Why you should fill your life with experiences, and not things

It can be easy to get caught up in a materialistic way of life, where you envy those with more money, who are better able to afford things which you know you couldn’t. However research has shown that those who fill their lives with experiences are happier than those who focus on buying new clothes, jewelry and cars.

Think back to the last time you went shopping. You probably had a brief rush of endorphins as you made your purchase, another when you got home and took it out of the bag (or parked it in the driveway), and then a few days later that feeling probably disappeared.

With constant marketing, and advertisements telling us to “buy, buy, buy”, it can be easy to assume that the answers to our problems are a new flat screen TV, or pair of designer shoes. However those who spend their money on travel, spending time with family, and experiencing all that life has to offer are far more likely to be happy, optimistic, and grateful for what they do have.

While it can be tempting to assume that material goods will make you happy, it has been proven that once most people have satisfied their basic needs-meaning they have a roof over their head, food in their belly, and clothes on their back, their happiness only increases incrementally with the more money they earn, and the more things they buy.

What’s more important, is finding hobbies which you enjoy and that you’re passionate about.

For me, I enjoy playing online, right now I am enjoying William Hill’s online slots game, Wish Upon a Jackpot (click image to know more), which has a fairytale theme and it is very fun to play. There’s something about playing online that makes me less likely to go out and spend money on things which I can’t afford, and don’t need. Plus, if i do happen to win I can then use my winnings to do something outdoors, have an adventure, or travel.

When I look back on my life so far, some of my most miserable times have been when I was earning decent money, and blowing it at the mall buying new clothes, and things I didn’t need. And some of the best times have been when I was dirt broke, backpacking through Southeast Asia, and wondering how long I could travel before I would have to find another job.

And when I talk to other people, the same thing goes. Because what we really want is freedom. We get trapped into this bubble of the 9-5, where we’re working for someone else, bored all day at work, and then go crazy spending money in the weekend because we have nothing else to look forward to.

More and more people are beginning to realise that we’ve been tricked by marketing experts into buying things we don’t need, ever since advertising was first invented. And here’s the thing: Depression rates continue to increase, people aren’t any happier when they’re buying everything in sight, and more and more people are dropping out of the workforce and moving overseas.