The Importance Of Living A Simple Life

And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.” this is a quote by the Dalai Lama and it is very true. Doing something good by helping people is a chain reaction, because if I help one person by doing something, then they might be impacted and they could pass it on by doing something nice too. That could make the world a much better place, by spreading happiness and helpfulness one person at a time.

Use your money for buying experiences not material items. Geoff Williams, a frequent writer for U.S News & World Report and author of several books wrote an article in U.S News & World Report entitled “Can Money Buy Us Happiness”. In this article Williams writes about the difference between buying material items and buying experiences and which brings you happiness including the possibility that a third option, buying something for someone else and not yourself is possible for buying happiness. At any rate, whether you choose material items or vacation memories, your long term happiness is at stake. Williams used ethical and emotional appeals to persuade his intended audience that buying experiences will enhance you long term happiness.

The United States department of commerce found out that the nation is becoming weaker. Economy had increased how consumers blow their paychecks on unnecessary items. For example, many Americans are not able to pay their rent, yet still buy play stations 4 and a 52 inch plasma TV. Most Americans spend money when going to a gas station, in game purchase or paying full price for clothes. People who pay for items in full price should be more responsible with their money. However, Alyssa Battistoni

People over consume and are never satisfied with what they already have but rather aim for more and bigger things. Under the treadmill of consumption people become very competitive as well as greedy and have the need to over consume in order to feel happier or more gratified. Studies have shown just the opposite that by over consuming does not lead to happiness but rather to the contrary. As people accrue more and more material goods they usually do not become happy or content but rather raise the ladder for more consumption. One day they will realize that all their means have

In Bookmarks, Possessed by Our Possessions, Diane Cole states, “But never has hoarding been so visible as it is today in westernized societies. Perhaps the abundance of inexpensive and easily accessible objects makes it the disorder of the decade” (Cole 3). This quotes is very relevant to my views on how and why America seemed to be consumed by consumption. This isn’t just a coincidence but, an action that has turned into an emotion. Buying items used to be dependent on necessity but now it is based on the feeling. To buy items people enjoy themselves and it turns into a leisurely activity. Because of the emotion shopping creates, individuals who suffer from depression use this as an outlet and tend to buy at

(Luke 10:25-37). Jesus taught this so that Christians would treat everyone the way that they would want to be treated. In Luke 6:20-26, Jesus said. “That the poor were special to him and that their suffering would be rewarded in heaven.” He also went on to say, “The rich who ignored the suffering of the poor would be punished.” One of Jesus’ most important teachings on poverty was in Matthew 25:31-46. To the affect Jesus said “Whenever you help anyone in need you are helping me.” Christians believe that when they help someone they are helping Jesus and that they will be rewarded for it. These are the main Christian teachings on wealth and poverty.

In the beginning, God provided Adam and Eve with a garden to live in with no house to go home to as the sun set each day. Americans today have the opportunity to live in a home where their lives carry on day after day. Adam and Eve were in a sense homeless, yet God did not love them any less. The homeless in America today are seen as less than everyone else in society, yet God does not love them any less than those of us who live in a home. As Christians, we are told to share with the homeless. Luke states in Luke 3:10-11, “And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’.” The Bible tells us to share with the poor, despite

If we do not expect nothing in return except for our fellow man to have what he needs to make it in life, we will in turn receive more productive members of society, we will receive less starving, freezing, lonely people on the streets, and we will receive compassion if we ever end up there too.

Acts 20:35 says, “ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

You give them something to eat.” (Matthew Ch. 14:16) Christians believe in a final judgment day when God will judge them upon their actions. If they have led a ‘good’ life they will be rewarded with eternity in heaven with God, where as those who led a ‘bad’ life will be punished with an eternity in hell. Jesus speaks of helping the poor because it is what God asks of you and not because you want praise from your fellow men.

Nowadays, people think the only way to live a happy life is if you have a lot of money. I know that they are wrong. You don't need to have a lot of money to be happy. In the story 'Raisin' In The Sun' Walter said something that is completely wrong, "Money is life." Here is a good example of someone who thinks the only way to living happy is if you have a lot of money. I'm not trying to tell you that you don't need money at all, but you don't need to be rich. You shouldn't get caught up in caring about money so much that you lose relationship with your family or friends. I know it's hard to think of, but it can and will happen. Here's another example of what I've been trying to explain, "I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy... Mama look at me." Again, Walter is saying how much he wants money and how he is not responsible with money. He is telling his mom that money is driving him crazy. Mama tried helping her family out and buy a nice house for her family but Walter got selfish and didn't like that she spent the money. Mama says, "Son- I just tried to find the nicest place for the least amount of money for my family." She bought a nice house for her family for a cheap amount of money, like I said before, you don't need a lot of money to be

     Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Many people today seem to look over the poor and needy. The people who are the poorest may be the happiest. We have to be able to look at these people and see how wonderful they really are. They may not ask for anything but when someone offers to give them something they truly do cherish it. Even if it is just a slice of bread or a pair of old shoes, or even a blanket. Today we can give to charities to help these people because somewhere someone is getting that blanket you did not want and it is the thing that is keeping him warm all winter.

Affective motives deal with the need to reach satisfying feeling states and to obtain personal goals (Hawkins, 2010). Another shopping situation on my personal consumption is line 15 page 2, April 14, 2012, my family on an impulse spent $143.07 dollars on recreational products. Even after this shopping situation, I could not understand how or why I allowed my family that is trying to save money spend so much of it. However slowly understanding our purchasing behaviors, I can understand that it relates to the need for tension reduction and some hedonic shopping motives. People encounter situations in their daily lives that create uncomfortable levels of stress. In order to effectively manage tension and stress, people are motivated to seek ways to reduce arousal. Recreational products and activities are often promoted in terms of tension relief (Hawkins, 2010). After closely observations of my consumption journal, I think most of our purchasing

Whoever said money can’t buy happiness? Today, the argument can be made that happiness and consumerism are directly linked. It is fair to say that happiness is a relative term for different people. However, the obtaining of new and shiny things has become such a part of everyday life, that it provides happiness when people are purchasing something new, and causes sadness when no buying is taking place. For many, it seems to be a protective coating against the harsh realities of everyday stresses from a job, or family life.

Keeping from having an excess amount of materialistic, unneeded goods and genuinely enjoying a simplistic lifestyle measures a greater happiness. Rather than purchasing an increased amount of “things” to possess, the focus should be on “how these things are used”(Pursuit of Happiness). Socrates’ ideas point that “Happiness should not depend on external things...and a wise person will use money in the right way in order to make his life better.” For example, using currency in such a way to gain life experiences or knowledge results in a greater satisfaction and measure of happiness because it leaves priceless memories and lasting impressions. Through learning and experiencing, we humans can fulfill that natural desire to contribute and participate in the human phenomenon as a whole, precisely making life better.