More clothes, more technology, more money, plainly stated… more STUFF.   I see so many people who always want more “things” and, quite frankly, that’s where the main focus of their life resides.  Can one ever be TRULY happy if he/she always wants more?  I would answer no, absolutely not.  Happiness via materials/resources is only a very superficial and shallow form of happiness.  I say that because in order for a person to be truly happy, there needs to be some level of complacency.  All caps and bold letters may help get one message across that should be taken from this not-so-well-organized rant:  IF YOU ALWAYS WANT MORE, YOU’LL CONTINUE TO WANT MORE UNTIL YOUR LAST BREATH.  Is that how you picture happiness to be?  Wanting more never yields true happiness.

 As materialism and the capitalistic mindset thrive, depression rates are also at an all-time high.  Nearly 10% of the American adult population has been diagnosed with clinical depression.  Now, I see a lot of luxury vehicles and an abundance of people that have a considerable amount of “things.” The fact that 1 out of every 10 adults has been diagnosed with depression (not to mention an X amount of adults who haven’t pursued professional help) shows me that “more, more, more” isn’t the real pursuit of happiness.   Also, one of the main causes of depression is stress and nearly 75% of adults who report experiencing extreme stress say it is due to financial woes and worries.  Do you see the correlation here?  I’d argue that to genuinely achieve happiness, one must redirect his/her VALUES away from VALUABLES.

 

Simply put, appreciate the small things or, as I’ve blogged previously, the little miracles.  Love, family, friends, food, water, this wonderful day, the very breath you take, and the simple necessities the Lord has given us to survive.  Be grateful for the many things you often take for granted.  Then, my friends, you’ll find true happiness and an honorably profitable state of mind. 

Until next time…

Check me out on twitter:  @PrallyD

The Key to a Happier Society

Utopia.  If you’re not exactly sure what that is, I’ll sum it up for you.  It’s an impractical and imaginary ideal of a perfect society.  It’s something that will never be accomplished because every person has contrasting views on what “perfection” is.  Plus, in my opinion, perfection is something that is impossible to accomplish in our individual lives, let alone on the broader scale of an entire society.  Yet, we are all entitled to dream of our personal utopia, rational or not.  Perfection is impossible; a utopia will never exist for any man or woman.  So, what isn’t impossible? A happier society.  

You see, there have been studies showing that approximately 1 in 10 Americans, 18 or older, suffer from either occasional depression or major depression disorder.  At a time in my life, I could account for being part of that statistic.  I believe that many other issues stem from depression.  A depressed person does not always think with a rational mind and can negatively affect many people around his or her life which could potentially start a snowball effect and lead to more serious issues.  

What is done about this alarming rate of depression?  Well, many people and doctors choose the route of medication.  Antidepressants are one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the U.S. Upwards to more than 10 percent of Americans are on some type of antidepressant medication.  These medications pose very serious physical side effects, like shortness of breath, nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nervousness, sleeping issues, and many more.  Not only that, but they can also trigger worsened depression, causing suicidal thoughts and manic behavior.  Why are we so quick to medicate these fairly natural issues with pills and unnatural solutions?  Ones that hold the potential to make the given problem even worse (possibly pharmaceutical company profit gains, but that's another topic).  I understand that some people need these medication(s) to battle depression, but I believe more should try other avenues first.  So, you might ask, “How can I fight depression without prescription medication(s)?”  

Different things work for different people, but what worked for me as a great alternative to antidepressants was giving back and helping others.  Helping and giving to others is shown in many studies to correlate with a higher level of happiness.  Doing so gives us a sense of purpose and worthiness within our lives, as I stated in my previous blog post.  Not only did it help treat my depression without the use of drugs, but, more importantly, it left a positive impact on the people around me as well.

Imagine a society where everybody woke up to the very thought of, “I’m going to help somebody today in some way, shape, or form.  Large scale, small scale, or something in between."  Theoretically speaking, everybody would help and be helped.  Donating to charity, lending a helping hand to someone in need, hosting a charity event, welcoming strangers with a smile... I could go on forever.  Imagine a place where people waited patiently and opened doors for you regularly.  A society where people accepted you for who you were so you would never have to act any differently from what was in your heart.  Imagine living on a sphere full of “pleases,” “thank yous” and “you’re welcomes.”  How much happier would it make you to help somebody on a daily basis?  How happy would it make you to know that somebody would be there to help you throughout your struggles?  The latter question is especially something many of us look for in our lives.  Having somebody to talk to or that we can depend on to help us through life's trials and tribulations is something almost all of us long for.  Imagine a world where anybody and EVERYBODY were willing to help one another.  Would that make you more comfortable?  Would that make you happier?

I firmly believe that if more people were willing to help each other, we would face far less societal issues (violence, divorce rates, racism, drug abuse, bullying, etc...).

Other self-help methods that can be used to combat depression include, but are not limited to, lifestyle changes such as:  a healthy diet, regular exercise, and setting short term goals to accomplish in any facet of life.  

This is really just a rant on my part.  To end it, I’ll leave you with a challenge.  Help somebody today.  A friend, a foe, a family member, a stranger… anybody.  Just lend out your hand with help on your mind.  Good day, all.

"If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change."  -Mahatma Gandhi

Until next time…

Check me out on twitter:  @PrallyD