subject: Your Lifestyle - Do What You Love And The Riches Will Come [print this page] When I talk about values, I'm coming from the perspective of what do you truly value in life?
Have you ever felt a moment in time where you jumped up or shouted out 'that's not right'? Have you ever felt a knot in your stomach about something someone said, or something you saw? And again you felt that's not right. Have you ever felt really warm and fuzzy about something? When something just feels right to you.
Many of us only give whatever time we have left over after work, surviving and sleeping to the things we truly value. We have to turn that equation around. Hopefully, if you look at your life, you should be spending time doing things that you value.
I often say my goal in life is to be at peace. To me, being at peace means doing what I value. When I am spending time doing the things I value, I feel at peace. Things just feel right.
Be careful that you are not in a situation that you must work harder and harder and harder to pay for consumerables that society influences us to buy, rather than what you truly value. If material items are not reflected in your values, ask yourself if you really need them. Don't let perceived societal expectations restrict you from doing what you value.
I have found that whenever parts of my life are in conflict with what I value, I feel frustrated, agitated and emotional. It is hard to be happy, healthy and well balanced if you are living your life in conflict with what you value.
- If you value love but constantly argue with your partner, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value honesty, but are not honest with yourself about what you want out of life, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value security, but are battling to pay the bills each week, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value family, but haven't talked to your mother for over a month, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value creativity, but are held back by a dominating boss at work, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value giving, but you are so tired at the end of each day, and feel you have nothing left to give, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value lifestyle, but work 12 hour days 6 days per week, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value friendship, but can't find the time to catch up with friends, how can you feel at peace?
- If you value financial freedom, but are completely dependent on a wage, how can you feel at peace?
The answer to many of our frustrations or heartaches can often be found by recognising that you are living in conflict with what you value. Living a life according to your values is a much smoother path than constantly having your actions and values butting heads.
Now is the time to take control of the direction of your life from this point forward. Because ... do what you love and the riches will come. Do what you value and the riches will come.
