Why shallow people are unhappy

Shallow individuals are those who place a great importance on things of a superficial nature rather than on meaningful ones that should carry the most weight.

We all know at least one person (I know a few, as a matter of fact) who makes looks a top priority when assessing potential suitors.

While looks certainly matter, a "face like Brad Pitt's" or a "body like Jennifer Lopez's" should not top anyone's list of must-haves.

At the end of the day, physical chemistry may get the ball rolling, but it's the mental and emotional connection you establish with someone (and, hopefully, a spiritual one) that sustain a loving relationship.

Sooner or later, we go gray, get old, and gain weight. We can't expect to look like we did in our 20s and 30s forever, nor expect as much of our partner.

Beauty is only skin deep. Qualities like intelligence, kindness, loyalty, integrity, and a great sense of humor are reliable gauges of one's true character-- not how pretty their eyes are or how nice their body is.

Another form of shallowness that many people fall victim to -- and one discussed at length on this blog -- is a preoccupation with material stuff.

When feeling anxious or depressed, many people try to drown their sorrows in one of two ways -- drinking or shopping.

While the dangers of drinking in excess are pretty obvious to most people, many don't recognize or foresee the consequences of so-called retail therapy.

Not only can one end up in serious debt and in possession of junk they may never need, they may walk out of that mall feeling emptier than they did before.

You can't just buy/spend your way out of a funk. Rather than spend lavishly on things they may not even afford, people should try a more modest down-to-earth approach -- like chatting with a dear friend over soup and sandwiches.

Pampering ourselves every so often is okay; doing it constantly as a way to avoid facing one's problems is bound backfire.

Other people don't complete us, and neither do material items. They wear and tear, and once the novelty wears off, many people then set their sights on the next newest thing.

Studies have shown that experiences, not things, make people happier over the long term. And it doesn't have to be an all-inclusive stay in Cancun; rather, it can be as simple as spending a day at the local zoo with your loved ones.

In sum, people who get hung up on looks and what brands they're sporting aren't necessarily bad, vacuous people. They just need to take a moment to reassess the things in life that matter -- or should matter -- to them.

They are likely to realize -- hopefully sooner than later -- that they can find real happiness in simplicity.