If I have one belief that leads me into conflict with friend and family, it is this — “Money should never be the sole reason to do, or not do, anything.”
I wouldn’t say that my friend and family don’t possess this belief, but I regularly hear comments and see behavior that seems to indicate that they don’t believe it. Often, I see the converse. Money can easily be the ONLY reason for doing something. When I see this, though, I can almost guarantee that within a few days, weeks or months I will be hearing about how unhappy someone is with their life — or some aspect of their life. Almost inevitably can you trace this unhappiness back to their decision to “follow the money” instead of doing what is right for them.
It seems endemic in society today that we take actions that go against our own best interest. Even when we realize this we will often rationalize a dozen different reasons why it is still the best decision. Do I wish I had more money, more prestige, more power? Of course, I don’t know any but the most balanced among us that don’t have dreams of that. We like to think that such things will bring us peace and control over our own lives. Those who have achieved high-levels will tell you, though, that money, prestige and power do not always give you more control over your life. If handled incorrectly, they can lead to more burdens, more control on your life than ever before.
Money is important. It can allow us to do those things we most desire in life. The love of money, though, can lead us down dark paths where we think we are achieving one thing when, in fact, we are limiting ourselves and making ourselves very, very unhappy. Money can and should be one deciding factor, but it should never be the only factor.
#Trust30 is an online initiative and 30-day writing challenge that encourages you to look within and trust yourself. Use this as an opportunity to reflect on your now, and to create direction for your future. 30 prompts from inspiring thought-leaders will guide you on your writing journey.