Recently I was having a conversation with someone and mentioned that I wasn’t overly fond of a specific celebrity. The person I was talking to responded by saying, “Well, they’re making much more money than you” like it was the ultimate factor in having a life worth living.
First, yes they are. Second, who really gives a damn?
It’s sad that the majority of our society bases their view of success on wealth alone. Not to say that wealth is bad, hell, I wouldn’t mind sitting on a big bank account, but isn’t there more to life? You can’t take it with you when you die, right?
It irks me when people overstate the importance of this stuff we call money. With more money often comes more things, increased need for space/real estate, more recurring expenses, insurances of all kinds and other balance siphoners.
Before you know it you don’t own your money and things, they own you. My man Biggie said it best, “Mo’ money, mo’ problems.”
The antithesis to this way of thinking is those who are ‘experience rich.’ The people who make less money, but have the freedom to actually do whatever they feel like doing. Where the ability to pack up one bag and go anywhere is more valuable than adding one more zero to an account. Where climbing to Machu Picchu blows putting a Mercedes in the garage out of the water.
I know not everyone will agree with my seemingly coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs view of money but I feel it’s worth sharing.
What do you think?
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Right ON!;-)
I always ask people who are trying to act superior due their monetary situation:
“who would you be your possessions and position?”
Seeing changing color of the face of such “richie” is great fun.
What matters in life cannot be measured.
Freedom is priceless.
Be insanely generous and money will follow naturally;-)
Have fun, guys.
*without is missing in comment above;-)
without possessions and position.
Nate-
This is good stuff.
I wrote a post a week or so ago about this. Experiences > Things – http://www.joelrunyon.com/two3/experiences-things
I’ve got nothing against things but when people tout material possessions as a reason for not taking risks and stepping out of their comfort zones, it makes me wonder if they’re missing the point.
More money, more problems. True, because 95% of people don’t take the time to invest in their own financial IQ and so they may earn lots of money but they don’t know how money works or how to use it. If you don;t know that money will slip through your hands very easily.
Couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve found greater success financially than many of my friends and peers. I often claim out of luck, but there was some hard work involved. When I start to here them trying to glean tips from me as to my secret and remind them of there own wealth which I am otherwise unable to obtain. The more money you have the more you spend. In fact quite often the more crap you acquire! I’d give it all up in order to have the freedom to travel the nation for a year, or go on a hiking trip for a few weeks, or just not have to worry about bills and interest rates for once. Money to me mean nothing compared to how you use it, and how it binds you. Remember that next time someone try’s to compare you to anyone else financially. I know many people who are poor (not poverty poor but poor) according to societies standards but I consider them far richer than anyone I can think of.
@ ivana – Thanks for such an amazing comment. “Freedom is priceless” is so true. Also, I like your thought of being generous and good things will come your way, I’m a big fan of the pay it forward mentality.
@ joel – Read your post, we are definitely on the same wavelength with this! And your right about people missing the point, it’s so common. Your outdoor Eiffel Tower sleeping adventure is just insane, and that makes it all the more awesome! Thanks for the comment!
@ jonny – Good thoughts, I know you are smart with this kind of stuff from reading your blog. Definitely something we should all be more aware of.
@ meandering bohemian – Thanks for sharing that! It made me think of how the more things I have the more I worry. That’s probably the biggest thing that I’ve noticed since downsizing my life (I still have more to do though). I’m much more content and happy with the things I have.
I feel you man. There’s also a couple good lines from Fight Club
“you’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis.”
and
“the things you own end up owning you.”
And I’m in marketing! go figure..
Nate (and all):
The discussion, here, deals with the trappings of money which includes the attitudes of our culture and how it’s impressed upon us that more money is better; more stuff is better, etc. So many things are measured by this scale.
For instance, job B is better than job A because it pays more. Driving a luxury car is better than driving a more efficient and safe smaller car. Getting married to a person who is rich is better than marrying someone who is poor.
But what about the trappings of the mind?
