Why We Do the Things We Do

Shangrilogs asks a super interesting question about where the impulse to redecorate a space or change our wardrobe comes from. Obviously, there are times when we need to replace an item (furniture, clothing, etc.) because it is worn out or no longer functions as it once did. But if you have a functioning chair or a perfectly comfortable sweater, what makes us say, “You know what, I think I’ll get rid of that chair and get one that looks different” or “This sweater keeps me warm, but I think I’ll stop wearing it and get a different one.”

The reason is that it’s about trying to recapture the excitement that comes from newness. “A new object can make an old room feel unfamiliar for an afternoon, like a place where something could happen, where maybe you are evolving into a more refined, more adventurous, more something version of yourself.”

I love the six sections of questions at the bottom of the post that you can use whenever you start thinking you need something new. The point is not to get something new, but to ask yourself why you have an impulse to change things around. And you don’t have to answer all of them, but it was interesting to see which questions sparked thoughts and which ones I struggled to answer.