1500 - 2000 / Henry David Thoreau / Social and Environmental

7 Hidden Dangers of Excess Consumerism and How to Avoid Them [Thoreau]

By Effluo | Published February 24, 2023 | No Comments

As excess consumerism becomes increasingly pervasive in modern society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between what we need and want.  We are seduced by our material possessions, disregarding the personal and environmental impact accompanying them.

Consumerism Affects Your Personal Development

Your life consists of different areas.  At Effluo, we divide life into the following Life Areas:

1. Financial/Professional
2. Physical Health/Body
3. Family/Relationships
4. Social/Environmental
5. Intellectual/Hobbies
6. Spiritual/Emotional     

Excess consumerism throws off the balance of these different areas, toppling them to the side of physical and financial needs and away from spiritual, intellectual, and environmental.

Having a life balance is necessary to enjoy every aspect of your life. 

To study the effect of excess consumerism on your personal development, we will review the works of Henry David Thoreau and his caution against losing this delicate balance.

Consumerism Affects the Environment

When we focus too heavily on material possessions, we often fail to consider their environmental impact. 

Therefore, in addition to your personal life being thrown out of balance due to over-consumerism, there is also the environmental impact.  

Excess consumerism shows up in the form of pollution, waste, and deforestation.

Henry David Thoreau warned against excess consumerism, making it clear that our relationship with material possessions is something we all could re-evaluate.

Let us then dive deeper into who was Henry David Thoreau and why we should be interested in what he had to say.

Who is Henry David Thoreau?

I should not talk so much about myself if there were anybody else whom I knew as well. – Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau was born in Concord, Massachusetts, on July 12th, 1817.  He is most famous for his book Walden, or Life in the Woods, which was written after he spent two years living alone on a lake in the woods near Concord.

In Walden, Thoreau outlined how to live simply and find contentment by embracing minimalism and rejecting consumerism.  He cautioned that this contentment and delicate life balance is in danger due to overconsumption and materialism.

Thoreau argued that by shunning materialism and embracing minimalism, one can achieve a more authentic and meaningful life, which will ultimately lead to greater satisfaction.

In a way, you may consider Walden not as an autobiography but as the first blog ever written.  Thoreau simply documented his thoughts and experiences as he stepped out of conventional thinking and embraced a different way of life.

This is a profound book with multiple insights that ring true today more than ever.

Definition of Necessities in Relation to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need

The necessaries of life for man in this climate may, accurately enough, be distributed under the several heads of   Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel; for not till we have secured; these are we prepared to entertain the true problems of life with freedom and a prospect of success. – Henry David Thoreau

It is not clear if Abraham Maslow, who wrote his work in 1943, actually studied Thoreau, but the parallels and similarities are fascinating to observe.

In the first chapter, Thoreau defined necessities splitting them into four categories.

1.   Food
2.   Shelter
3.   Clothing
4.   Fuel

Thoreau stated that until we have secured these, only then can we be prepared to entertain the true problems of life.

Likewise, Maslow, in his work, put Basic Needs at the bottom of the pyramid as the basis of everything.  He named them Physiological Needs and Safety Needs.  Maslow also stated that unless these basic needs are met, we cannot progress to higher levels of Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-Actualization.

Thoreau, in his writings, argued that society of his time spent most of its time pursuing these basic needs to excess, at the detriment of the remainder of life areas and needs.  Unfortunately, his message is even more relevant today, 100+ years later.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs That is Neglected with the Corresponding Life Areas

• Love and Belonging – Family / Relationships, Social / Environmental
• Esteem – Intellectual / Hobbies
• Self-Actualization – Spiritual/ Emotional

Overview of the Dangers of Excess Consumerism

Specifically, we will review the three dangers outlined by Thoreau as they relate to excess consumerism and the price we pay for it.  Then we will dive into what is lacking by our hyper-focus on physiological and safety needs.

Excess consumerism and the price we pay for it:

•   1st: Work Without End in Sight
•   2nd: Enslavement to Things and Debt
•   3rd: Constant Busyness Takes the Joy Out of Life

  Lack in Psychological Needs

•   4th: Relationships Are Not Developed
•   5th: Being Hard On Ourselves

  Lack in Self-Fulfillment Needs

•   6th: Killing Time
•   7th: Resignation and Burn Out

How Over-Reliance on Safety and Physiological Needs Leads to Excess Consumerism

Maslow described the basic needs as being physiological and safety.

Physiological needs are food, shelter, clothing, warmth, sleep, and exercise.   In general, if these are not satisfied, our bodies cannot function.  These are considered as most important.

Safety needs are finances, personal security, shelter, health, employment, and resources.  They follow once the physiological needs are met.   They bring order and predictability to our lives.   In general, these are financial security, social stability, property, health, and well-being.

