spreading the new philosophy of what Leonard calls “work-watch-spend.” We work to make money, then come home and relax as we watch televi- sion. On TV, we see ads that let us know that we could do and be a lot better—if only we had the right prod- uct. So, we begin to feel less worthy, go shopping and buy that product that we hope will make us do/become/feel better, and the cycle repeats. Today, shopping has become
firmly entrenched in the American lifestyle. It is used as an antidote to boredom, a substitute for socializing and a quick fix for a disguised emo- tional need. We continue doing it even when we’re aware that we are buying things we don’t need and can’t afford. The more aware among us also understand that all the stuff we buy and store, and cause to be manufac- tured and distributed, creates a nega- tive impact on people’s lives and the environment—which leads to even more stress.
“Look for the best value, not always the best price.”
~ Leah Ingram
Stuff versus the Right Stuff Among the reasons that it’s possible to make shopping different today is the dawning of conscious aware- ness about the impact a product has through its entire life-cycle, from raw resources through ending up in a landfill or recycled. Daniel Goleman, whose books explore emotional and social intelligence, has tackled this topic in Ecological Intelligence: How Knowing the Hidden Impacts of What We Buy Can Change Everything. “Ecological intelligence,” he explains, “lets us apply what we learn about how human activity impinges on ecosystems so as to do less harm and once again to live sustainably in our niche—these days, the entire planet.”
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