Recognizing the diderot effect in everyday life

 

   Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "Recognizing the Diderot effect in everyday life", the main reason why I chose this topic is because many people experience the Diderot effect phenomenon, Many people don't understand what the Diderot effect is, so I'll try to explain it, the Diderot Effect is a term in consumer psychology and lifestyle that describes the phenomenon where someone buys or owns a new item, which then triggers a desire to buy other items to match or harmonize with the first item.

Origin of the story 

The term originates from Denis Diderot, an 18th-century French philosopher, who wrote an essay titled "Regrets on Parting with My Old Dressing Gown." In his writing, Diderot recounts how after receiving a luxurious new robe, he felt his old belongings looked shabby, so he purchased various new items to match it.

Examples in everyday life:

✅Buying a new smartphone, then wanting to buy a case, earphones, or smartwatch to match.

✅Buying a new sofa, then feeling the carpet, table, and wall paint need to be changed to "match."

✅Changing your clothing style, then feeling your shoes, bag, and even your hairstyle need to match.

Impact

Positive: Can increase the comfort or beauty of the environment.

Negative: Triggers overspending due to purchasing unnecessary items.

Here are practical ways to avoid the Diderot Effect and avoid overspending:

1. Be Aware of Your Main Triggers

Every time you want to buy something new, ask yourself: "Does this trigger other desires that I don't really need?"

✅Example: Buying new clothes → wanting to buy additional shoes, bags, or accessories.

2. Establish Function, Not Style

Focus on functional needs rather than appearance or trends.

✅For example: "I need a desk for work, not one to match my new sofa."

3. Use the 24-Hour Principle

✅Delay additional purchases for 24 hours. Often, the impulsive urge will subside on its own.

4. Create a Special Budget

✅Separate budgets for essential needs and lifestyle needs.

If your lifestyle budget runs out, postpone the purchase until the next period.

5. Keep Old Items That Are Still Suitable

✅Remember that old items aren't automatically "bad" just because they're new.

Get into the habit of thinking: "This item still works; I don't have to replace everything."

 6. Use a Shopping Checklist

✅Write a list before shopping, and be disciplined about only buying what's on the list.

If additional items appear that aren't on the list, postpone them.

Dealing with rejection, Tips for Bouncing Back to become Stronger

    Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "Dealing with Rejection: Tips for Bouncing Back to become Stronger" The main reason why I chose this topic is because many people are not ready to accept rejection, they think that rejection is part of stupidity, Rejection is an inevitable part of life, whether it's in work, personal relationships, or creative endeavors. While it can be painful, how we deal with it can build resilience and open up new opportunities. Here are some tips for better coping with rejection and bouncing back stronger:

1. Acknowledge and Feel Your Emotions

It's normal to feel disappointment, sadness, anger, or frustration when rejected. Don't try to suppress these emotions. Give yourself time to feel them, but don't let yourself dwell on them for too long. You can talk to a trusted friend, write in a journal, or engage in a calming activity.

2. Don't Take It Personally

While it may feel like a personal attack, rejection often has nothing to do with your worth as an individual. There are many factors beyond your control that may be at play, such as budget constraints, inconvenient timing, or differing needs. Understand that a rejection of a proposal or idea isn't a rejection of you as a whole.

3. Evaluate and Learn

Once your emotions have calmed down, take some time to reflect on the situation.  Consider these questions:

* Is there anything I could have done differently?

* Is there a lesson I can learn from this experience?

* Is there any feedback I can use to improve in the future?

Try to view rejection as an opportunity to learn and grow, not as a complete failure.

4. Keep Your Perspective

Remember that one rejection doesn't define your entire life. It's just one episode of many you'll experience. Many successful people have experienced rejection multiple times before finally achieving their goals. Keep a positive outlook and focus on your long-term goals.

5. Rebuild Your Confidence

Rejection can erode self-confidence. To rebuild it, focus on small successes and your strengths. Do things you're good at and enjoy. Interact with supportive and positive people. Remember all your accomplishments so far.

6. Keep Moving Forward

Once you've processed the rejection and learned from it, it's important not to give up. If it was a job rejection, move on to applying for other jobs.  If it's relationship rejection, focus on yourself and new opportunities. Persistence is key. Keep trying, adjust your strategy if necessary, and don't let one rejection stop you from achieving your goals.

7. Seek Support

Don't hesitate to seek support from friends, family, mentors, or even professionals if rejection feels too overwhelming to handle alone. Sharing your experiences can help you feel less alone and gain new perspective.

