Success

A lot of us hold the same belief that our culture has taught us. Money = your value. Success is green and it has Ben Franklin’s face printed on it. So we work jobs we don’t really care for and allow our job title to become our identity so we can reach that sweet, sweet success. 

This belief is limiting. It limits you in the ways you can show up in the world. If how you are showing up is not bringing in 6 figures, then we’re told it’s not good enough. 

And the thing is, giving in to these beliefs is honestly easier than confronting them. It is way easier to conform than it is to flout and expand. Why else do you think everyone around you has a desk job?

This limiting belief kept me from chasing my passions. I was so afraid of being broke because I’m 26. I’m supposed to pay for my rent, health insurance, car, phone, and if I’m not doing that, I must be a deadbeat.

The hours of work and studying I have done? Useless. The amount of peace, clarity, and contentment I’ve cultivated? Worthless. 

I have to constantly remind myself, emotional intelligence is SO much more expensive than money. 

Money is easy. I can work 40 hours at my bar job and pay my rent in a week. It is WAY harder to develop passion, expansion, and emotional stability.

I know this. You know this. So why are we letting society tell us money is more valuable?

Do you even actually believe money = success or is that just something that was taught to you?

Was Van Gough successful? Was Jesus successful? Neither of these men earned money, so if money = success they weren’t, I guess. 

Do you believe someone chasing their passion is a deadbeat? They aren’t earning much money, certainty not at the beginning. 

This belief that money = success will also limit you by showing up as a distortion in your life. Never feel like you have enough money? Feel like you can’t afford the life you want? Constantly worried about money?

Your brain will say “that’s because we’re not successful”. Then have you go back to the same exact routine because maybe this time around you will magically become successful?

If you’re holding this belief, the amount of money you are earning is not the problem. Even though your brain will really try to convince you it is. If the amount of money you’re earning really was the problem, don’t you think rich people would be happier?

Here are a few income facts for you (globally):

After $70k happiness & emotional well-being stop increasing.
After $95k life satisfaction stops increasing.
After $105K happiness and life satisfaction begin to decrease.
Credit: Purdue University, 2018

Who are the people in your life you consider successful? What qualities do they have? Rather than focusing all your attention on their earrings in relation to success, why don’t we focus on the qualities they have?

Money can’t buy happiness is a cliche, but what they forgot to include is that money doesn’t buy you stability, balance, or fulfillment either. We have to intentionally cultivate those. So rather than distracting yourself with those dollar dollar bills y’all, why don’t we try to look inward for success?

Money is a mis-wanting. A mis-wanting is something we have been taught to believe will bring us happiness, but doesn’t. What you want is joy, fulfillment, and stability. Money is a distraction.

The things in your life that are great now don’t become more great when you have more money. And the things that are bad don’t become less bad because you’re rich. You are surrounded by love and goodness right now in this very moment. Take your eyes off the money prize for a moment, and establish your priorities. 

The key to happiness is being happy with what you have, and you don’t need to wait for any sort of milestone to achieve that. If your happiness has conditions, then it is not real. Catch yourself when you say “I’ll be happy when…” and begin learning how to be happy right now.