“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.” —Jim Carrey
Our world applauds success. And well it should. It is entirely appropriate to champion those who develop their talents, work hard, and overcome obstacles. There are many successful people I admire in my own life.
But our world is also fixated on praising excess. We are not the first society to worship conspicuous consumption, but we do continue the practice.
Magazines overexpose the details of the rich and famous. News publications rank those with the greatest net worth. Reality television applauds the lifestyle of those who live in luxury. And the Internet attracts readers with countless stories about them.
Even in our own lives, we do the same. We comment on the size of the houses in the neighborhood down the street. We point out the luxury car in the lane next to us. We envy fashionable clothes and designer handbags.
We desire to live the life of those who seem to have it all. In our hearts and in our affections, we praise those who live with excess.
But we are making a big mistake.
Success and excess are not the same.
7 Reasons Why We Should Stop Praising Excess.
1. Excess is often arbitrary. Sometimes, financial gain is achieved through hard work, dedication, and devoted discipline. But not always. Often times, wealth is only a result of heritage, dishonesty, or just plain luck. In those cases, no praise has been earned. And telling the difference is often more difficult than we realize.
2. Excess is rarely the wisest use of our money. Harvey Mackay once said, “If you can afford a fancy car, you can make more of an impact driving an ordinary one.” His statement is true. There are better things to do with our money than spend it on ourselves. This advice stands as wisdom when purchasing cars, houses, clothes, or technology. Just because you have the financial resources to afford excess, that does not mean it is the best option for your life. We should stop praising those who use it exclusively to that end.
3. Excess adds stress and anxiety to our lives. Not only is there a greater good that could be accomplished with our money, but increased possessions add burden and weight to our lives. Every increased possession adds increased worry. It becomes one more thing to manage, store, repair, and remove. Adding extra burden to our already short lives seems like a foolish thing to admire.
4. Excess is harming the environment around us. It is difficult to ignore the impact our praise of excess has meant on the earth. Perhaps Gandhi said it best, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” Holding up those who flaunt their excess as an example to follow is hardly a wise decision for anyone’s future.
5. Excess causes us to praise the wrong things. Our world keeps checking the wrong scoreboard. Those who live in excess are not necessarily the ones who live the most fulfilled lives. Often times, it is those who live quietly, humbly, and in the service of others who are the happiest. Those are the choices we should be praising and those are the lives we should be emulating.
6. Excess causes us to lose sight of the things we already have. It is impossible to find peace, gratitude, and contentment while holding on to envy of those who have more. Unfortunately, we do it all the time. Admiration is a healthy emotion, but envy is not. And choosing to exalt those who flaunt their excess results only in greater discontent.
7. Excess is not the answer. Everyone is looking for answers to the most important questions we are asking: What is the purpose of this life? Where can I find fulfillment? And what does it mean to live an abundant life? These are difficult questions with difficult answers. But surely, “owning as much stuff as possible” is not the answer to any of them. There are greater pursuits available to us than excess. But they can be difficult to discover when all our energies are being directed at the wrong things.
Admire success. But do not praise excess. Our society is longing for people who can tell the difference. (tweet that)
Chad Haynes says
Beautifully crafted post Jason! Jim Carrey sure has been profound lately. Love your opening with his quote!
Chad Haynes says
And by Jason, I of course mean Joshua!
Looooooong day at work. My most humble apologies. I’m actually a big fan of this blog, super embarrassed :[
Chad Haynes says
If it’s any excuse Jason Becker is one of my favourite guitar players, hence the slip I imagine =]
MinimalistInTheMaking says
Oh EmeraldCityGirl, my jaw dropped! You are so right about “people who seek excess are compensating for some loss or gap or failing or lack of fulfillment in a relationship and “go shopping” to patch over their feelings”!!! A few days ago, I told my partner about that same thing!
Since Fall last year, we have downsized 90% of our belongings and only keep what we really love, really use, and have great quality (I am so done constantly replacing cheap items!), we haven’t stopped yet because junks (brand new stuff we do not need / want / like) from family members are flowing like waterfalls! I don’t know how to stop them from buying us clearance items :(
EmeraldCityGirl says
…my own definition of “enough” as my SmartPhone runs away with my sentence and posts before I’m done.
:|
EmeraldCityGirl says
Twenty years ago when her father and I were going through a divorce, my then-six-year old daughter wason a walk with me to feed the ducks at the nearby pond. She somehow started talking about her “wants” from Barbies and such to a bike and all of the things that little girls learn to want.
I asked her, after hearing this long list, “Cass, if you had EVERYTHING you just named, AND a bunch more cool stuff, AND all of the clothes and shoes you could ever dream of, THEN what would you want?”
She thre down the sack of old bread we were going to feed to the ducks, hit the path with great force and stomped, “What I really would want is for you and Dad to be happy again and for us all to live together!”
Her father died when she was nine.
I suspect that people who seek excess are compensating for some loss or gap or failing or lack of fulfillment in a relationship and “go shopping” to patch over their feelings. Not in a conscious way, of course.
I see excess and I feel sad for those whose house has more bedrooms than they need, more stuff than they can possibly take care of, and pay others to maintain their lifestyle (landscapers mow the lawn, manicurists paint their nails, tutors teach their kids) and then feel gratitude that it’s not my life. No thank you!
Do I have emotional holes? Yes. Do I long for certain “things”? Yes. But I’m working at finding my own definition if “en
Jo Ann says
The question to ask ones self is, if you lost every dollar and possession you had ever made would you still be worth something?
My answer would be yes.
Pathway To Personal Development says
Brilliant article! We have to appreciate what we have and stop comparing ourselves to others. It is perfectly fine to go for what we want and realise our dreams – just be responsible :-)
Linda Sand says
When I comment on neighbors houses it is to either say, “Look what a waste of resources” or “Isn’t that an adorable cottage.”
I winter in a conversion van which I drive to the desert southwest. Plenty of room in my RV for me to live comfortably but little room in it for any excess. But I do have one compartment in which I put things I want to give away the next chance I get. It amazes me that I can have excess while living in a van.
Anna Cash says
Joshua,
I cannot express how much it helps me to read your posts and I am very grateful. Thank you and keep up the great news of minimalism.
Gladys (The Pinay Mom) says
I used to read magazines featuring the homes of famous and rich people,as amazing it is but when you start embracing simplicity and contentment you won’t dream about it.
joshua becker says
It is very freeing to no longer even want to live in a larger home.
lynn says
This could come with age. When our family was young,the house filled with children, it seemed perfect. And when they all visit, it seems good, too.
But our large house is 2000 square ft. To some that would also seem large , to others not so large.
I grew up in the fifties when houses were smaller and families were larger. That seems to make more sense. Kids shared bedrooms, there was one bathroom, one tv. We all learned about compromise and taking turns, how to get along with others. It was a great way to grow up.
Chuck Freeman says
“It is impossible to find peace, gratitude, and contentment while holding on to envy of those who have more. “
That’s the thing, whatever you buy, you will always eventually get bored and need something else, something better, which create this never-ending cycle of dissatisfaction and unnecessary consumption.
It is exactly like a junky that need is fix.
It’s like a vicious addiction that enslave us.
We need to work to buy some more toys, in order to feel better and then be ready to work more, to buy some more toys, in order to feel better and then be ready to work more, to buy some more toys… It doesn’t make much sense ..
What about just feeling good now ….from within…. that it!