Oh yes, thankfulness contributes enormously to our own happiness. Thanks for your post!

Advertising often plays on that too, it seams.  

I try to measure my own success on achieving personal goals, and handing my responsibilitys as a Christian, husband, dad, son, etc.  It is easy to fall into this trap though.  You have to train your mind to recognize and avoid it.

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Yes! This is spot on!

Not to mention how all the big tech giant creators semi admitted they knew they were creating something that taps into the part of the human psyche that so many are vulnerable to attack from. 

I myself left FB a while back and have not had an issue with out it.

I feel bad sometimes how bad I can nag on m girlfriend @kelsnm about her cellphone social media usage.. and the literal brain numbing effects it can have... 

Those phones are emitting RF waves.. and although someone will certainly come along and say that they are completely safe, I disagree.

You offer a good article.  I think the idea of needing more and keeping up with the Joneses was  increasingly propelled after World War II. The middle class in America wanted to do better for their children thus the me generation and the need to have material wealth.  We have seen a second wave of this through social media today.  I guess I don't fit the mold because I don't care what the hell the Joneses think.  I think that concept is born out of the need for approval in one's life and some sort of social acceptance.  For myself I'm not worried if I have that or not as I have other things in my life too draw my attention to.  But there are folks who need it like Linus needs a blanket and for them it works. I'm not so certain one can keep up with the Joneses because they're always one step ahead of you. Thanks my friend   for a good article.

interesting article friend and very complete, so that everything flows well you have to have respect and admiration, I dedicate myself to my work and my family and I try to stay away from the jones
I admire your work @doitvoluntarily happy night

@doitvoluntarily excellent report dear friend, although these things happen since prehistory, saving the stage, people value relationships very much, in such a competitive world, people are not strangers to that situation and if it can be very stressful to be always aware of it
Thank you very much for sharing this report
I wish you a great day

I enjoyed reading your article. I may have enjoyed relatively more than those around me, and that makes me feel really smart. Ok, I'm lying. I enjoyed your article immensely, but I know everyone else enjoyed it twice as much. Sad face.

Seriously though, it is interesting research and does a great deal to explain why people are so focused on what others are doing. As a former high school English teacher, I saw this scenario play out over and over in my classroom. Students were ok with having *more* of something, or ok with *everyone* having the same, but at no time would one student willingly have less so everyone else could have more. It didn't matter what the commodity was - markers, paper, time to speak with the teacher - the results were the same.

Do you think this is something that we can change? Is it something that we *should* change?

I feel there are many truths within your post, in fact I possibly fall into the category of “keeping up with the Jones’” in some respects.
At the same time, people can be pigeonholed into this category when really they do not care much about fancy cars and big houses.  

We moved into a somewhat rich neighborhood, although not being rich at all ourselves.  We emptied our bank account and have to do most of the labor and work ourselves on the remodeling of the home.  In the end all we wanted was a similar sized home but with more property and privacy.  We sold our boat and some other things to be able to afford this home, so we have given up some of the luxury items we once had.

My grout filled fingernails and aching back would tell me that I’m not keeping up with wealthy...lol.

There’s a lot of it in Steemlandia. Folks fretting over how somebody else’s post made more than theirs. *Maybe I should buy votes too* self-defeating logic.

We use each other 
as a measure of success, 
happiness, or pain.

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Fantastic post and advice.  

It is too easy to get caught up in the game and drawn into a life of financial slavery.  Most of those who have these status symbols to sooth their egos are swamped in debt paying for them.

There should be a course in college dedicated to helping students who enter the work force not jump right into this trough.

By freedom and happiness......not stuff.