Does Chasing Wealth Impact the Self?
By Karen Schwartz, for Revive Your Life
Photo by Chris230 DE NICE
It’s common for young adults just starting out to go a little crazy with a steady paycheck, especially if their new job is well-paying. Should the person be single and childless, with small (or no) loan or mortgage payments, having more cash than ever before can go to their head. They may indulge in fancy cars, expensive fashion, and freely purchase whatever’s high-end. After all, this is considered the time of life when folks should enjoy themselves, before spousal and parental responsibilities come along. For the majority, once they settle down into domestic bliss, that way of life is over. With bills and obligations, they consequently lower luxury lifestyle expectations. Unless they wish to declare bankruptcy or be evicted, they simply make do with less quantity and quality.
Therefore, when around really wealthy people, most individuals of “average” income and social status are slightly awed. Most average-income people see that the “rich class” is a different world, but understand it’s not their world. However, others of average-income find this life style invigorating. They often want to ingratiate themselves into it, in any possible way. For them, it would seem like validation and reward, even if it means more debt.
There are always levels of costs and status (cheap motels/deluxe resorts, designer knock-offs/custom-made suits, public education/private school, modest apartments/mansions, and tourist or first class). Even pet prestige status is classified through terms such as mutt, thoroughbred, pedigree papers and Best of Show. Throughout history, all over the world, people have been classified into the “haves” and “have nots” and almost everyone’s ego wants to be seen as one of those who “have”, even if they don’t.
The folks who inhabit wealthy venues have either been there since birth or used acquired money to have gotten there. However, “moving on up” frequently carries the risk of displacing energy that could be better spent pursuing internal acceptance and humility. The dissatisfaction and frustration that accompanies the want for more is not conducive to finding peace. Often, the desire for more, once met, is only exacerbated instead of quenched. If the end result is acquisition for acquisition’s sake to impress others, a person is wasting resources instead of learning how to become more comfortable with their own reality. Gearing one’s life towards gaining that which can be gone in a blink (possessions, placement in the category of trend setters, or a reputation of being in with the right people) carries enormous spiritual risk, aside from the financial problems caused by living beyond one’s means.
There is an old adage that a man can’t serve two masters - if one is serious about finding rejuvenation of their soul, such a search can’t compete with an overriding fixation on the material world. For example, concentrating funds for a large purchase emphasizes personal gratification over more humanitarian endeavors, and everyone is guilty of that. But when it becomes a constant lifestyle, it creates oversights at best or disregard at worst, which isn’t helpful for spiritual evolution. Focusing on popular opinion may weaken judgmental skills, cause a loss of self assurance, and reduce the ability to ascertain the real meaning of quality. Along with ignoring priorities in the quest to create a bigger and better image, a part of the self is lost instead of recognized. However, it’s only when a person faces their complete self that they can determine how and what to change for long-term improvement.
Instead of turning inward for validation of growth, those who live to acquire wealth and prestige - or the outward signs of either - rely on the succession of purchases. Instead of reaching out in selflessness, their motivation is image, and instead of focusing on sustaining qualities, they place their sights on whatever is popular. Since their focus is thus always on the self and ego, if and when they lose their holdings, there will be little to sustain them. It will be hard to find a revival of spirit when, for so long, it was largely ignored. It’s much better to look for the revival of the soul and spirit by realizing that man’s status lies more in his understanding of life, and consequently, what’s really important.
What about you? Do you struggle with wanting more than you are actually able to afford? Has the recent economic downturn changed the way you think about wealth? What changes, if any, have you made to your spending habits as a result? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Click on to submit this post to your favorite social bookmarking sites such as Digg or StumbleUpon!
Subscribe to receive free updates via the Revive Your Life RSS feed!
Related Posts:
Comments
3 Responses to “Does Chasing Wealth Impact the Self?”
Share your thoughts with the RYL community!
You can also subscribe to the RYL RSS feed!
Loading ...
Over the years and especially since the economy has gone in the tank, I’ve been much more aware of the fact that most of society allow social expectations to dictate their monetary habits. I’m certainly one of these individuals, but this is something I’ve been changing about myself and my family.
Rarely does a day go by when I don’t think about past decisions that were clearly manipulated by my natural desire to conform and ‘keep up’. Or that feeling that says, “You’ve got to do X, Y and Z because…well…you’ve just got to.”
The things in my life that matter most and give me the most satisfaction are 100% free and the things that cost the most money are often my biggest frustration and time waster.
Excellent insight, Karen! Really got me thinking. Eric
Eric,
You’re right, the recent disruptions in the economy really bring these thoughts to the surface. Likewise, debt and the acquisition of “things” only adds to the headaches that we experience each day…I am guessing that you are speaking of satisfaction with the intangibles in life - those things that bring true satisfaction. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
It depends if the chasing comes out of emptiness or not. Some people honestly do find fulfillment in that chase, like some sort of game that makes you more alive. Most do it because they think something’s at the end that will fill them.
Having money appeals to me, just because when I have money it reduces the things I have to do, like work for money. Gives more options - that’s all.
Did some channeling on greed: http://www.polarisrising.com/the-chief-feature-of-greed.html