Has a sales person ever told you to overspend for an item because “you’re worth it”? This has happened to me more than once, and I have also heard people justify the purchase of an overpriced object because they consider themselves worthy of the price.

While I acknowledge the importance of self esteem, I fail to see any connection between my value and the value of objects in my possession. Take for example a car. I can see the fun of owning a nice vehicle, however costly it might be. I can even recognize that others may judge me by my vehicles or residence or adornments. But I will never ever consider these things indicative of my inherent worth.

Others see my things and I see theirs, but we only see ourselves reflected in the mirror. And what we see is not what we are worth. Nor are we worth what we can buy.

Admittedly, it is hard to remember this when we succumb to retail therapy having been softened by marketers and fallen into the hands of someone good at separating us from our money.