I remember early in my career as a lawyer I thought I had found the thing which made people tick. MONEY! Not such a great insight but it did leave an impression on me as I saw everyone around me scrambling to get ahead.
Personally, I did not think money was of much importance at all but nevertheless I had been diverted to law from a concert pianist vocation because I just was not quite good enough; a disappointing time indeed.
It was just that money in any generation seems to be one of the key drivers and the problem with that is that everything and everyone “out there,” is telling us what we need to do to get ahead in life.
Those specialising in consumerism, what consumers will spend money on and how they will spend their money have learnt that if supply is created with enough attraction and pull, the demand will follow. This is contrary to the old saying that if there is enough demand supply will follow.
We might all think we are above such an obvious game, however, as a rule most are not and many of us have fallen trap to the emotional spend or the impulse buying which is the same thing as an emotional fix.
The reasons are simple enough- we have not understood at a deep enough level our inner worth and our worth itself seems often to stem initially at least, from something about which we think we can “calculate” or do. We have confused intrinsic worth with extrinsic values.
We have been taught the price of everything and the value of nothing and those trying to instil in us what they perceive as value are in fact only implanting their own prejudices, beliefs, ideas, projected desires and unfulfilled dreams at ages so impressionable we barely stand a chance.
In short our inner values and worth seem to be somehow linked to our perception of the value of things around us, if that makes sense.
Once we have developed even the slightest bit of awareness, introspection, insight or call it what you will, the same attraction that once drew us out can draw us inwards to our core or centre.
The world of advertising and glossy magazines will never go away as new means are always found to fuel the hunger of our unconscious. BUT, we can still be more intelligent about our choices, take a few breaths and feel what will satisfy our deepest longings.
Will these things be new laptops, iPads, Computers, cars, clothes or luxury holidays? I doubt it and having said that I will also say it takes a very intelligent person to learn from the mistakes of others. Most of us are so slow we need to learn the painful lessons from the mistakes we make and I am also right in there.
The trappings of society are not bad in themselves, just possibly we need to take a few steps back once in awhile and see that the simplest things in life are those precious moments that fulfil us the most.
Image Credit-FreeImages.com-mompes
Chris Borrett
I am in a new and exciting venture with another Business Coach, Lana Ratapu, offering a FREE workshop called “Business Mechanics for Hard Working Business Owners” on Thursday, 23rd June, 2016. It’s a whole day event at the Campbelltown Catholic Club, inclusive of all-paid morning and afternoon tea.
If you happen to be within the area or you know someone who is and will greatly benefit from this inspiring and valuable workshop, please register here. Booking is limited to 30 slots only.