Sustainable living: In a new book, a leadership coach offers 100 ways to make mindful choices
Less or more?
On the Diderot Effect and conscious consumption
Denis Diderot, the French philosopher behind one of the first encyclopaedias, spent most of his life in poverty. That is until Catherine the Great of Russia bought his encyclopaedia collection, suddenly making him a wealthy man.
What did Diderot do with his newfound wealth? He bought himself a luxurious new robe.
And that's where it all began.
Once he had the robe, his old chair looked shabby in comparison, so he bought a new one. The new chair made the rest of his furniture seem outdated, so he upgraded his entire study. Then he needed new rugs, new decor and on and on it went, until he found himself trapped in a cycle of endless consumption.
This phenomenon, now known as the Diderot Effect, explains why one small purchase can trigger a domino effect, leading us to acquire more than we ever intended.
Have you experienced this? You buy a nice dress and now you need nice shoes or a bag to match. You move into a larger house and now you need more stuff to put inside it.
We live in an age of abundance. There are more career paths, lifestyle options, entertainment choices and consumer goods than ever before. Logically, you'd think this would make us happier. But as research shows, this often has the opposite effect.
For one, more choices lead to decision fatigue – the more options we have, the harder it is to decide. Two, even if you make a choice, you experience some amount of dissatisfaction as you wonder if you made the best choice. Barry Schwartz calls this the Paradox of Choice – having more options doesn't make us more content – it often makes us more anxious.
Could there be a better way?
I am learning to cultivate what I like to call the 'Reverse Diderot Effect'.
Years ago, frustrated by mindless consumption, I made a radical decision. I stopped shopping for clothes entirely. What started as a short-term challenge turned into five years of not buying a single new outfit. It was difficult at first but over time it became a core part of my identity and I started to take great pride in living consciously.
Instead of accumulating more, I began upcycling by revamping old sarees into new outfits. Almost every speaking engagement I've had in the last five years, I've done in an upcycled piece of clothing.
And you know what? I've never felt freer.
With fewer clothes I had less need for accessories to go with my clothes. With less time spent on shopping, I had more time for other activities like reading. With fewer resources spent on clothes, I could invest in things with more lasting value to power my own learning and development.
With less mental bandwidth used for deciding what to wear every day, I could focus on more important decisions such as how to expand my business to serve more women.
Here are three ways in which you can overcome the Diderot Effect and reclaim your mental and emotional space. One, start with small, self-imposed limits – try going just one month without shopping. Two, eliminate triggers – unfollow people or accounts that encourage mindless consumption. Three, adopt a 'buy one, give one' strategy – whenever you buy something new, aim to give something away, especially to those who need it.
The most precious piece of real estate you have is your mind. The fewer distractions you allow in, the more space you create for clarity, purpose and joy.
My question for you: Where in your life can you reverse the Diderot Effect?
Fact or story?
On reframing your thoughts for clarity
I was sitting at a coffee shop recently when I spotted someone I hadn't seen in a while. I was quite pleased to see her. When she looked in my direction, I excitedly smiled and waved at her. But she didn't wave back. In fact, she walked right past me.
Immediately my mind started spinning: Did I do something to upset her? Maybe she doesn't like me anymore. Maybe I should have kept in touch more. I must have spent the next several minutes caught in this loop, trying to figure out why she had ignored me.
Have you had something similar happen to you? As you try to make sense of a situation, your thoughts weave a story – one that doesn't serve you well.
We do this all the time. You send an email and don't get a response. Your mind jumps to: They must think my request isn't important.
You present an idea in a meeting and someone looks distracted. Your mind whispers: They must find my ideas boring.
You invite a friend out and they cancel last minute. The story you tell yourself? They don't value our friendship as much as I do.
Our minds are story-making machines. We are conditioned to create a story, any story, just to make sense of the world. But in the absence of actual information about what the truth really is, it doesn't help to be spinning these stories. Often these stories – while compelling – aren't true.
So how do we stop ourselves from going down a rabbit hole of blame or shame in these situations? Dr Amishi Jha, author of Peak Mind, offers two powerful questions to break this cycle.
What do I know for sure? Strip away all assumptions and stick only to the verifiable facts.
What is the story I am telling myself? Acknowledge that your interpretation is just one of many possibilities.
When I applied these questions to my coffee shop experience, here's what I knew for sure: I saw someone I knew. She appeared to look in my direction. I waved. She did not appear to wave back. That was it. Everything else – my assumptions, my interpretations – was a story I had created.
Also, I realised there were countless reasons she may not have acknowledged me. Maybe she didn't actually see me. Maybe she was lost in thought. Maybe she was having a bad day.
As soon as I dropped the story I had created, I felt calmer.
This doesn't mean we ignore important signals. Sometimes we do need to get clarity. If your boss hasn't responded to an important email, instead of assuming the worst, you can follow up. If you're unsure how your idea landed in a meeting, you can ask for feedback.
