Sunk Cost and Standing in Line

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The authors quote ancient Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “Think of those who, not by fault of inconsistency but by lack of effort, are too unstable to live as they wish, but only live as they have begun” (page 178). At first reading, Seneca’s statement may not resonate with you.

Allow me to elaborate. Imagine an individual who consistently shows up to a job and puts in as little effort as possible. This person has held the job for 10 years. Year after year, despite consistency, this individual’s lack of effort results in an equal lack of promotion or a raise.

If asked to explain why the person remains at the job, contributing irreplaceable hours of one’s life to a position with no apparent upward mobility, the individual responds, “Because I’ve invested so many years thus far.” Ergo, this person willfully remains stuck in a dead-end job.

This elaboration represents a sunk cost which one source describes as “a sum paid in the past that is no longer relevant to decisions about the future.” Concerning this and other unproductive behavior, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 178):

In The Dip, Seth Godin draws an interesting analogy from the three types of people you see in line at the supermarket.

One gets in a short line and sticks to it no matter how slow it is or how much faster the others seem to be going. Another changes lines repeatedly based on whatever he thinks might save a few seconds. And a third switches only once—when it’s clear her line is delayed and there is a clear alternative—and then continues with her day.

He’s urging you to ask: Which type are you? Seneca is also advising us to be this third type.

When I used to work in field of loss prevention for the world’s largest retailer, I’d often watch people standing in lines, presumably contemplating a switch to other lines, making the adjustment, and then self-disturbing when the line to which they changed moved even slower.

Admittedly, it was somewhat amusing to observe how the sunk cost described by Godin played out in real-time. Even in that employment setting, I realized that I had little upward mobility. That was the case, even though I put in consistency with effort regarding my work obligations.

Therefore, I switched jobs when a clear alternative presented itself, and then continued on with my life. Helpfully, authors of The Daily Stoic state about such behavior (page 178):

Just because you’ve begun down one path doesn’t mean you’re committed to it forever, especially if that path turns out to be flawed or impeded. At that same time, this is not an excuse to be flighty or incessantly noncommittal.

It takes courage to decide to do things differently and to make a change, as well as discipline and awareness to know that the notion of “Oh, but this looks even better” is a temptation that cannot be endlessly indulged either.

Sunk cost and standing in line is a matter of personal choice. You don’t have to upset yourself with irrational beliefs which influence your behavior. Why not test your Stoic resolve the next time you’re at the supermarket, or workplace, by not self-disturbing and moving on if necessary?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Daily Stoic. (n.d.). Translating the Stoics: An interview with “The Daily Stoic” co-author Stephen Hanselman. Retrieved from https://dailystoic.com/stephen-hanselman-interview/

Holiday, R. and Hanselman, S. (2016). The daily stoic: 366 meditations on wisdom, perseverance, and the art of living. Penguin Random House LLC. Retrieved from https://www.pdfdrive.com/the-daily-stoic-366-meditations-on-wisdom-perseverance-and-the-art-of-living-d61378067.html

Hollings, D. (2025, October 3). Control and influence: A soft center and coated in a candy shell. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/control-and-influence-a-soft-center-and-coated-in-a-candy-shell

Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer

Hollings, D. (2024, May 17). Feeling better vs. getting better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/feeling-better-vs-getting-better-1

Hollings, D. (2025, March 5). Five major characteristics of four major irrational beliefs. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/five-major-characteristics-of-four-major-irrational-beliefs

Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better

Hollings, D. (2025, September 7). Have to. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/have-to

Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, March 24). Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/rational-emotive-behavior-therapy-rebt

Hollings, D. (2024, April 30). Self-discipline. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-discipline

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2024, April 21). Stoicism. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/stoicism

Hollings, D. (2023, June 6). Sunk-cost fallacy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/sunk-cost-fallacy

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

Hollings, D. (2024, August 20). We all make our choices. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/we-all-make-our-choices

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Ryan Holiday. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Holiday

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Seth Godin. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seth_Godin

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Sunk cost. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost

Wikipedia. (n.d.). The Dip. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dip