What in the world does returning a shopping cart, or not, have to do with anything – what’s the point, and who cares? But “care” is exactly the point.

If haven’t heard by now, there is a theory going around that basically suggests what we do with our shopping carts reveals our true character.

It presents the idea that “to return our shopping cart is an easy, convenient task; and one we can all recognize as correct – the appropriate thing to do when able. It’s objectively right. There are no situations other than safety/dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart.
Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as an example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it”.

In other words, the seemingly simple things we innately do, or don’t do, can serve as larger tests to our character; and our character affects and impacts all we do – our work, finances, relationships, etc.

It’s simply an example to help us reveal, and perhaps even reevaluate our internal motivations.

Financially speaking, establishing and practicing healthy saving, estate planning, giving, risk mitigation, and spending practices all require ongoing self-governing characteristics to implement – for no one forces us to do these things.

Also, working to establish healthy partnerships, leveraging teamwork, and generally collaborating and communicating well with others, come from self-governing principals. For as we know, some strive to do these things, and some don’t – though the hope is more will.

So, clearly not a scientific fact, or 100 percent in it’s validity, the shopping cart theory, in my eyes, can serve as a light hearted tool to help us better see, and understand our reflex behaviors.

This then allows us to better identify any blinders we may have in our self-governing skills in order to build healthier ones that ultimately impact all we do, whether it be at work, home, or even the parking lot 🙂