But jumping to conclusions rarely serves us. The reality is that most people are too absorbed in their own worlds to be as focused on us as we think they are.
Here is an exercise I'd like to leave you with: At any point today, if you catch yourself overthinking a situation or interaction, I encourage you to consciously ask these two questions:
What do I know for sure?
What is a story I am telling myself?
It just might set you free.
Excerpted with permission from The Conscious Choice: 100 Ideas for Living and Leading Mindfully, Bhavna Toor, Pan Macmillan India.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
How to use articles (a, an, the) correctly for English learners: Essential tips, rules, and examples for better grammar
How to use articles (a, an, the) correctly in English. (AI Image) Articles may be short words, but they are essential in English. Many learners find them confusing, especially if their native language doesn't use articles at all. But once you understand how and when to use "a," "an," and "the," your English will sound much more natural and accurate. Let's explore how these articles work, with examples to guide you. What are articles? Articles are words that come before nouns to give more information about them. In English, there are two types of articles: • Indefinite articles: a and an • Definite article: the Using "a" and "an" – talking about something general Use "a" or "an" when you are talking about something for the first time, or something that is not specific. • Use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound. Example: I saw a dog in the street. • Use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u). Example: She wants an umbrella because it's raining. Important: It's the sound, not just the letter, that matters. • Correct: He is an honest man. (The "h" in "honest" is silent, so it starts with a vowel sound.) • Correct: She is a university student. ("University" starts with a "yoo" sound, which is a consonant sound.) Using "the" – talking about something specific Use "the" when the person listening or reading already knows what you're talking about, or when there's only one of something. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo • Example: I saw a cat. The cat was sitting on a wall. (We mention the cat for the first time, then refer to it again with "the".) • Example: The sun is shining today. (There's only one sun, so we use "the".) Use "the" for: • Specific people, places, or things: the teacher, the station, the moon • Things mentioned earlier: a book ? the book • Superlatives: the tallest building, the best option • Natural features: the sea, the Amazon River, the Alps • Musical instruments: He plays the piano. • Families or groups: the Smiths, the French When not to use any article Sometimes, no article is needed at all — this is known as the zero article. We leave out articles when speaking in general terms or with certain types of nouns. No article is used: • With plural or uncountable nouns when speaking generally: Books are expensive. (Not: The books are expensive.) Milk is good for you. (Not: The milk, unless specific milk is meant.) • Before names of people and most countries: I met Sarah in India. • With meals, languages, and sports (when speaking generally): We had breakfast. He speaks Spanish. They play football. Helpful tips for learners • Practice reading: Notice how articles are used in books, news, or English subtitles. • Try sentence building: Write or say your own examples using "a," "an," and "the." • Listen actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use articles when they speak. • Use your ear: Sometimes usage is easier to feel once you've heard it enough times. Still confused? That's normal! Articles are one of the trickiest parts of English grammar — even advanced learners make mistakes. Don't worry if you mix them up sometimes. What matters most is that you keep noticing them, keep practising, and keep learning. Over time, with enough reading, speaking, and writing, using articles will become a natural part of your English. Be patient with yourself, and don't give up! Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
India.com
4 days ago
- India.com
2,000 KM To Gaza: How Greta Thunbergs Aid Ship Became Israels Headache?
A ship transporting humanitarian supplies to Gaza has captured international attention and escalating controversy. The Madleen is the name of the ship belonging to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) — an international human rights movement seeking to challenge the Israeli sea blockade of Gaza. This mission becomes even more high-profile with 22-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg aboard. Mission With A Message Setting sail from Sicily's port of departure on June 1, the Madleen is attempting a 2,000-kilometer journey to the Gaza Strip. The vessel carried symbolic but essential humanitarian aid, such as flour, milk, water, medicines, baby diapers, and sanitary pads, aimed at the blockaded people in Gaza, where hunger and medical shortages have become critical. Named after Gaza's first and sole female fisherwoman, The Madleen is due to arrive by June 7 — provided it's not blocked by the Israeli navy, which has taken grave concerns about the mission. Greta Thunberg And International Activists Onboard Alongside Greta Thunberg, 11 other international human rights activists are onboard. These include: Rima Hassan – French MP Yasmine Jahr – Germany Baptiste André – France Thiago Ávila – Brazil Omar Fayad, Pascal, and Yanis Mahdi – France Suyab Ordu – Türkiye Sergio Toribio – Spain Marco van Rens – Netherlands Reva Viard – France The coalition sought to challenge peacefully what it calls Israel's illegal blockade and raise international awareness of the Gaza humanitarian crisis. Israel On Alert The Israeli army has publicly said it is keeping an eye on the development closely. Spokeswoman Efi Defrin threatened that Israel will act "according to the circumstances," which indicates that interception is very likely. This comes on the heels of a precedent established last month, when another FFC ship — the Conscience — was allegedly blown up by an Israeli drone attack on May 2. Greta Thunberg Speaks Out Speaking on the ship, Thunberg has stood up for the mission: "We are doing this because we must stand up against injustice. The moment we stop trying, we lose our humanity." Her involvement has, however, triggered intense responses on social media. Photographs and videos of Thunberg waving the Palestinian flag and shouting slogans in support of Gaza have spread on social media, triggering both commendation and reproach. A Symbolic Act Against A 17-Year Blockade Ever since 2007, Israel has maintained a naval blockade on Gaza, managing the import and export of goods and individuals. