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prioritize joy

12/12/2018

3 Comments

 
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I've found myself observing career choices from a new vantage point lately. I'm noticing recent college graduates taking their first jobs + receiving their first paychecks. It's eye opening. Mr. Tribe + I chose to pursue jobs out of passion rather than consideration for compensation. As we took our first steps forward in our careers, we didn't feel as if salary was in our hands. We made our salaries work for us + made choices in accordance with them. It has not been easy + we've made mistakes along the way.

I realize that ours is not necessarily the usual course of action...+ even having the option to choose is privilege. Many take advantage of this privilege + decide career paths based on the size of the paycheck to come...and (within reason) there is not a whole lot wrong with that (as long as those careers are not about using people).

I do want to share, however, something that I know to be true:  "Money often costs too much."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Doing a job solely for the money is a soul suck. Humans crave purpose...and making loads of money, in my opinion, is not true purpose. We need some money...but I don't want to become a slave to it.

My best tools for moving away from an all-consuming devotion to money are: simple living...making our needs few...learning to recognize enough...and simple pleasures...these things don't sound like much fun...but they enable our choices...and they are the most reliable bearers of joy. Less stuff, decreased commitments, less striving to impress others, less comparison...they mean less money going out which means less money has to come in. These tools allow us to know that money is not the entire goal...consuming is not the goal. They give us the freedom to prioritize love, compassion, generosity + passion rather than being slaves to "more"...and there is great joy in that.


Prioritize joy...not money. (Money doesn't create joy.)

Love,
Jane
3 Comments
Kari
12/12/2018 08:37:36 pm

Amen!

Reply
Carlone
12/23/2018 01:07:39 pm

I worked at a REALLY well paid but soul sucking job for 10 years. It was a personal choice (I had to keep reminding myself) and I did it for the money. But at the same time, we continued to live a very simple lifestyle. This is extra challenging in a highly paid career as all of your colleagues spend money like crazy and you are the oddball. In 10 years we paid off a mortgage, saved money and essentially bought ourselves financial freedom. I left that job 8 years ago and have moved on to much more rewarding adventures. Most of my high-earning/spending colleagues still work at the soul-sucking job, complaining and feeling trapped. It was a tough 10 years but I don't regret it at all. Just one of many paths with money and I know I am priveleged to have had this opportunity.

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Jane link
12/26/2018 03:19:18 pm

Thank you so much for sharing this part of your story, Carlone! Working toward financial freedom is certainly a path that makes great use of simple living. Cheers to you!

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