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By Cherry Pedrick, RN
When we started writing chapter 17 of The Habit Change Workbookhttp://marvelite.prohosting.com/habitcha... I was inspired by Lucille Ball acting in one of my favorite episodes of I Love Lucy. Lucy gets herself hired as the Vitameatavegamin Girl for a TV commercial. Her job is to convince the audience that the yucky tasting liquid in the brown bottle she's holding tastes delicious, in addition to being very good for you. With the first spoonful she makes a horrible face, but with visible control she almost convinces us it's at least tolerable. Then it becomes obvious that it has some pretty hefty dosages of alcohol in it. The stuff seems to tastes better, her speech becomes slurred, and she's happier and goofier with each spoonful. What really struck home was part of Lucy's sales pitch, "The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle." This is central to most sales pitches, and I think this is what many of us are seeking when we shop and spend money. I admit that when I buy a new outfit I am sometimes "buying the answer to all my problems." Of course, deep down I know a new outfit won't really solve my problems, but it sure seems to help, temporarily at least. Recognizing this, especially the temporary part, has helped me reduce my spending. By the way, when we used the Lucy quote at the head of chapter 17 in The Habit Change Workbook, our editor said maybe a better quote would be best, after all some people might not be familiar with I Love Lucy. Being a huge Lucy fan, I stood my ground though, reminding her of Crocodile Dundee. When he first came to New York from Australia, he flipped on the TV to find an I Love Lucy episode. It was a rerun he'd already seen! Then the Christmas after the release of our book, Hallmark produced a Christmas ornament featuring Lucy as the Vitameatavegamin girl. It felt like a celebration of our book, though I know they'd never heard of our book. What needs are you filling when you shop or spend money? Are you merely purchasing the things you need, or are you fulfilling a need for self-worth, power, or status? Are you relieving depression, anxiety, stress, boredom, or loneliness? You won't find it in Lucy's little bottle, or in a new outfit, that beautiful piece of jewelry, the latest sports equipment, or a night out on the town. Ask yourself what needs you are fulfilling with your spending habits. Then list the advantages, disadvantages, and consequences of your spending habits. If the negatives outweigh the positives, consider changing. |
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