What does the stuff you own say about you?
Not much.
Imagine if everyone wore exactly the same standard-issue jumpsuit. Everyone was given the exact same car to drive, an identical copy of the same home to live in. You couldn’t “express yourself” via these objects. You couldn’t display your social status or financial success with an expensive car. You couldn’t turn heads with your fashion choices.
Despite what advertisers would like you to think, your stuff isn’t an “extension” of you–it’s just stuff. Having an enormous house doesn’t make you an interesting person. Buying things–no matter how much you spend, or how sophisticated your taste–is not an accomplishment.
What you do is what counts. You’re not fooling anybody with your gargantuan walk-in closet or your custom-tailored whatever. You are who you are. Trying to express yourself or announce yourself or better yourself through objects is little more than sleight of hand. You draw attention to your shiny baubles, your carefully curated collection of material stuff, but why? Are you hiding something? Are you anxiously reminding everyone of your importance? Who would you be if all your stuff went away?
About the Author: James Robbins is a licensed professional counselor, published author and co-owner of Dallas Whole Life Counseling. He has over 15 years of experience helping people in various life stages that come from a wide variety of cultural, economic and family backgrounds. Learn more about his background by clicking here.
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