Hi Friends! 👋
Today, I want to talk about something I always tell my students: the importance of being mindful with your purchases! ✨📸
As an avid reader, (check out my book reviews series here) I'm always on the lookout for books that resonate with me and that you, my dear readers and students, would enjoy. I make it a habit to jot down at least ten things I've learned from every book I read. 📚📝
This practice helps keep the knowledge in my head, not just in the book. This way, I don't need to OWN the book anymore since I now own the knowledge. Maybe I'll write a blog post about this.
Anyway, I love using libraries, especially when I travel (psst, check out my travel series here!).
Recently, I found a book called "Dress Your Best Life" by Dawnn Karen.
At first, I didn't think it would be my kind of book, but I was intrigued by the term "fashion psychology," which Dawnn Karen has popularized. Dawnn, a psychologist specializing in fashion psychology, dives deep into how our clothing choices can impact our lives.
In "Dress Your Best Life," Karen talks about how our wardrobe choices can influence our emotions, behaviors, and self-perception.
One interesting idea she discusses is how interacting with items, like taking a picture or adding them to a virtual cart, can trick our brains into making us feel like we own them and satisfy our immediate desire without buying them. Isn’t that wild!? 🧠✨
How Does This Work?
When we see something we want, our brain releases dopamine, the "feel-good" hormone. This hormone is associated with the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. Usually, making a purchase triggers this release, giving us that rush of happiness and satisfaction.
But here's the fascinating part: just taking a picture of the item or adding it to a virtual cart can also trigger the release of dopamine. Our brain gets a little hit of that feel-good hormone, making us feel as though we've already satisfied our desire to own the item. This small trick can reduce the urge to actually buy it, and therefore reducing impulsive spending. Isn't that wild!? 🧠✨
Here are some insights from Dawnn Karen's book, along with my own thoughts and research:
Satisfaction Without Purchase Karen suggests that snapping a photo of an item can satisfy our urge to possess it without adding physical clutter. This helps us reconsider whether the item fits our values and needs before buying it. 📸✨ I encourage my students to create digital wish lists, which can help them reflect and prioritize meaningful purchases.
Mindful Decision-Making By pausing to photograph an item, we give ourselves time to think. This time lets us evaluate the potential purchase more carefully, considering its long-term value and impact on our lives. 🛍️💭 I feel that this is a crucial step in my minimalist approach to shopping.
Emotional Fulfillment Taking a picture of something we want can provide emotional satisfaction. We can look at these images later to relive the emotions associated with the item, without actually owning it. 💖📷
Psychological Ownership Karen explains that even small actions, like taking a picture or placing an item in a virtual cart, can create a sense of ownership. Our brain sees the item as something we already have, reducing the urge to buy it. 🧠🛒
The Endowment Effect Although not detailed by Karen, the endowment effect is related to the idea that we value things more just because we own them. By photographing or virtually owning an item, we can feel some of that value without needing to physically have it. 🏠💼
So, the next time you're tempted by a new purchase, consider capturing it with a photo first. this is a simple yet effective way to help you make more mindful shopping choices. 📸💡
Happy reading and happy snapping! 🌟📚
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