Three Hot Tools To Transform Your Shopping Habits

I love to shop. I always have. I have proudly called my shopping 'retail therapy' as I always feel good carrying home my treasures.

Then of course on-line shopping hit the scene. While I admit, I am a little embarrassed that I am on a first name basis with Mark, my UPS delivery guy, I do love getting packages in the mail.

You can imagine the challenge when I found myself suddenly unemployed and with diminishing cash resources. If I didn’t want to have some serious credit card debt, I had to curtail my shopping habit.

It wasn't that hard at first. I mean, I just shopped for smaller things. Earrings, books, cds...anything under $20 was ok. I still shopped with abandon..randomly, with no real thought as to why. All I knew is that it feels good to shop and I couldn’t seem to quit.

Through EFT, I have uncovered a lot of energy bandits. Energy bandits kidnapped and held me trapped in a single minded thought pattern that sounded something like this: “The only way to have fun is to buy something." Out of touch with my intuition, I found myself buying things that weren't quite right, never got used and eventually were given away.

So what are these energy bandits and how can you secure yourself from them? Simply, an energy bandit is an event in the past that has an emotional charge on it. For example, think back to your life from 13 to 23, remember a relationship that did not end well. Does remembering it bring up any feelings? Regret? Sadness? Envy?

If an event still carries emotion with it, it is stealing from you. It is using the very magnetic energy you need to change your perception of shopping. But, never fear EFT is here! With EFT you can steadily and systematically recover rivers of creative energy that is right now waiting to be recovered, in your memories.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch, here I am without my feel good hobby. Remember, I LOVE to shop! I have discovered a couple of ideas that have helped me reframe shopping, create a different pattern around shopping, that would still allow me to have that "I found a treasure!" feeling and yet also have a balanced knowing that I am spending mindfully.

1. Rate Your Potential Purchase

This is the best one for me. When I am looking at something, ready to buy, I ask how much I like/love it and rate it on a scale of 1 to 10. Anything lower than a 7 is an automatic no. Amazing how many 6's I would have bought before without thinking. 7s and 8s are iffy and usually end turned down too. 9s feel great and then I get that shopping buzz and really enjoy it! I use this on almost all of my purchases these days.

2. Set an Intention to Have More Fun

I recently realized that I don't typically set an intention for the day to have fun. Just plain old...I intend to have fun today. This has had an immediate impact. Sonia Choquette, fabulous intuitive author and teacher, has a great little idea for improving mood. She suggests holding a pencil horizontally with your teeth for 5 minutes. It automatically engages the smile muscles and once the body gets the message to smile, your personal energy will begin to lift. You won’t believe it til you try it!

3. Create A Musical Mood Energizer

Pick a year when things were really going great for you. Then go to ITunes and download several songs from that year. Making a personal playlist of songs from one of your happiest and successful years will move you in every cell of your being. The lyrics are right there, the dance moves not far behind. Use this recording as a background for any household chore and just like Mary Poppins sang...."there is an element of fun in every task that's to be done..."

Fellow shopaholics, let's unite! Let's commit to finding ways to have fun without spending money. Let's learn to buy only the 9s and 10s on our personal rating scale. Let's enjoy our acquisitions completely and guiltlessly as we choose exactly what will make us the happiest. Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!

Anybody for a game of Scrabulous?

Catherine offers regular FREE teleclasses to encourage EFTers in their skills. For information go to http://www.downstreamuniversity.com Catherine also creates innovative teleclass programs, workshops and seminars that bring together the Law of Attraction, EFT and people.

Meet people who think like you do and who share the desire to maximize this life experience. You will feel the difference between doing EFT by yourself and doing it in the presence of others. To learn more about Catherine's work and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.NeverFearEFTisHere.com