For those who don’t go shopping regularly, it’s amazing how one little shopping trip can totally change your outlook on life. Or a new haircut or teeth cleaning or running shoes. It doesn’t matter what the item is, it’s about the feeling it can help create.

Let me start with a little story.  I never shop. It’s really been many, many months since I got anything new. I’ve been wearing the same clothes, holes and all, for a long time now. I work from home, I live in a sleepy mountain town where anything goes, and I have a pretty casual style, so what I have is fine. I have plenty of nice clothes, I just never wear them. I like certain things and I wear them constantly. With a wedding to attend next month and a renewed healthiness brought on by eliminating dairy, gluten and sugar, I decided to go shopping for a dress. I didn’t find one, but I left with new jeans and it changed my life.

A bit dramatic, yes, but it’s true. Wearing these jeans – jeans that fit me really well and are comfortable – has added a new spring in my step, a new motivation in my endeavors and a new feeling of sexiness. Reflecting upon this change, I noticed a few things.

Cost Doesn’t Matter

It’s not about what it cost, or how prestigious or fashionable it is. It doesn’t matter where you bought it and really, buying something expensive to show it off isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m talking about something simple, something no one else will probably notice, something simple. My shopping trip was to Plato’s Closet. My jeans cost $10.

Now, I should add, I did get a fresh haircut the same day, so the feeling was enhanced. Who knew a $15 haircut from Great Clips and $10 jeans from Plato’s Closet could have such a mood-boosting effect. Inexpensive, low fuss and environmentally friendly – all big for me.

The Key is Moderation

If you shop all the time as a way to kill time, get out of the house or socialize, it’s not going to work the same way. Often, this is shopping with more of an intention of filling a void, which isn’t sustainable. We then are left wanting more and more and more and the purchases don’t have the ability to make us feel better. External things will not bring us long-term internal happiness.

However, if you never shop and live pretty simply, the idea of getting something new and special can be really uplifting. Do you see the difference here? It’s subtle, but important.

It Has to Satisfy a Need

Just buying a pair of pants when you have five pair that fit the same way may not be as exciting. My scenario called for these jeans. Most of my jeans are snug (working on that) and are totally wearable, but are a bit constricting. Another pair ride up a little and just aren’t that comfortable. My go-to pair are great for about five minutes after a wash, when they fit perfectly, but then stretch out immediately and become really baggy and equally uncomfortable. My new pair fit nicely, don’t constrict, don’t stretch out and don’t make me look like I have a muffin top. All good things in my book. They satisfied a need I have had for oh, years, to have a great-fitting pair of jeans.

Shopping is one of those fine lines, where it’s mostly about excess and status and what other people think. When you take away that equation, shopping for one new item that you need can really have a positive effect.

Share your experiences: Have you ever bought anything new and it totally changed your outlook on life? Or on the flip-side, have you gotten rid of something with equal effect?

{Photo Credit: by Clem}