The Layer Cake of Consumerism

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[TheMinimalists]

Which of these five types of consumerism do you struggle with the most?

[Lmessimer]

I’m so glad y’all added T.K. To the show! He is the definition of value added!!! Thanks for this, as always.

[conniepleasantnails]

Ooooo…good video. I was in store trying to find a pair of boots. I watched a woman next to me try on several pair and then ask me what I thought. She showed me a photo of the dress she was trying to match up with these boots. The dress was long and pretty and gold. She was attending a semi formal event and she was about to purchase a winter boot to wear with her dress. She explained her event was in two days and she felt rushed to make a decision. I quickly advised her against the boot. Her rational was they were practical. I then started to look at her and see, her hair was unkept, her clothes were like she was hiding herself and her spirit was tired. She told me she had been busy with work and helping others with church duties she didn’t have much time for herself and the shopping. I asked her what she was like when she was younger and how I found the dress to be really special. She told me she loved to dress up and enjoyed shopping. I carefully said this to her…”you cannot pour from an empty cup”. She stared at me as if I had known her and she started to cry. Then came the truth of her life and how she devotes so much time for others it has changed her into an extreme selfless version of someone she no longer knew. Her eyes lit up when she talked about what she used to be like and so did mine. She had fallen into the layer on “buying into what is the so-called version of giving of yourself to god”. A quite different layer of consumerism but one none the less. She thought she had to carry the same burdens her god did. I asked her if her religious leaders look tired, unkept, unrested or just plain sad. She said no, they look happy and well taken care of. I repeated myself to her “you cannot pour from an empty cup”. “Buying” into whatever society feeds us can strip us of our joy, whether it be something material or something intangible. We hugged and left neither of us buying a pair of boots, but both us leaving feeling like we gain far more. ❤

[carriepinkduck]

TK is my favorite. He always pops in with such good wisdom.

[gertieriemer]

That was a well-spent 6 minutes. T.K.'s spin and insights were the highlight for me. Thank you for this.

[Lifeisbeautiful-ritb]

Great point Josh for pointing out that if we are incomplete, no place we travel to will make us complete....just like material things cannot fill a void. Traveling can become a way to run away from our problems. I know I have been guilty of that in the past. Thank you TK for reminding us anything can be the object of addiction. Now I see both sides of the coin.

[cristoaldantes]

Success consumerism is what I struggle with the most. It is difficult to unlearn hustle culture that our society teaches us at a young age.

[krystiesolfyre]

I know I’m going to be one of ‘those people’ but I also dabbled in many religions and went so many different paths, and of course man can corrupt so many things but truth is a different matter, God is a different matter and if you seek God, you shall find Him. Restoring my relationship to Jesus did complete me in a way nothing else did. He brought Peace. Living water. I really did need him. That’s just my story and I never thought I’d be a person who just prays others experience God too. Not forced, not out of fear, but because there really is more than ourselves in this world and that’s good news! I’m a total loaner in many ways and I’m very skeptical and like to analyze everything I get being very critical (God encourages seeking truth because you will find it) so you don’t have to be in a church to be with God. But a good community is also worth far more than gold if you do find it. So I agree, think critically, be aware because there is a lot that can masquerade as Truth and especially when we have that emptiness we can just seek acceptance and undoubtedly it gets prayed on by people. But God does not pray on that weakness, he strengthens you. Best of luck on your journey!

[pinkroses]

Bring your heart and mind with you in everything you do ❤

[johnmcvicker]

You just defined the lifestyles of most Silicon Valley CEOs and ladder-climbers.

[julieg]

To be a minimalist you really have to give up what Buddhists call the "worldly dharmas" - gain and loss, pleasure and pain, praise and blame, and fame and disgrace. Do you think this is so?

[KeystoneGPro]

Josh, you've got a lot of great things to share. And I really appreciate that. But you are wrong about one thing. All empty religion leads to further emptiness and incompleteness. But a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, the savior of the world, the one who paid the debt for our sin, a debt that must be paid, He is in fact the One who completes us, or rather fills the void only he can fill.

[cabayern]

I lost myself following a certain, strict religion in which I wanted acceptance. Never received that... Even though I learned a new language and dress code. I wasted years, emotion, finances, opportunities... I did come away with a learning experience.

[dianeyoung]

When I started doing qigong I had to pay for classes but as the years past and I practiced qigong it made me feel good and I did not have to go out and buy a bunch of stuff to give myself a dopamine lift.

[elaineclaire]

I have sold my soul to those in the special needs area, aint no turning back for me. Is better than living a luxurious corporate dream of pleasure, dopamine, and addiction. When those with disabilities are the ones who need our help right now, and i am proud of that. Thank you TK for the assurance, on selling your soul to noble things. ❤️

[BisongArtGallery]

Wow, I didn’t know he was raised Jehovah Witness. Same here. I completely understand that mental struggle

[thaneknight]

You've defined consumerism too broadly. This is becoming more like religion. In buddhism desire is one of the roots of suffering.Letting go of attachments and desires is one of buddhism's goals.

[laurapfeiffer]

Speaking of consumerism, I am disappointed that I can no longer listen to the old episodes of this podcast on Spotify (where I normally listen). They have been put behind a paywall and can only be accessed if you subscribe to the private version on the podcast. As a paying subscriber to Spotify, I won't be also paying for a private podcast just to hear the old episodes. But as I think putting the old podcast episodes behind a paywall is also disingenuous to your message, I also won't be listening to any new content on any platform going forward.