Beyond Material Measure: The Human Species Search for Lasting Satisfaction

Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Date Research and Analysis on the Human Species Search for Lasting Satisfaction: Beyond Material Measure Introduction The inception of the 21st century has marked the beginning of several unprecedented material bounties, yet many individuals are believed to be suffering from unhappiness and disgruntlement (Sarkar 18). People struggle to fulfill their basic needs without material wealth on one side but with plenty of social connections on the other and vice versa. Such issues have threatened humanity’s pursuit of happiness and placed societal stability at stake. The prime reasons behind these discontentments and dissatisfactions include the undue race for attaining material goods instead of moral and logical growth (Kang et al., 880). The present societal values focus more on money, power, fame, and pleasure than friendship, love, faith, and work serving others. These factors are damaging the roots of fundamental societal values and cultural norms. If these actions are sustained longer, they will leave no moral and logical food for future generations (Nerubasska et al., 280). Spirituality and materialism are two opposite factors and are mutually exclusive. People now prioritize money over spiritual happiness and try to buy their happiness through money instead of spiritual and reality-based happiness. Discussion Threatening Challenges of the 21st Century. The fabric of modern society is laced with issues affecting humanity severely with their multifaceted and deeply entrenched genre. Technological advancements have blessed people with facilities like connectivity and usefulness, but these developments have also blown air to superficial beliefs, including stoicism. Social media platforms offer moments of pleasure, but these platforms are also the breeding grounds for comparison and increase the intensity of competitiveness among people (Flint & Ronel, 325). These factors have incited feelings of insecurity and lust among individuals, resulting in discontentment despite material richness. Also, the increasing intensity of avariciousness has been affecting the natural cycles of the ecosystem by creating environmental degradation through overconsumption. In the sense of competitiveness and the race for happiness, people have been affecting ecological sustainability through overconsumption, which may result in a shortage of resources for future generations (Glicksohn & Ben-Soussan 20). The unequal distribution of resources among nations has exacerbated the worst outcomes of material wealth abundance. Insights from Arthur C. Brooks. Brooks explains the dependence and connectivity of humans with the dedication to happiness and a sense of completion. His concept of happiness does not prevail solely around material wealth but includes several other factors, including satisfaction, completion, and pleasure. He believes our emotional well-being depends on slothful experiences and selfless relationships (Bilyeu 43). Though happiness is a blend of beautiful feelings and emotions, it emerges from the sense of victory that a person attains after defeating hopelessness, adversity, and hardships. That is why it is worth it when one gets happiness after a long period of hopelessness. Brooks believes that instead of escaping hardships, one should face them and adjust according to the circumstances. Moreover, Brooks emphasizes the recognition and importance of meaning in our lives. He asserts that without a sense of purpose and meaning, nothing can be attained in life. Conformity, aim, and recognition are the three most vital elements when one struggles to find the meaning of relationships in one’s life (Kang & Malvaso 9). As shown in the figure below, the connectivity of conformity, significance, and purpose can bring long-lasting happiness. Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1: Three Factors of Contentment Spiritual Facets. Spiritually, happiness can be sustained for longer when one transcends from material wants to the purity of one’s soul. Several religious and philosophical aspects pose that real happiness arises from a connection with the divine and by engraving virtues, including gratitude, compassion, and selflessness (Astrachan et al., 641). For example, Christian beliefs prioritize love over hatred, giveaways over wants, and selflessness over self, which provide the ultimate source of happiness to the believer. Moreover, certain spiritual practices like meditation, prayer, and mental relaxation are considered the means of genuine contentment, achieved by shunning ego and attitude and connecting deeply with self-being (Ramazani & Kermani 1641). Inner peace is not an entity to be purchased but a blessing that can be attained through self-alignment. The present century witnesses the varying dependence of human beings on material things instead of priceless emotions that are spiritual and free of cost (Roy et al., 173). The purity of the soul is connected with the purity of mind and selfless struggles to find the purpose of life and fulfill that purpose. Spirituality defines the ways and provides a mechanism for believers to find solace by going beyond the world’s chaos. Intellectual Facets. Intellectually, the pursuit of contentment connects with different fields of observation, like sociology, economics, and psychology. Positive psychology has developed as a flourishing concept to understand the human mind and the desire for peace (Carter & Caton 11). Researchers like Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi have researched extensively to comprehend the connection between happiness and related actions (Raney 47). They believe a positive relationship results from a dedicated connection between pleasure, the meaning of existence, and a well-framed action plan (Bruckmaier, et al. 594). As shown in the figure below, when satisfied with his efforts and works on his needs instead of desires, a person indulges in meaningful activities and positive relationships instead of useless and unhappy surroundings. Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2: Materialism vs. Spirituality Moreover, renowned economists like Richard Layard and Je...