It’s often remarked upon - stupidly, as this meme indicates - that people who want to be ethical in their choices end up having to be consumers. It’s difficult to be mindful in a materialistic world, but it can certainly be done, and is rewarding to achieve. But how do you make sure that your purchases align with your personal values?
Mindful consumption: What is it?
Conscious consumerism is a trend in society that aims to reward businesses with ethical practices. The priorities which drive this kind of consumption are generally linked to sustainability and fair pay, as well as companies that prioritize customer service highly rather than just saying that they do. This can often mean that you pay more for something - cutting corners in business practices does allow a company to set their prices that bit lower - but in the long run it should mean a higher level of quality.
What are the benefits of conscious consumerism?
It’s hard to include the words “personal satisfaction” here without making it sound like the main end goal of conscious consumerism is just … smugness. But in truth, it is important that you can feel happy about your consumer decisions. We can’t help but be consumers, and if you can benefit others when you make a purchase, it has benefits in the long term. It also means that you are more likely to get quality product and service; prizing high quality loose diamonds or well-crafted furniture means that you’re contributing to a company that is aligned with your goals and will deliver for you and others in future.
How can you practice mindful consumption?
If you want to practice mindful consumerism, then you have to put in the work; fast-fashion clothes and stack-em-high appliances benefit from the fact that if you buy in a hurry, you’ll have to buy again. So you should research your purchases. This will become second nature in time - you’ll know where to look and what to include in your decision-making process - but initially you might need to read a few reviews, look into the companies making products you want to buy, and make visits to shops rather than buying everything online.
Word of mouth can be important as well. If you’re of a mindful disposition, the chances are you move in circles where you spend time with other people who think this way. It can be worth picking their brains for advice on key purchases, and sharing information that you have discovered as well. The more people that practice mindful consumption, the more incentive there will be for businesses to provide well-made and ethical products.
There are many incentives to do things the easy way, and when it comes to buying items you will naturally want the process to be as simple as possible. However, putting some thought into what you’re buying and why can make a big difference to the quality you get, and this can become easier with time. Buying with your mind and your heart will definitely pay off in the long term.