Impulse Decisions
Have you ever made an impulse decision that you immediately regretted? The last time I did this was when I was on a staycation with my family this past June. My son and I went to a horse and car show where there were different vendors selling their wares. I didn’t plan to shop—we were there to see the cool, classic cars. But a jewelry stand caught my eye.
The seller greeted me and said: “I know the perfect thing for you.” Seconds later, she put a 14K gold-plated cuban link necklace around my neck, then grabbed a mirror to show me. I loved it. I bought it. I regretted it as soon as we walked away.
Why the regret? The first reason was that I believe I overpaid; my mom sells jewelry and I could’ve gotten a similar necklace from her for $Free.99. Second, when I got to the hotel, I noticed that the clasp of the necklace was beginning to tarnish. I got so distracted by the jeweler's personality and how nice I looked in the mirror that I didn’t take the necklace off to inspect what I was buying. I felt swindled, taken advantage of, “run amock, led astray”...okay, maybe not the last two, but y'all get the point. I got angry at myself and ruminated about this impulse buy for days. I still shake my head every time I put the necklace on.
I recently became a huge fan of don Miguel Ruiz’s book, The Four Agreements. In the book, he talks about how humans are the only creatures who pay for the same mistake more than once. Thinking of this principle, I pivoted and asked myself, “What’s the lesson here?” These are the lessons I learned:
SLOW DOWN: Don’t get so swept up in the moment that I spend without thinking.
DON’T MAKE UNPLANNED PURCHASES WHEN I’M TIRED: I was sleepy, hungry, and hot—a bad combination for anyone.
Thankfully, I can apply both of those lessons the next time I’m in a similar situation.
I also asked myself was: “Is there any enjoyment I can find from this situation?” And there is—I still love the necklace and I wear it often (2 - 3 times per week). This makes the cost per wear about $2. Not bad for an item I love. I also supported a local business owner, which matters to me.
Slowing down is tough when you’re always on the go. But intentional decision-making requires time, thought, and breath. I’m glad I'm starting to take the time to breathe.
