My Positive Future

I think we all are guilty of falling into the trap of instant gratification, but our present society largely thrives on it. As such, breaking this pattern will be difficult, but from an individual and societal front, it is necessary to avoid dangerous repercussions in the future. In a society that glamorizes luxury, we often don’t see or even want to see the ramifications of our actions. I think the phrase ignorance is bliss, unfortunately, rings true for a lot of us. My hope for a better future is that people go out of their way to remove themselves from their social bubbles and seek discomfort. Welcoming a state of vulnerability is the only way that we can foster growth and change to hopefully move away from some of the instant gratifications of luxury placed at our fingertips. Socializing with different circles and people from different walks of life, ideologies, and backgrounds could help foster a sense of community back into a world that is so highly networked but fosters such little true human connection. It is so easy to fall into a cycle of instant gratification because it always ends up leaving you wanting more due to the lack of long-term satisfaction. For example, the reason that Tik Tok is largely as successful as it is today is due to its ability to cater specialized content to its consumer through short-form content that can be scrolled through for hours. We consume what we think we desire through popular trends that allow us to become puppets driving what is the next big thing that fills a new niche, resulting in more sources for instant gratification. The only thing that holds any semblance of meaning in this world is what we as humans give meaning to. Arguably, social constructs like diamonds are only as valuable or necessary as we deem them to be compared to other rocks. They are rooted in tradition signifying matrimony that in my opinion isn’t necessary. The chokehold that we allow materials and consumerism to hold over us as indicators of power, identity, status, and relationships can change if we slowly deviate from their symbolic nature that is spoon-fed to the masses. While I think it is natural for humans to indulge in the occasional want versus need depending on their values, nowadays the want has become prioritized as a need. I envision a positive future in which people allow themselves to be open to vulnerability, seek discomfort, and question their consumption of materialistic goods relative to their own values. If we as individuals can identify triggers that drive our desires for instant gratification, we could truly mobilize change in consumer culture. Not only is the potential to benefit our environment immense, but the social change, mental health awareness, and healing that it could bring to so many people is an irrefutable step towards healthy living that should not be ignored. #UnleashValues @cosphereproject