Most Malaysians will be very upset if they are called materialistic. They will deny that they are materialistic although, to my perception, most of them are materialistic. Why are they upset when they are called materialistic? To me, it is something to do with the meaning they attached to being materialistic. To majority of Malaysian, materialistic is related to being inconsiderate, self-centered or no empathy. Thus being materialistic is perceived as a bad thing and people don’t like to look bad in the eye of other people.

Is it wrong to be materialistic? Some people tend to quickly say yes. Before you pass any judgement, let us understand what constitutes materialism. If you see a palatial house or an attractive car being driven in front of you, and there is a strong desire within you to possess such things then there is a clear indication that materialism is a major motivating factor in your life. But if you remain unaffected and feel no desire to acquire them, then you are not being materialistic.

People who are being materialistic believe that gratification can only be had from material things. Pleasure or happiness derived from material things is limited in nature and short-lived. Often we hear people said that they will be happy when they get their first million dollars. Sure they are happy when they got that million, but how long can it last. Later they wanted another million, thus a new quest for “happiness” begun.

Man is composed of two things – body and soul. Thus he cannot live by bread alone. Material things cannot give man complete fulfillment. His soul need to be nourished for him to experience complete fulfillment. Soul can be nourished by opting forgiveness in moment of anger, hatred into love, negativity into positivity, and above all, opting introspection when beset by grievances.