Gratitude weakens prevailing culture of consumerism

Gratitude weakens the prevailing culture of consumerism and nurtures sufficiency. The consumer culture dictates that we continually purchase. The pressure to have everything is almost embedded in western society. At Christmas, the pressure to spend can be a dilemma, a struggle between saving the planet and yet not confident enough to be like Mr Scrooge. Apart from the fact that endless growth is an unsustainable model for the planet, endless consumerism keeps us looking outside of ourselves for our own sense of sufficiency, worth, wisdom and creativity. Nurturing gratitude for friendships, good health, natural resources, skills and our many other blessing, none tied to purchasing, helps us to become aware of our wisdom and our power. We become aware of  what we need rather than what we want. We have emerged from the busiest shopping month of the year. It is perhaps a good time to make resolutions for 2025, to see consumerism for what it is and be able to thread mindfully on a journey of simplicity.