We’re bombarded by messages telling us to purchase more goods that we don’t actually need. We all believe: More is better. But, is more really better?

Overconsumption is the exploitation of resources in excess or more than the environment can support. It is a habit in which people, organizations, and nations keep asking for more than what the world can offer. Overconsumtion does not appear to be dangerous, but overconsumption has enormous and long lasting effects that reach into our environment, our bodies, and our well being. Let’s get to the bottom of why overconsumption is becoming such a rising problem and what to do about it.

Overconsumption damages the world, but it damages us as well. A prime example is food. We’ve come to the point now that supersize everything is the norm and filling ourselves up with too much is a full blown epidemic. Most of the time, it can lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other so called chronic diseases. Our culture has created a standard of poor diet, fueled by cheap over processed foods. In the same way, excessive use of digital media social networking sites, streaming services, or computer gameshas been associated with emotional distress in the form of anxiety and depression. Endless exposure to streams of images of “perfect” lives and idealized beauty expectations can make one feel overwhelmed and detached from reality.

Besides, increased production means more shipping and waste. Dispersion of greenhouse gas emissions by way of these operations has helped in part to cause the effect of climate change, global warming, and ocean, river, and land pollution. Factory production also generates bulk waste by way of packaging, clothing, and disposable products disposed of in landfills.

It’s only when we have too much that we’re unhappy, no matter how much we buy or eat. We’re driven by the sense of deficiency, that more things will fill us or make us happy. What this does is set up a cycle of always needing more and never being content. The quest for more also breeds a competitive spirit to the new device or the biggest house. This generates anxiety, stress, and insecurity because we are measuring ourselves by outside standards. In fact, overconsumption only has the effect of generating a feeling of inadequacy and disconnection with what will ultimately result in long-term, lasting happiness and satisfaction.

Overconsumption is not something you can turn around overnight, but it’s something we need to do if we are going to have a healthier world and a more fulfilled life. Instaed of saying more is better we can say less is more.

It’s time to ask our selves the question: Do we actually need more, or do we just need to learn how to appreciate what we already have?