Dealing with rejection is never easy, but with the right approach, you can turn negative experiences into catalysts for growth and success. Remember, every "no" brings you one step closer to a "yes."

One of the most important things to do to avoid the fear of rejection is:

👉 Build complete self-acceptance.

Why is this important?

Because often the fear of rejection arises not from the rejection itself, but from the negative meaning we attach to ourselves after being rejected, such as:

"It means I'm not good enough."

"No wonder people don't like me."

"I failed again."

With self-acceptance, you realize that:

💡 Rejection is not a reflection of your own worth, but a reflection of the situation, compatibility, or perspective of others.

How to practice self-acceptance practically:

Realize your worth is not determined by the approval of others.

Ask yourself: If I didn't need validation, what kind of person would I still be?

Affirm yourself when you fail or are rejected.

For example: "It's natural to be rejected; it doesn't mean I'm a complete failure. I still deserve respect."

View rejection as evidence, not a verdict.

Shift the question from "What did I do wrong?" to “What can I learn?”

Why some people feel a sense of emptiness after achieving difficult goals

    Hi, today I want to share an interesting topic, namely "Why some people feel a sense of emptiness after achieving difficult goals", The main reason why I chose this topic is because many people experience emptiness when achieving difficult goals, It's a common and often surprising phenomenon that some people feel a sense of emptiness or dissatisfaction even after achieving significant, difficult goals. Several psychological concepts help explain this:

 * The Arrival Fallacy: Coined by Harvard-trained psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar, this refers to the false belief that achieving a particular goal will lead to an enduring sense of happiness. We often project our happiness onto a future achievement, assuming that "once I get X, then I'll be happy." However, once X is achieved, the initial euphoria is often brief, and the expected long-lasting happiness doesn't materialize. This can lead to a feeling of emptiness or disappointment.

 * Hedonic Treadmill (or Hedonic Adaptation): This theory suggests that humans quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness (their "happiness set point") despite major positive or negative life events. When a goal is achieved, there's a temporary spike in happiness, but then we adapt to the new reality, and our happiness levels tend to revert to their baseline. It's like being on a treadmill – you're moving, but you stay in the same place in terms of overall contentment.

 * The "Purpose Vacuum": When people are intensely focused on a challenging goal, it often provides a strong sense of purpose, direction, and fills a significant part of their daily life and thoughts. Once that goal is achieved, a "purpose vacuum" can be created, leaving a void. The individual might feel a loss of direction, motivation, or even an existential crisis, wondering "What now?"

 * Dopamine and the Reward System: The brain's reward system releases dopamine when we are pursuing and anticipating a goal. This neurotransmitter is associated with pleasure, motivation, and reward. When a goal is reached, there's an initial surge of dopamine, but then the release drops. This biochemical shift can contribute to a feeling of a "downer" or emptiness after the peak of achievement.

 * Perfectionism: Perfectionists often set exceedingly high standards for themselves, and even after achieving a difficult goal, they may focus on what could have been done better or immediately set an even higher, more challenging goal. Their internal critic is rarely satisfied, leading to a perpetual state of dissatisfaction, regardless of external accomplishments. For perfectionists, satisfaction often comes from the striving for perfection rather than the achievement itself.

 * External vs. Intrinsic Motivation/Goals: If a goal is primarily driven by external validation (e.g., praise, money, status) rather than intrinsic satisfaction (e.g., personal growth, joy in the process, contributing to something meaningful), the satisfaction derived from achieving it may be fleeting. External rewards can provide a temporary boost, but true fulfillment often comes from pursuing goals aligned with one's deeper values and passions.

 * Lack of Self-Worth from Within: If an individual's sense of self-worth is overly dependent on external achievements, then each accomplishment, no matter how difficult, only provides a temporary affirmation. The underlying feeling of "not being good enough" can quickly resurface, driving them to constantly seek the next achievement to fill that internal void.

To combat this, experts suggest:

 * Focusing on the process, not just the outcome: Finding joy and meaning in the journey itself, not just the destination.

 * Practicing gratitude: Appreciating what has been achieved and the efforts made.

 * Setting new, meaningful goals: Having a sense of continued purpose and direction.

 * Cultivating intrinsic motivation: Pursuing goals that are personally fulfilling and align with one's values.

 * Building a strong sense of self-worth independent of external achievements.

 * Reflecting on the "why": Understanding the deeper reasons behind pursuing a goal.

 * Seeking professional help: If feelings of emptiness or sadness are persistent or overwhelming.