In Walden, Henry David Thoreau argues that we must absolutely satisfy these needs, but we should not be consumed by them.   His argument is based on the notion of “necessity” – that we should only purchase what is necessary for our survival and well-being.  The excess comes at the price of not reaching the higher levels of the pyramid. 

He also emphasizes the importance of life balance, suggesting that excess materialism can lead to poverty of the soul.

Go Beyond The Physiological and Safety Needs

But men labor under a mistake.  The better part of the man is soon plowed into the soil for compost.  By a seeming fate, commonly called necessity, they are employed, as it says in an old book, laying up treasures which moth and rust will corrupt and thieves break through and steal.  It is a fool’s life, as they will find when they get to the end of it, if not before. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau wrote that by ‘necessity,’ we are employed collecting things and treasures that will not amount to much.  We spend our hard-earned money on often unnecessary trinkets and things that we could easily go without.

Necessity, as defined by Thoreau, refers to the idea that we should only purchase what is necessary for our survival and well-being.  This means that excess consumerism should be avoided in order to maintain a balance between material possessions and spiritual needs.  It also allows us to reduce our environmental impact, as excess consumption often leads to increased pollution, waste, and deforestation.

The problem with excess consumerism lies in our inability to differentiate between what we need and what we want.  Thoreau, in his experiment of living two years in the forest, threw away all preconceived notions of what he thought he needed and freed himself to understand what is the true price we pay for excess consumption.

As a result, he concluded that there are three main hidden dangers behind the excess of consumerism.

1st Hidden Danger of Excess Consumerism: Work Without End in Sight

The twelve labors of Hercules were trifling in comparison with those which my neighbors have undertaken; for they were only twelve and had an end; but I could never see that these men slew or captured any monster or finished any labor. – Henry David Thoreau

This obsession with exceeding the basic needs, which is excess materialism and overconsumption, leads to us working without and end in sight.  Thoreau observed his neighbors and their never-ending desire to attain more things.

According to him, the 12 labors of the hero Hercules were a trifle in comparison to what we put ourselves through.  For Hercules, there was an end in sight.  While we battle the never-ending to-do lists and tasks.

Excess consumerism can lead to an endless cycle of work as we strive to amass more and more possessions.  This busyness takes away from our joy in life, leaving us feeling exhausted and unfulfilled.

2nd Hidden Danger of Excess Consumerism: Enslavement to Things and Debt

I see young men, my townsmen, whose misfortune it is to have inherited farms, houses, barns, cattle, and farming tools; for these are more easily acquired than got rid of.  …we are often imprisoned rather than housed in them – Henry David Thoreau

In his observations of people inheriting property and homes, he made an interesting analogy.  Thoreau equated this to imprisonment.  

He argued that if you are in debt, you are not a free person.  Therefore, if you own the home outright, it is your asset.  If you are in debt and you are spending your time to pay off the house, than you are imprisoned by it. 

In short, when our lives become too focused on material possessions, we become enslaved to them.

So… does this mean that we should not own homes or any other things?  Absolutely not.  It’s not about ownership of a home or necessary things as they support the pyramid of our needs.  What Thoreau argued against is living in excess, beyond your means, and in debt.   That is when you become enslaved to the debtors.

This excess consumerism leads us to neglect important relationships and causes us to work excessively in order to maintain our lifestyle.  Thoreau warns that this type of lifestyle is not sustainable, as it leads to enslavement by our material possessions.

3rd Hidden Danger: Constant Busyness Takes the Joy Out of Life

Most men, even in this comparatively free country, through mere ignorance and mistake, are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life that its finer fruits cannot be plucked by them. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau pointed out that we are preoccupied with ‘factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life’.  This is another way of saying that we are not only constantly busy but wear it as a badge of honor.   The less sleep we have, and the longer our to-do list, the more proud we are of it.  It is as if we are trying to fill the void of the other life areas by staying busy and assigning it importance that it does not deserve.

In short, excess consumerism can lead to a busy lifestyle that takes away from our joy in life.  We become focused on material possessions and work excessively instead of taking time to nurture relationships or pursue meaningful activities.  Thoreau argues that this type of lifestyle can lead to feelings of emptiness and unhappiness.

Love and Belonging Need and Impact of Excess Consumerism

Excess consumerism is the result of our preoccupation and borderline obsession with meeting our physiologic and safety needs.  But this comes at a cost.  One of the costs is Love and Belonging Need.

This is the third level of the human needs triangle.   It is the psychological need for belongingness, connectedness, and being part of a group.  Once the first two needs are met, we can then be free to focus on this need.  This includes building friendships, intimacy, relationships, love, giving and receiving affection.  

Unfortunately, many of us do not move to this level because we ‘don’t have time’ as we are working on satisfying the excessive wants of physiological and safety needs.

