Just Make It Better

This is Part 3 of The Ultimate Crap Detox, which I hope everyone is participating in because nothing is as liberating as freeing yourself from consumerism.

If you haven’t started, please refer here and here to catch up.

This post is easier to cover, but it is still one of the most difficult parts of CD.

As you go along, limiting your purchases and starting the withdrawal process, you may notice that you’ll have an intense desire to spend.Now this may actually be an increased need to spend, it may also just be your minds reaction to not receiving its regular retail fix or it could just be your heightened awareness to how much you do crave obtaining things.

No matter what, it can be difficult to ignore.

During these circumstances you may find you’ll give in to the urge and make a purchase you know isn’t on the detox menu.

Don’t worry it doesn’t really matter.

I know that may sound odd considering the purpose of this experiment, but by falling off the wagon you now have a wonderful opportunity to further explore yourself and your relationship with money and things.

Consider any of the following:

1. How were you feeling when you made the purchase? Ask yourself if these instincts you’re giving in too are emotion based. As in, were you upset about something and it was a form of self-soothing?
2. Was it done out of laziness? Think about whether you were taking the easy way out of a situation. As in, you didn’t want to schlep to the .99 store and stay on budget?
3. Were you rationalizing a want to be a need to fulfill another purpose? Often times this has to be with inflating our ego and the image we care about keeping up. As in, the dress you had to buy for the party (even though with some effort you really have acceptable – but not new – things in your closet already).

You may find there are other reasons for why you relented to spend, so connect with yourself on what those were. Don’t waste your time with self-deprecation though, that only holds you back. If you really want to succeed at this, a bad attitude is not going to help, so get over your mistakes and trudge onward. If you learn from it now, you’ll see it coming next time and won’t fall for your minds unconscious little tricks.

Falling off the wagon hurts, but after a few times the ride will be so easy you might as well be pulling it yourself.

I’d love to hear about anyone’s experience with CD and/or your own consumerism detox story. Leave a comment or send me an email: makeitbetterblog AT gmail DOT com.

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