I grew up in a traditional family. Was taught hard work equals success and have acquired many life experiences that taught me, rightly or wrongly, that money buys happiness. That seems true for the first few years when I was recruited by a big consulting practice. It was prestigious and I was making a lot more than my cousin's. My self worth was based around my earning potential and my unhappiness mainly stemmed from falling behind my peers, whether perceived or real. It was a terrible way to live. I made many mistakes trying to catch up, including taking up a job I had very little passion for in order to outearn my peers and reach personal financial milestones. These very drivers of my past successes have slowly grown into my nightmares. I am no longer able to live in the present because every decision I make is subconsciously weighed around how it affects my future desired state of financial well being. It is just as what the Dala Lamei said, some people live in the future and do not enjoy the present. They live thinking they will live forever and spend all their energies chasing after money thinking it will buy happiness, with the irony that they are in fact giving up the very thing they desire in the process. I know money does not buy happiness. It's a simple message and not a particularly profound one. But it is a difficult one, especially for someone like me who lived an entire childhood wishing i had at least some of the things my peers played with.
(My parents were good honest folks who struggled to provide and gave up much for my well being. They were undoubtedly the heroes of my life. Their story was an entire generation sacrificed for the betterment of the next.)
I am going to take some steps towards letting go of my wrong beliefs.
Till next time.
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