When happiness depends upon anything external it's impossible to make that feeling of fulfillment last. The corporations and the media have brainwashed us on so many levels to go through these short cycles of dopamine hits/crashes when we make purchases. I think there are physical things that can enhance your life like a piece of workout equipment, a computer, a bike, or a book, but they don't provide lasting meaning on their own. On the flip-side, experiences very much can provide lasting meaning -- a trip (as I'm sure you know), deep work, planting a garden, an afternoon hang with a good friend, volunteering your time, etc.
The minimalism movement gives me hope that people are waking up and starting to rebel against the madness. For better or worse, I believe we're in the late-stage capitalism (as we know it) phase now. AI, robotics, and quantum computing are going to bring about a whole new world -- life and the global economy will be restructured into some kind of hybrid of how most of us live today. Free markets will probably survive but will be different. As with every change there will be pros and cons but one of the pros will be less of a focus on consumption. It's going to be wild and we're going to have a front row seat.
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