Keeping Up with the Joneses

Let's face it. In today's society, there's alot of pressure to attain material things. The big home with the pool, the big luxury car or SUV, expensive clothes & bags, jewels, etc. Personally, I don't feel that there's anything wrong with working for the things that you want--material or otherwise. Everyone wants bigger and better things. The problem lies in wanting to be bigger than everyone else at any cost...the "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality. I constantly see people who try to compare their material possessions to that of others and that type of behavior is just crazy on so many different levels and for so many different reasons. No two people in this world are the same. Different people measure and define success in different ways. Therefore, success should be defined by an individual in their own terms and not in comparison to what someone else deems successful. It is a complete waste of time and energy to compare yourself and your possessions to someone else's. If you don't have it and you want it, use that pity party energy to go out and get it! But, if you only want it because the next person has it, you may need to reevaluate your justifications for wanting these things. Constantly comparing what you have to that of your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers only ends up driving down your self-esteem. You could win the lottery today and there will still be someone richer than you. Like I said, there is nothing wrong with wanting to have material things, but it becomes an issue when you value yourself solely for what you have. At the end of the day, it's all just material and none of us can take it with us when we pass. There should be no car, home, piece of clothing, or diamond that can compare to the amount of love you have for yourself. Keep in mind the following quote: "Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you."~Oscar Wilde.