HINDUSTAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

(KARAPAKKAM)
(AFFILIATED TO THE CENTRAL BOARD OF SECONDARY EDUCATION,
NEW DELHI)

STANDARD XII
ENGLISH PROJECT
(2023-2024)
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Pradyumna krishnan of class XII-A has done

successfully under the Supervision of Ms.Sumathi during academic year
2023-24 on the project - as per the guidelines issued by Central Board
of Secondary Education (CBSE).

Internal Examiner External Examiner

Principal:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my special thanks and gratitude to my teacher Ms Sumathi

and as well as to our Principal Ms Bharathi Lakshmi who gave me this golden
opportunity to do this wonderful project on the Topic -'Escaping the Trap of
Materialism'.

This helped me in doing a lot of research and I came to know about many new
things. Any attempt at any level cannot be satisfactory without the Support,
guidance and advice of my parents and friends who helped me a lot in collecting
information and finalizing this project in limited time.

Name of the Student: Pradyumna krishnan

Roll No:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. Introduction
2. Breaking the Cycle of Dopamine Addiction
3. A True Path To Happiness
4. Challenges and Barriers
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
INTRODUCTION

Money can’t buy you love. It can’t buy you happiness either.
Today’s materialistic world often urges us to buy the coolest gadgets, the trendiest
clothes, bigger and better things, but research shows that possessions and
purchases don’t buy us happiness.
By and large, money buys happiness only for those who lack the basic needs. Once
you pass an income of $50,000, more money doesn’t buy much more happiness,
[according to a happiness studies].
So while we are being pushed towards materialism,we only focus on momentary
and external pleasure. Unfortunately, it’s hard to escape the trap of materialism,
and find happiness in other ways than buying stuff online or going on social media
and scrolling endlessly .
In today's world were momentary pleasures are prominent, people often get a sense
of false security due to quick dopamine releases in our brain.This often makes us
lazy, lose self esteem,diverts our attention and makes us lose focus from what we
actually need

Breaking the Cycle of Dopamine Addiction

A dopamine hit brings about pleasure, and then is quickly followed by pain, or a
come-down, in order to keep us motivated. The balancing see-saw of pleasure and
pain made sense in the time of early humans, when we had to constantly search for
our basic needs – food, water, shelter. "It's really an ingenious method to make
sure that no matter what we do, that's pleasurable. It doesn't last very long and it's
followed by pain so that immediately we're searching again," she explains.
When we're repeatedly exposed to our pleasure-producing stimuli, our brains
adjust and, eventually, we need more and more just to feel "normal," or not in pain.
That's called a "dopamine deficit state," and the cycle that leads us there can
actually lead to depression, anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
"We're not able to take joy in more modest rewards," "Now, our drug of choice
doesn't even get us high. It just makes us feel normal. And when we're not using,
we're experiencing the universal symptoms of withdrawal from any addictive
substance, which are anxiety, irritability, insomnia, dysphoria and craving."
not one limited to those of us struggling with the disease of addiction – that has
come with living in modern life. And to restore our sanity, collectively we must
rethink how to navigate a dopamine overloaded world.

A True Path To Happiness

Start with a dopamine fast. Take a 30-day break from whatever it is that you rely
on for pleasure: social media, sugar, video games, movies – anything, really. This
doesn't mean going cold turkey forever, but this first month is key to getting your
pleasure-pain balance back in check. It's a lot easier to cut out an addictive
behavior entirely at first, and then re-introduce it in moderation.

Things we could do to become less materialistic are:

Reduce social media exposure - The first step? Get away from social media and
unsubscribe from subscriptions. We receive a dozen emails every day, prompting
us to buy the latest fashion wear or tech gadget. When it comes to social media,
Facebook and Instagram are not your friends - they are advertising models,
platforms that expose you to adverts in hope that you will click buy.
 Stop shopping out of boredom or entertainment - Shopping is often seen as a
leisurely activity, which is terrible news for your wallet! If you’re shopping just for
the sake of it, you are quite literally wasting your hard-earned cash. The best thing
to do is shop only when you actually need to - we suggest keeping a list of things
that you want, and then setting yourself a time that you have to wait out before
making the purchase (could be 10 days, could be a month). If after that time you
still want it, buy it, if not leave it.

Find a hobby - Materialism is caused by many things, but one of the main reasons
is not having any passions aside from buying new things. If you fill your time with
something that you genuinely enjoy doing - sports, arts and crafts, baking - you’ll
soon forget about all those things you thought you needed to buy.

Value experience over possessions - Buying material goods may be very pleasant
in the moment, but experiences are those that truly make us happier in the long run.
Chances are we won’t even remember most of the things we’ve bought over the
years, but we will remember the places we’ve been, the things we saw and the
people we met along the way! Investing in traveling and new experiences will
result in a much richer and more exciting life.

Stop comparing yourself to others - Buying things to impress others or keep up

with the latest trends so that you don’t feel like you’re missing out won’t make you
truly happy either. Remember that your worth as a human being is never tied to
how much money you have.
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS

we would probably feel a lot worse before you start feeling better – after about two
weeks, the pleasure-pain see-saw in your brain will start to restore to its natural
balance and you'll be able to enjoy more modest rewards, like just one scoop of ice
cream or just one episode of a TV show.
There is one caveat: this is not the approach one should take for highly addictive
substances like drugs and alcohol. Going cold turkey can actually cause life-
threatening withdrawal, and should be done under the care of a professional.

CONCLUSION
In summary, embracing the idea of removing materialism and incorporating a
dopamine detox into our lives can be a transformative journey towards greater
mental clarity, improved focus, and enhanced well-being. By reducing our reliance
on material possessions and the constant stimuli that flood our lives, we open the
door to deeper self-awareness and personal growth. As we disconnect from the
dopamine-driven culture, we can connect with ourselves and our authentic desires,
fostering a more balanced and fulfilling existence. While these practices may
challenge the status quo, the rewards of a more mindful, purpose-driven life make
the effort more than worthwhile.

One of the significant advantages of this approach is the liberation from the endless
pursuit of material goods. In doing so, we free ourselves from the perpetual cycle
of consumption, enabling us to redirect our time, energy, and resources toward
experiences and relationships that truly enrich our lives. This shift allows us to find
contentment and happiness in simpler, non-material aspects of life.

Furthermore, by embracing a dopamine detox, we regain control over our attention

and focus. In a world inundated with digital distractions, this detox empowers us to
reassert our ability to concentrate deeply, be present in the moment, and make
conscious choices about how we spend our time. The result is heightened
productivity, improved cognitive function, and an overall sense of mental clarity.

Moreover, as we reduce the constant influx of dopamine-triggering stimuli, we

become more attuned to our inner selves and personal goals. This newfound self-
awareness enables us to make more intentional decisions, set meaningful priorities,
and cultivate a stronger sense of purpose in our lives. We reconnect with our
values, aspirations, and passions, leading to a more authentic and fulfilling
existence.

While adopting these practices may challenge the conventions of modern society,
the rewards are undeniable. Removing materialism and embracing a dopamine
detox offer a path to a more meaningful, balanced, and purpose-driven life. As we
navigate this transformative journey, we rediscover the value of simplicity,
relationships, and mindfulness, ultimately contributing to our overall well-being
and personal growth.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://www.themoneypartnership.com
https://www.npr.org