Meditation

I joined a meditation club at my college & it's wild how much it has helped me.

makeup/skincare products have occupied a lot of my mental real estate lately, and I'm not thinking about the artistry or science of it, but just mindlessly browsing sales and putting things in my cart

I don't know why I browse---there's just this buzzing in my head. Instead of trying to calm down by closing my eyes and staring at the wall for a bit, I immediately start to look at makeup and skincare online. I like the products I have. I like how they make me feel. But browsing for NEWER or BETTER products gives me no joy. Recieving a beauty box gives me a brief dopamine hit but then a great sense of shame when I realize that I am incompatible with the products/can't use the products.

Now, when I catch myself browsing, I try to meditate instead. My favorite meditation is a chant: "Give them love, give them compassion, give them peace." I have to chant that inside my head no matter who comes to mind---even if it's someone I don't like. The meditation has given me a lot of peace and relaxation, while browsing is just empty time. I hope that meditation (and journaling) can take my mind away from consumerism. Overconsumption destroys the environment and is bad for the mind.

I never thought about meditation that much before, but it can really be a tool to combat consumerist thoughts!