4th Hidden Danger of Excess Consumerism: Relationships Are Not Developed

Actually, the laboring man has not leisure for a true integrity day by day; he cannot afford to sustain the manliest relations to men; his labor would be depreciated in the market. – Henry David Thoreau

Excess consumerism can cause us to neglect the relationships in our lives.  We become too focused on material possessions, leaving little time for meaningful interaction with friends and family members.  This leads to a lack of genuine connection with others, which can cause feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Relationships Need to be Preserved by Most Delicate Handling

The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling.  Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly. –    Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau emphasizes that even though it is important to develop relationships.  It is just as important to preserve them with care and delicate handling.   This requires time which is very often used by the pursuit of material things.

Esteem Need and Impact of Excess Consumerism

The fourth level of Maslow’s pyramid is the Esteem Need.

This includes the need for self-acceptance and acceptance or respect from others.   Maslow pointed out that in adolescents, the need for acceptance from others supersedes self-acceptance.  As we age, the need for self-acceptance becomes a priority.

Often we tie material things to prestige and reputation.  However, if you truly think about it, when you see someone have something of value, do you respect the person or the thing that you want to have.  Do not expect consumerism to fill the void of obtaining respect from others.  First and foremost, learn the art of self-acceptance, and then others will follow suit.

5th Hidden Danger:  Being Hard On Yourself

But worst of all when you are the slave-driver of yourself. – Henry David Thoreau

If you are driving yourself extremely hard to keep up with the Joneses, stop.

Stop and think about where the true need is really hidden. 

• Will you really get more respect if you have one additional item?  
• Will you respect yourself more? 
• Have the prior purchases filled the void of self-respect? 
• Do the things that you owe bring you respect from others?

Excess consumerism can lead to unrealistic expectations for ourselves as we strive to amass more and more possessions.  We become too focused on material possessions instead of taking time to focus on our personal growth and well-being.

Thoreau warns that this type of lifestyle can leave us feeling unfulfilled and unhappy.

Your Opinion of Yourself Is Most Important

Public opinion is a weak tyrant compared with our own private opinion.  What a man thinks of himself, that it is which determines, or rather indicates, his fate. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau went as far as propose that your own opinion of yourself is what determines or indicates your fate.   Therefore, instead of trying to please others, learn to be content with yourself first.

Self-Actualization Need and Impact of Excess Consumerism

The fifth and final level of Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs is Self Actualization.  This refers to the realization of our potential, personal growth, and self-fulfillment.  This is where you become the most of what you can be. 

This is the level you want to reach.  However, in order to do that, you need to pass the prior levels of basic and psychological needs.

Thoreau argues that excess consumption leads us to neglect meaningful pursuits and stumped self-development and growth.

6th Hidden Danger:  Killing time

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity. – Henry David Thoreau

Excess consumerism can lead us to neglect our own personal growth and development, leaving us feeling helpless and powerless.

When we become too focused on material possessions, we often fill our lives with meaningless activities in order to pass the time.  This goes back to being busy and overworked by trying to keep up and, either pay for, or take care of all of the possessions we own.

This leaves us tired and exhausted, and at the end of the day, we want to just unwind.  However, too often we do not unwind doing anything meaningful that leads to self-actualization. 

We could grow our intellect, discover our talents and gifts, and take steps towards living our best lives possible.  Instead, we scroll social media and mindlessly unwind with a show.

Therefore, simplify your life, embrace minimalism, embrace the extra time you gain, and start pursuing self-actualization.  This is your eternal self.

7th Hidden Danger of Excess Consumerism: Resignation and Burn Out

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.  What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. – Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau warns that a lifestyle focused on fulfilling just the basic needs can leave us feeling resigned to our fate instead of taking responsibility for our lives and pursuing our goals.

As Thoreau’s work Walden suggests, excess consumption can lead to poverty of the soul, as we become too focused on material wealth and neglect our personal growth and relationships.  By maintaining balance in our lives and only purchasing what is necessary, we can ensure that our pursuit of happiness is based on genuine connection and lasting satisfaction.

Summary of the 7 Hidden Dangers of Excess Consumerism

It is important to consider the dangers of excess consumerism so that we can make informed decisions about how we spend our time and money.  By embracing balance in our lives and only purchasing what is truly necessary, we not only support the environment we live in but ensure that our pursuit of happiness is based on genuine connection and lasting satisfaction.

•   1st: Work Without End in Sight
•   2nd: Enslavement to Things and Debt
•   3rd: Constant Busyness Takes the Joy Out of Life
•   4th: Relationships Are Not Developed
•   5th: Being Hard On Ourselves
•   6th: Killing Time
•   7th: Resignation and Burn Out

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