Living in a capitalist society means that we are consumers whether we want to be or not — otherwise, consumerism and capitalism would not exist. However, living in a capitalist society is correlated with increased rates of mental illness in the United States.
Capitalism and feeling like you must always be consuming can lead to harmful narratives that you never have enough, leading to poor financial wellness and dissatisfaction. Choosing to intentionally shift out of consumerism and into what truly brings you joy and satisfaction can increase the presence of pleasure and fulfillment in your life. Doing so can lead to improved mental wellness and a focus on what actually matters to you.
Focusing on What You Have
You may become so caught up in what you do not have that you forget what you do have.
If you were to take a few moments to remember what you do have, it might allow you to realize that what you have and who you are is enough. This is a healthy option compared to falling down the rabbit holes of comparison, perfectionism, and fear-based ways of being, thinking, and living.
Releasing What No Longer Brings You Joy
Consumerism can encourage you to obtain more things when this may not be what you need. It also affects your thoughts and goals. In letting go of consumerism and feeling like you must constantly be consuming, what if you began the process of questioning?
Questions you can ask yourself may include:
- Which things, thoughts, stories, feelings, people, and ideas bring me joy?Â
- Which do not?
- How can I release what does not bring me joy to cultivate and focus on what does?
If this feels difficult to do alone, having support through one-on-one psychotherapy could be helpful in your process of self-discovery and rekindling a relationship with your authentic self.
Intentional, simple, minimal, and authentic living is about aligning what you have, think, believe, and do with what matters most to you. This can be more helpful than considering what you think you and your life should look like because of widespread notions or what someone else does.
Self-discovery and healing often include taking a holistic, birds-eye view of your life. Recovery provides you with the opportunity to look at everything that isn’t working in your life so you can let go of these things and welcome what works for you in reaching your goals. At Avalon Malibu, we support you as you begin your healing journey and experience recovery and freedom from old ways of being into new. If you are ready to start your healing journey, we can help. Call us at (844) 857-5992.
