"We sell stuff!"

Twice recently I passed a billboard announcing "We sell stuff". This proclamation was followed by a sentence indicating that they are the one source for any type of stuff I might need. Then there was a web address.

Now I haven't a clue as to what type of stuff they actually sell. While it is possible that they sell every type of stuff known to humankind, I'm pretty sure that they sell stuff within one or more specific categories. Normally I am curious about such information and would check out the website. But in this case, the proclamation of "we sell stuff" wasn't enough to send me into action. I don't need stuff. If and when I need to make a purchase, it is usually for something within a specific category: office supplies, shoes, clothing, groceries, etc. The idea of buying stuff doesn't do it for me.

However, I know that many people people passing that sign check out the website at the first available moment. The idea of having one source to purchase stuff is a great motivator. They love stuff. They love buying stuff and taking it into their space. They get a kind of "rush" or "high" when they make purchases. It doesn't matter if they need the stuff or have a place for the stuff, it is about the feeling created when they acquire the stuff. In fact, the wonderful feelings associated with stuff often disappear right after they have added the new stuff to a pile of old stuff. It's not the potential usefulness of the stuff, it's simply about the emotion around buying new stuff.

You may say, "Janice, if that's the case, what can be done about it?" So glad you asked. Because the motivation is around getting the feeling when new, glitzy stuff is purchased, it is a matter of finding another way to get the "high". Basically, it is substituting one "rush" for another. I am certainly not advocating for any type of illegal activity here. I'm thinking of something that will make the endorphins kick in. Maybe exercise will help someone simulate the "shopping rush". It will be different activities for different people. I acknowledge that it is a process to transfer the feelings from one activity to another. It will take time and there will be setbacks. In some cases, a person may need to establish a support system with a variety of people including but not limited to family, therapist, professional organizer, therapist or organizer coach.

Why go to all this work? Because there is a limit to the amount of stuff a person can own. Yes, you can fill multiple houses from top to bottom and then rent storage units. But at some point, it will take more work to get the "shopping rush" because it takes more work to figure out where to store the purchase. Also, at some point the negatives start to outweigh the positives. It might be that you can't have company over or that family refuses to visit. Maybe your health is compromised. You might have been reported to the city for the amount of stuff in your house.

If you want to live a healthier, more fulfilling life think about doing so with less stuff. If you want to take the first step to making changes in this area, feel free to contact Minding Your Matters Organizing or Ordered Minds Coaching so we can help you attain organization with lasting results.