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition views their mission as a symbolic act of defiance of this blockade, which Israel has determined is both lawful and necessary to ensure national security. As The Madleen approaches Gaza, the world is watching — not so much to witness whether aid finds its way to those most in need, but to see how far activists, governments, and militaries will push each other in the battle for humanitarian access and geopolitical sway.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
WWII veterans speak of sacrifice and freedom on France's D-Day battlefields, 81 years later
OMAHA BEACH, France — The D-Day generation, smaller in number than ever, is back on the beaches of France where so much blood was spilled 81 years ago. World War II veterans, now mostly centenarians, have returned with the same message they fought for then: Freedom is worth defending. In what they acknowledge may be one of their last hurrahs, a group of nearly two dozen veterans who served in Europe and the Pacific is commemorating the fallen and getting rock-star treatment this week in Normandy — the first patch of mainland France that Allied forces liberated with the June 6, 1944, invasion and the greatest assembly of ships and planes the world had known. On what became known as ' Bloody Omaha ' and other gun-swept beaches where soldiers waded ashore and were cut down, their sacrifices forged bonds among Europe, the United States and Canada that endure, outlasting geopolitical shifts and the rise and fall of political leaders who blow hot and cold about the ties between nations. In Normandy, families hand down D-Day stories like heirlooms from one generation to the next. They clamor for handshakes, selfies, kisses and autographs from WWII veterans, and reward them with cries of 'Merci!' — thank you. Both the young and the very old thrive off the interactions. French schoolchildren oohed and aahed when 101-year-old Arlester Brown told them his age. The U.S. military was still segregated by race when the 18-year-old was drafted in 1942. Like most Black soldiers, Brown wasn't assigned a combat role and served in a laundry unit that accompanied the Allied advances through France and the Low Countries and into Nazi Germany. Jack Stowe, who lied about being 15 to join the Navy after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, said he gets 'the sweetest letters' from kids he met on previous trips. 'The French people here, they're so good to us,' the 98-year-old said, on a walk to the water's edge on Omaha. 'They want to talk to us, they want to sit down and they want their kids around us.' 'People are not going to let it be forgotten, you know, Omaha, these beaches,' he said. 'These stories will go on and on and on.' At the Normandy American Cemetery that overlooks Omaha, the resting place for nearly 9,400 American war dead, workers and visitors rub sand from the beach onto the white gravestones so the engraved names stand out. Wally King, a sprightly 101-year-old, wiped off excess sand with a weathered hand, resting the other atop the white cross, before saying a few words at the grave of Henry Shurlds Jr. Shurlds flew P-47 Thunderbolt fighters like King and was shot down and killed on Aug. 19, 1944. In the woods where they found his body, the townspeople of Verneuil-sur-Seine, northwest of Paris, erected a stele of Mississippi tulip tree wood in his memory. Although Shurlds flew in the same 513th Fighter Squadron, King said he never met him. King himself was shot down over Germany and badly burned on his 75th and last mission in mid-April 1945, weeks before the Nazi surrender. He said pilots tended not to become fast friends, to avoid the pain of loss when they were killed, which was often. When 'most veterans from World War II came home, they didn't want to talk about the war. So they didn't pass those experiences on to their children and grandchildren,' King said. 'In a way, that's good because there's enough unpleasantness, bloodshed, agony in war, and perhaps we don't need to emphasize it," he added. "But the sacrifice needs to be emphasized and celebrated.' With the march of time, the veterans' groups are only getting smaller. The Best Defense Foundation, a non-profit that has been running veteran trips to Normandy since 2004, last year brought 50 people for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This year, the number is 23. Betty Huffman-Rosevear, who served as an army nurse, is the only woman. She turned 104 this week. The group also includes a renowned romantic: 101-year-old Harold Terens and his sweetheart, Jeanne Swerlin, were feted by France's president after they tied the knot in a symbolic wedding inland of the D-Day beaches last year. D-Day veteran Jake Larson, now 102, has made multiple return trips and has become a star as "Papa Jake" on TikTok, with 1.2 million followers. He survived machine-gun fire when he landed on Omaha, making it unhurt to the bluffs that overlook the beach and which in 1944 were studded with German gun emplacements that mowed down American soldiers. 'We are the lucky ones,' Larson said amid the cemetery's immaculate rows of graves. 'They had no family. We are their family. We have the responsibility to honor these guys who gave us a chance to be alive." As WWII's survivors disappear, the responsibility is falling on the next generations that owe them the debt of freedom. 'This will probably be the last Normandy return, when you see the condition of some of us old guys,' King said. 'I hope I'm wrong.'
