When we buy something, it's not necessarily about the *thing*. Oftentimes we are buying into a story about ourselves; namely, what we simply must fix as we seek to get one step closer to our aspirational, in-a-perfect-world self. Important truth time: You are not a perpetual self-improvement project, and no product can fix what was never broken in the first place. On today's show: A conversation with author Cait Flanders about why she broke up with self-help content and flaws-first marketing messages (and why, too, she never looked back). Here's a preview: [5:00] Buying stuff to escape your feelings?  (Me too.) [10:00] The "there's something wrong with you" messaging starts in childhood, my friends [13:00] Where's the line between prioritizing self-growth versus living in that perpetually sad place of 'less than'? [20:00] Here's how your life may change if you stopped spending $$ on products to fix what you've been told is broken [26:00] Musings on letting go of our aspirational selves once and for all Resources mentioned: The Year Of Less The Mindful Consumer on Substack Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide To Reclaiming Yourself (by Nedra Glover Tawwab) This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! [email protected]. Our Sponsors: * Thank you to LifeStraw! https://lifestraw.com/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/sustainable-minimalists/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy