I have a confession to make:
I can get pretty into stuff sometimes.
In fact, I often catch myself browsing the Interwebz for hours, searching for the next new “thing” I want to buy:
New clothes… new sneakers… a new mid-engine Corvette… a new house in a new city… or most recently, a new desktop computer so I can play all the new video games in VR at max resolution with zero lag (even though I never play video games anymore).
This habit is nothing new.
And on the surface, it’s easy to label as “materialistic.”
But what I eventually discovered is that my problem is a whole lot different than that.
In fact, it’s actually a symptom of a much more common issue:
Procrastination.
You see, I often waste time buying shyte on Amazon — not because I desperately need it — but because the activity offers an easy escape from the hard work at hand.
“Buying socks is a lot easier than building a business.” I rationalize to myself.
And almost every time, I wind up with the same results…
When I indulge in these impulses to buy new things, it feels good for maybe a week or two (especially BEFORE the item has even arrived as I’m waiting for it in anticipation). But then, the dopamine rush wears off. This “thing” doesn’t feel so new anymore. And I start to regret trading this temporary thrill for a permanent dent in my bank account.
My point is:
Buying more stuff doesn’t make me any happier than I am right now.
I have a good life.
And I know deep down that I won’t be any happier “once _______ happens,” or “when I can finally afford to buy_______.”
Sure, it would be nice to live in a 50,000 square-foot mansion, drive super cars, and own more Hawaiian real estate than Mark Zuckerberg.
But day dreaming about how “happy” I’ll be when I finally get these things won’t move me closer to my goals.
And it won’t make me enjoy life any deeper.
Instead, I’ll be so busy thinking about the future that I won’t savor the present.
And if you can’t do that, then what’s the point of it all?
Anyways…
If your experience with resistance is similar, then ask yourself next time you’re shopping online:
“Do I really need this? Or am I just procrastinating?”
The answer may surprise you.
Your pen pal,
Matt Rizvi