Possessions and Their Value
In the United States of America, a country that thrives on materialism, consumerism, and capitalism, everything is a race, whether it’s who has the trendiest makeup, popular video games, or up-to-date fashion. People earn what they put in because money is of utmost value here. Without it, everything in our country would crumble. Having possessions is the primary motivator for most people who have established their place in this cutthroat society. People have expectations they need to reach people to please, and having possessions allows them to do precisely that. Possessions aren’t just tangible materials. They can be job roles, grades, and relationships. Materialism is also a form of individuality. It can be a way to express yourself.
Obtaining valuable possessions can also display independence. Possessions are how people categorize each other, a way to display achievements and, therefore, seek connections, opportunities, and careers. In other words, possessions are of absolute value and highly valid in the consensus; they can make someone ignore the beauties of their lives, which lie above materialistic ideals.
Even though possessions can be a way to engage in complex relationships and increase popularity, many people try to exclude materialism from their lives. One example is Chris McCandless. He grew up filled with possessions and never engaged in them. He completely removed the idea of materialism from his life as he grew into an adult. Chris’s journey into the wild symbolized his persistence in creating a sense of value by finding true meaning and going deeper into transcendentalism. Even though there are anomalies in every society, possessions are still of extreme value in most individuals’ instances.
Possessions are a way to meet societal expectations, whether it be your family, friends, or mentors, and they are a way we can display our true potential. It’s a never-ending cycle of pleasing the outside world. Expectations surround us, and possessions are a marker used to identify what stage you are at, whether in terms of career, studies, or even family.
Assets are crucial to possessions, house size, car brand, and which university you attend. These examples link to societal expectations the majority of the population succumbs to and has to undergo.
A primary example is social media; the influence of digital media has taken over our lives exponentially. We view influencers and celebrities as role models, offering them respect and trying to follow their lifestyle. This often leads us to forget that they have a life outside their worldly possessions. This is the primary reason we can decipher genuine and authentic content from marketing tactics.
Expectations are fueled by external factors. They can force someone to forget their morals, ethics, and beliefs because their value is categorized by assets, not by the world, apart from money. The pressure to possess certain items is a significant part of these societal expectations that surround us.
Possessions are also of utmost importance because they provide personal motivation. In various towns, many motivations are marked for the future. Universities are for teenagers, jobs and real estate are for adults, and grades are for kids. This leads to an influx of materialism. Instead of taking in the wonders and vastness of the world outside of money and materialism, possessions become our primary focus.
Schools are also a considerable example; most students are classified by popularity, and a stepping stone to get to that level is focusing on what trendy items are. This is another form of possession; the lead motivation is peer acceptance. This goes back to how possessions, sometimes used to label the acceptability of goals, stay relevant in today’s society, which grows more competitive every day.
A person’s individuality is very dear to them. It shapes who they are, what drives them, how they are perceived, and what makes them unique from the 8 billion people in our world. Possessions play a crucial role in this individuality, as they can reflect personal achievements and independence. This is one of the main reasons we as a society value possessions so much, as they contribute significantly to our sense of self.
Though there are instances of self-made millionaires, who are the literal definition of rags to riches who value their gained possessions much more than the average person who has grown up their whole life being privileged, the main reason is because of their story, their journey of establishing themselves by the work they put in, their blood, sweat, and tears. So, sometimes, the value of possessions may also equate to someone’s epic tale, but that doesn’t instantly decrease their importance. Material possessions can come in various forms of value.
The importance of independence is a key reason why we hold possessions so dearly. Independence can grow from having certain privileges and possessions. The wealthy value their possessions because they display their status, but the poor value their possessions because they give them a sense of accomplishment and independence, almost like a reward.
A car may be a life-changing event for someone who grew up in a lower-class family, whereas if a car collector buys another vehicle, it may not significantly alter his life. The personal value of possessions and our emotional connection to them are significant reasons why we hold them so dearly. This emotional connection often transcends the material value of possessions, making them an integral part of our lives.
The USA values possessions more than personal connections due to expectations, motivations, individuality, and independence. Time doesn’t stop, reiterating that the USA is a capitalist country, and it’s up to you to create a footprint in the world.