In my opinion, it’s just as destructive to rebel so strongly against money and things just because we realize how materialistic our culture really is. While it’s true that having an unhealthy relationship with money is a path to misery, I feel that some people in our culture have gone too far the other way….not so much in how they’re living–such as giving away all their stuff and just living off the land–but in how they reach a point where they feel guilty or disgusted about having money.
The trappings of the mind might tell them that they are “one of THOSE people” if they have money and things. Think about this discussion. It mostly seems to underscore a belief that money isn’t such a good thing…at least that’s how this discussion seems to me.
I think money is neither good nor bad. Things are not good or bad. How one person lives compared to how another person lives is all relative. How each one of us uses money can be both good and bad depending on the perspective from which you view each of our circumstances. Money (and the world) looks completely different to someone living in poverty compared to someone living in luxury.
My view is that our thoughts and behaviors ultimately determine the value of our lives. Personally, I feel that having a healthy relationship with money means having greater opportunities to help the people I care about…and eventually helping the world in meaningful ways.
But definitely, live with gratitude, regardless of how much money you have. That’s when you’re focusing on experiences rather than the stuff money can buy…which is okay too. :-)
Cheers,
Scott
@ jadat – I love the quotes! “You are not your fucking khakis” haha I’m going to definitely see that movie now. Cheers!
@ scott – Wow, such a great comment Scott thank you! I agree, money is not bad and evil, it’s what many people do with it, and how they praise it that I have a problem with. There is no reason why someone who makes $1,000 per month can’t be just as happy (if not happier!) than someone who makes $100,000 per month. Your view on money, where having more means that you can help your family, etc., is spot on. That’s what SMART people do. Thanks again man, hope you’re having a great day, and say hi to Tammy for me.
All I know is, the more money I don’t have, the more ways I find to defend poor being better.
Is it possible to have plenty of money and have a simple life of joy and adventure? I enjoy simplicity – and I’d love to have the money to hike Machu Pichu whenever I want.
Natalie (and all):
It’s really true. We tend to shape our interpretation of life around our present circumstances. It’s a way to cope with the psychological stress of what we perceive as not being “right” with our lives and gives us a way to accept what “is” and to still thrive….what some would call, “making the best of it.”
The argument of less versus more can be approached on so many different levels and in the end, it’s a matter of personal perspective. There is ultimately no right or wrong answer. For those who are looking through the lens formed from religious or spiritual principles, they might lean toward the less-is-more, austere lifestyle…simple abundance. Anyone looking through a humanistic lens might consider the “greater good” for mankind. If you’re someone who might be viewing life through a natural science lens, you might consider growth and abundance (as in ‘make as much money as you want and/or need, it doesn’t matter to the universe’), more money and stuff is okay…just as less is okay too; it’s all relative in the natural flow of life in the universe. If you’re looking through a materialistic lens, there’s no doubt that the best anyone can do is to be wealthy and obtain power and possessions.
There are as many ways to justify our own point of view as there are people on this planet. Personally, I feel that we’re all correct given our own unique set of biases, belief system and experiences.
Ultimately, I feel that it’s how you live your life–no matter the circumstances, no matter how much money and stuff you have–that determines the nature and quality of the human being you are.
When people meet you, they will know you only by what they see, based on how you act and what you say. Every moment, we are shaping who we are by our thoughts and actions, and are thereby shaping our world. Money is just one more tool we can use to shape our lives and effect the world. But it all begins with you.
Scott
@ natalie – It definitely is possible to have lots of money and live a simple life that focuses on the real important things. That’s the point I’m trying to make here. And sure, being poor makes it easy to justify one’s opinion on things of this nature. I know that my opinion has not been formed in that way, as I’ve never really had problems with money. Maybe that’s why I feel the way I do. I see people everywhere around me wasting their lives away for a bunch of “things” that really don’t add any true value to their existence.
We only desire money because we’re told to desire money. Whoever started spreading that curse around deserves a big slap upside the head. :P
If money is the measurement of a person, then I guess Gandhi was worthless. =)
@ ash – I agree! Let’s track them down and start slapping.
@ sonicsuns – What a great point, thanks for stopping by.