Consumerism vs. Authenticity: Why Impressing Others Hurts Our True Self

We often judge people by the clothes they wear, the gadgets they use, or the cars they drive. This habit, driven by consumerism, makes us constantly try to impress others and is slowly causing us to lose our authenticity. Instead of being who we truly are, we create fake versions of ourselves to fit in or look better. Once we start living behind this false image, the pressure to keep it up affects our mental health. Over time, this can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression because we’re not living as our authentic selves.

Brands profit by exploiting our desire to impress others, fueling consumerism and prompting us to buy more of their products. Big companies and wealthy individuals who share fancy quotes don’t actually care about your mental well-being or financial situation—they just want your money, and they’re getting it. In the end, the brands get richer, while we lose both our money and our peace of mind.

In this article, we will explore how embracing your true self and letting go of the urge to impress others can be the most effective remedy for overcoming depression and anxiety. By prioritizing authenticity and freeing yourself from the pressures of consumerism, you can focus on living in a way that aligns with your true values, which can greatly improve your mental well-being.

Consumerism vs. Authenticity: Why Brands Don’t Care About Your Mental Health

Since childhood, buying a bike has been my dream. I worked hard and saved money for my dream bike. However, last month was particularly tough for me. My life felt like it was falling apart, and nothing seemed to go according to plan. It was incredibly frustrating.

During this difficult time, my mind began playing tricks on me. “Buy your dream bike. You’ve waited long enough. Money will come, but you can’t buy time.” My mind was convincing me to act impulsively, even though I knew my financial situation had been shaky in recent months.

“Buy a branded car and showcase your success to the world.” With each thought, the pressure of the EMI value increased. But then I took a deep breath and asked myself why I was having such provocative thoughts. After observing my daily routine for a few days, I realized the source of these influences: social media.

How Ads Shape Our Buying Choices

Recently, as I began searching for bikes, I started receiving similar advertisements across all my social media platforms. I was bombarded with reels and posts suggesting that owning a branded phone, car, or bike was a sign of success.

This had a significant impact on my mindset. I found that I was no longer considering buying my dream bike for my own satisfaction; instead, I was focused on how I would showcase it on social media. The idea of creating a reel or story about my first bike had become more important to me than my actual comfort or financial stability.

I even found myself arguing with my loved ones when they tried to point out the reality of my financial situation. I was so blinded by the branded advertisements that I disregarded their perspective and failed to respect their concerns.

The Brand Trap: How Influencers Manipulate Your Spending in a Consumerism-Driven Market

First, the so-called brands and social media influencers—often funded by the same brands—will convince you to purchase something that’s beyond your budget. If you fall for this, it will quickly affect your savings and investments.

At this point, investment influencers will start inserting themselves into your life, telling you how buying that liability was your biggest mistake. This will lead you to doubt yourself and become anxious.

The luxury item you bought (a bike, car, gadgets, etc.) on EMI will soon feel ordinary. Over time, people will stop discussing it, and it will become outdated.

Once again, brands and social media influencers will push new products, urging you to stay updated. It’s a never-ending cycle and a trap. They will continue to manipulate your mind, trapping you in a continuous loop.

Your comfort is more important than social media posts.

Comfort extends beyond the physical features of a product; it includes the comfort of your financial stability. If you can afford an EMI of 10k a month, don’t push yourself to stretch it to 12k.

You understand your financial situation better than anyone else. Remember, brands and social media influencers are primarily driven by profit and don’t prioritize your well-being.

Exercise patience. During challenging times, avoid spending money to project a false sense of success. Your time will come, and things will eventually fall into place.

How Brand Worship Affects Mental Health and Distracts from Consumer Demands

Nowadays, a new phenomenon surrounds us: brand worship. We often become too possessive of the brands we use and cannot tolerate criticism against them. Take the example of the Apple vs. Android debate. Each has its own pros and cons, but it’s rare to see a neutral discussion about them. This is what’s known as brand worship.

These brands are controlling our minds, and we’ve stopped thinking like customers. Ideally, we should be demanding better products and services from the brands we use. However, in the Apple vs. Android battle, we waste our energy arguing with each other instead of holding these brands accountable for delivering value for money product.

Key Takeaways:

• Stop Judging by Appearances: Avoid judging people based on their clothes, gadgets, or cars. This creates unrealistic pressures and leads to living a false version of yourself.
• The Mental Health Toll of Trying to Impress Others: Constantly striving to fit in or impress others can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression as it disconnects you from your true self.
• Brands Profit from Your Insecurities: Major brands capitalize on your desire to impress others, profiting at the cost of your financial stability and mental peace.
• Social Media’s Influence on Buying Habits: Social media ads and influencers manipulate buying choices, often pushing us into unnecessary and financially damaging purchases.
• The Never-Ending Cycle of Consumerism: Once you purchase a high-end product, it quickly becomes outdated, and you feel pressured to upgrade, keeping you in a loop of constant spending.
• Prioritize Comfort Over Image: Financial comfort is more important than buying luxury items to show off on social media. Avoid overextending yourself to meet societal expectations.
• Brand Worship Harms Critical Thinking: Blindly worshiping brands stifles meaningful customer demands for better products and services, making us passive consumers instead of informed buyers.
• Embrace Patience and Reality: Don’t fall into the trap of spending to project success. Be patient with your journey, and focus on genuine progress rather than superficial displays of wealth.
• True Success is Living Authentically: Letting go of the urge to impress others and embracing your true self will lead to greater mental well-being and happiness.