I've got a confession...

Confession: I am an emotional shopper.

This was a hard one for me to write. I struggle with it constantly and if I write it down and challenge others that holds me more accountable. ARGH. But I decided to share my experiences and thoughts in hopes that maybe someone else feels the same or can be encouraged.

I hate feeling out of control. It could be control over situations at work or in personal relationships, my health or the world around me...so I tend to turn to what I CAN control or think if I could just do this one thing maybe it would fix the rest. I'm having a hard time putting it into words so instead, here are some examples:

Feeling out of control of a situation? Go nuts buying home decor to make your house look amazing and feel like you have it "together".

You make a goal to get healthier...then you are out and catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror and cringe or a tagged photo pops up on social media and you see all the "flaws"? Maybe if I buy a ton of new outfits and find the right things I'll look like I want to feel.

Mad that my jeans don't fit or that sweater clings in all the wrong places? Shoes and purses always fit. {I have a lot of shoes and purses}

I don't honestly believe any of these things are bad...I think we all get into a funk and finding something to cheer yourself up or distract yourself and have fun isn't wrong...unless you are using them to avoid a real issue or it is derailing you from meeting your goals. I found a quote a while back that I shared on my Instagram:

"Get into the habit of asking yourself:

Does this support the life I am trying to create?"

Lets look at those previous scenarios through the lens of that quote:

Feeling out of control of a situation? Go nuts buying home decor to make your house look amazing and feel like you have it "together".

I don't know about yours, but my house needs some bigger projects done and a few new throw pillows and faux plants won't magically make it look new...can I put that money into savings to work towards a larger project? Again, I find nothing wrong with loving your home as it is and being content, but if your goal is to do a major kitchen remodel, keep focused! Plan and budget to save for the bigger projects and the small purchases so you stay on track.

Make a goal to get healthier and catch a glimpse of yourself out and cringe or a tagged photo pops up on social media and you see all the "flaws"? Maybe if I buy a ton of new outfits and find the right things I'll look like I want to feel.

Mad that my jeans don't fit or that sweater clings in all the wrong places? Shoes and purses always fit.

We are hard on ourselves and you don't look like the gross blob that you think you see in that photo but truth bomb sista, one more pair of "magical" jeans is not going to make your size 16 butt look like the size 2 model in the photo. {or so I heard from a friend}

I 100% don't condone punishing yourself for not being where you want and maybe you need to learn to love your body how it is. But if you truly are not happy or feeling healthy how you are then do the work to make a change. It isn't easy AT ALL {believe me...I know} Find a friend or health professional who can help and encourage you.

I don't mean you can't buy anything new until you have your ideal body or your life is in a solid state going perfectly according to your long term plan. No one would ever make a purchase again and the economy would crash. HA HA!

Just stop trying to fix the real issue with a temporary high.

Aaaaaannnnnd I feel inadequate for not meeting the standards of what I even said above...off to treat myself. KIDDING, KIDDING!

XOXO Michelle

#shoppingwithpurpose

Image: Hello October