State of Mind: One day we give thanks, the next is all about consumerism

This week represents one of the most dichotomous times of the year. One day is Thanksgiving — a day predicated on being thankful for that which we have been blessed. The very next day is Black Friday — a day focused on intense consumerism. Overnight, our society is bombarded with conflicting messages to feel both content and discontent, abundant and inadequate, joyful and dissatisfied. These opposing sentiments can wreak havoc on mental health.

Feeling content, or feeling like whatever it is you’re currently considering (life stage, body image, relationship, finances, material possessions) is enough, is an important element of positive mental health. Practicing gratitude, or actively appreciating existing elements of our lives, has been shown to improve happiness and life satisfaction, self-esteem, relationships, cardiovascular health and immune system functioning, while decreasing feelings of sadness, worry, anxiety, stress and depression.

Conversely, being motivated to improve elements of one’s situation can help provide meaning and purpose to one’s life. In fact, motivation is a key factor in preventing or overcoming depression, while setting goals and taking steps to work toward accomplishing those goals can be helpful in improving well-being. So, is it such a bad thing to focus on being thankful one day and tackle our desire to attain more the next?

As it pertains to gratitude, there is always space to practice becoming more intentional. For example, while someone might desire to earn more money, they might be able to acknowledge that they have enough to eat a meal each day. While someone may wish to lose weight, they might appreciate that they are free of major disease or debilitating illness.

On the other side of the equation, desiring to improve through learning new things, expanding perspectives or growing as a person seem to be fundamentally positive. However, particularly when it comes to the desire to attain material things, perhaps the biggest question to consider is why.

For example, perhaps you have a desire to purchase a new television because you believe it will make others envious or see you more favorably, help you keep up with your peers or increase your feeling of self-worth. In this case, it’s important to consider the impacts of materialism, or the tendency to focus on the goal of acquiring possessions, judge success for oneself and others by their possessions and believe that possessions will lead to happiness.

Studies show that materialism leads to decreased happiness, life satisfaction and sense of purpose, as well as increased levels of anxiety, depression, fear, sadness, substance abuse and physical problems like headaches and stomachaches.

Ultimately, wanting to score the best deal on Black Friday isn’t automatically a bad thing. You might find enjoyment in the shopping process, discover joy in playing with the newest gadget or feel better about your appearance in a new outfit, no different than how earning a raise at work or losing a few pounds might give you a needed self-esteem boost. These can all be fantastic side effects of motivation in one form or another. The reminder that Thanksgiving provides us, though, is that none of this matters unless and until we also find contentedness.

So, whether you have more family gatherings to attend or you’re on the hunt in your favorite store, I invite you to take a few moments each day now and throughout the year to step back and be intentional about practicing gratitude. Rooted in that contentedness, it becomes possible to set goals for your own personal development and maybe even more genuinely enjoy your latest Black Friday score.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving season!

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Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He also works at Folience, the parent company of The Gazette. He can be reached at bryan.busch@thegazette.com.