#InternationalDayofHappiness ☺️ Where do we find true ‘happiness’ under late stage capitalism?

Some might believe “money buys happiness,” implying that the more financial capital we have, the more we can afford to meet our needs, and thus  access happiness.

But history shows that no matter how much its supporters try to convince us that it works, the capitalist system repeatedly detaches us from our humanity. Until we overhaul the status quo, we will continue to repeat these unhappy, unfulfilling cycles, and fascist, patriarchal, ableist, White supremacist, sexist, capitalist, queerphobic tyrants will continue to exist, in different forms. In the end, nobody wins, not even them.

To avoid burnout as we continue to experience, process, and resist the dreadful things happening globally to our human and non-human relatives by fascists, we need to build emotional resilience, not by avoiding our emotions and needs, but by courageously facing them. This includes understanding the emotion of happiness, and our true needs surrounding it.

It is important for us to understand how the pursuit of happiness and  comfort have been weaponized by capitalists to encourage  consumerism, materialism, and avoidance.

Not only does pursuing happiness exclusively through mindless consumerism, materialism, and avoidance contribute harm towards others, it also deprives us of true happiness and fulfillment, and thus detaches us from our humanity.

Capitalism tells us that, in order to satisfy our needs and be happy, we must not “be lazy” and participate in the system of capitalism by working hard, often against our will, and no matter how much we dislike the system.

Accordingly, capitalism encourages us to spend money as part of seeking comfort, through ‘retail therapy,’ capitalist-washed ‘self love and care’ practices, and other addictive, avoidant, short-term-solution coping mechanisms.

People of historically disenfranchised groups are less likely to have their material needs met, and more likely to feel pressured to spend more on material goods that help them feel more safe and accepted in a society that is hostile to them.

Thus, while everyone deserves happiness, not everyone has equitable access to it

Let’s radically accept how we feel. In these clearly difficult times, despite the media distracting us and gaslighting us into just pretending like everything’s fine, we have the right to not feel happy all the time - and to be honest about it. 

Simultaneously...

...let’s find ways to experience happiness, however we can. 

The added beauty of also allowing ourselves to feel things like sadness, grief, anger, and otherwise, is that it ensures that when we do experience moments of happiness, we do not take it for granted, and not become numb to all the beautiful things around us, even in the toughest times.

This is not a call to ‘stop consuming.’ There is no shame in making necessary purchases, and participating in mindful consumption, in moderation, keeping in mind that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism.

Nevertheless, the key here is finding balance, and resisting wherever possible - the more we do so, the closer we get to the more equitable world we dream of.

By resisting excessive consumerism and finding happiness in things other than material goods, we:

• Show ourselves respect for our labor, by being mindful with the fruits of said labor,

• Resist the chokehold that capitalists, through aggressive and predatory advertising, have over us, and

• Save more of our resources to invest in worthy causes that support liberation and humanity, including small businesses, saving up emergency money for ourselves, community projects, as well as high-quality, long-lasting,  ethically resourced products and experiences.

To our beloved Southeast Asian relatives, never forget how the colonizers have, for generations, put us and our ancestors onto addictive behaviours, to distract us from their evils, and deprive us of true happiness and fulfillment. Them making us reliant and addicted to hyper-consumerism and escapism is no different. 

Unless we resist, they will continue to use our distraction and deprivation as a form of control.

By resisting excessive consumerism and finding happiness in things other than material goods, we:

• Show ourselves respect for our labor, by being careful with the fruits of said labor,

• Resist the chokehold that capitalists, through aggressive and predatory advertising, have over us,

• Save more of our resources to invest in causes and products that support liberation and joy, including small businesses, emergency money for our peace of mind, community projects, high-quality, long-lasting, and ethically made products, and experiences that bring us fulfillment.

By resisting excessive consumerism and finding happiness in things other than material goods, we:

• Withhold our money from capitalists, who wield their power from the wealth and labor of others, and

• More creatively find ways to experience the emotion of happiness without spending money - because happiness should cost nothing, and is deserved by everyone.

Especially to our Southeast Asian relatives - never forget how the colonizers have, for generations, put us and our ancestors onto addictive behaviours, to distract us from their evils, and deprive us of true happiness and fulfillment. Them making us reliant and addicted to hyper-consumerism and escapism is no different.

Unless we resist, they will continue to use our distraction and deprivation as a form of control.

So what can we do? 

Practice discipline against consumerist distractions.

• Participating in no-buys for certain products (it literally costs nothing)!

• Learn about targeted boycotts, and the ethical practices of corporations, and be more mindful about where we consume from.

• Be mindful and take time when making purchases.

So what can we do?

Refocus on ways to derive happiness and fulfillment in radically human, anti-consumerist ways:

• Spend quality time with others, in ways that do not center consumption.

• Tell our stories

• Dance and sing.

• Express ourselves through art.

• (Finally) go through that reading list

• Heal our inner child through play and shadow work.

• Find joy in connection, and what we already have.

And now that you’ve read our post, stop scrolling and go do something you’ve been avoiding that makes you truly happy. We believe in you!

#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings 

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