How to Achieve Financial Stability Without Detriment to the Soul
One of the biggest misconceptions you might encounter in your journey towards improved spirituality is that material wealth is an inherent evil that you must avoid at all costs.
While it’s true that a lot of people stumble upon great wealth and never recover from the pitfalls of greed, envy, and excessive attachment to material treasures, money is not inherently evil. It’s what you do with your money that gives it meaning, may it be good or bad. If we’re being frank, it’s highly impossible to survive today’s world without ample financial resources.
It can even be argued that sinking to poverty has become a bigger barrier to inner peace than being wealthy. When you don’t have enough to live by, your mind will be so preoccupied and stressed thinking about where you will get your next meal that you won’t have enough headspace for things like meditation, helping other people, or taking the next steps towards spiritual freedom.
Luckily, there are a handful of ways you can work towards striking a perfect balance between achieving financial freedom and keeping yourself from getting too attached to money and material wealth.
Find a Job You Love
One of the fastest ways to kill your spirit is by working a job that does not enrich your soul. If you feel like you have to drag your feet to work every day just for a paycheck you’re not proud to receive, it might be time to look for a new job. Just try to stay motivated during your job search as best as you can.
Do not be pressured by society into thinking that you always have to go for a higher-paying job just because it’s the logical thing to do. If you have an opportunity to work for a company you truly believe in or even for a nonprofit that makes you excited to show up for work every morning, take it, even if it means taking a pay cut.
There’s always a way to live a simpler life so that you won’t have to pine over the bigger paycheck in a job that sucks the life right out of you.
Do Not Borrow Money from Friends
Even if you live as simply as you can, there will be times when a health emergency or a blown tire will push you out of your budget. At times like this, your first course of action might be to ask your friends or family members for a temporary bailout.
Even if you are seriously planning to pay them back as soon as you get your next paycheck, you might want to explore other options, especially since a lot of friendships, and even familial ties, have been broken because of borrowed money.
Imagine a scenario where you promised your best friend you will pay him/her back at a specific date. However, another emergency struck before the day you’re supposed to make the payment. You will be forced to go back on your promise, effectively putting a strain on your friendship.
On the other hand, if you just took out a small personal loan or even an online payday loan, you can simply refinance the loan or sign for a later payment date in exchange for a slightly higher interest rate-- no friendships broken.
Invest in Things You Believe in
As sure as there will be rainy days when you won’t have enough to cover your most basic needs, there will be times when you have more than what you need.
On days like these, you may opt to grow your money through investing in equities that align with your personal beliefs and principles. For example, if there is a company that supports a foundation you deeply care about, you might want to invest in them, aside from directly funding your charity of choice.
On the flip side, research well if the company you want to invest in has protocols or business practices that you do not agree with. For instance, if a particular makeup brand tests on animals or if an apparel company does not pay its workers fair wages, you might want to avoid placing your money to bet on them.
This is responsible consumerism taken to the next level. There’s nothing wrong with saving and investing to make yourself more financially stable, but never in exchange for your principles.
Share What You Can
Once you achieve the level of stability that makes you comfortable about your personal finances, you can finally share whatever is in excess. The best way to combat over-attachment to material wealth is to learn how to share it with others who might be in more need.
Think about the times when you couldn’t make ends meet. Imagine how nice it would have been if you had someone to help you get back on your feet. Now, imagine how much better it would feel if you could be that someone for another person.
See?
Earning money and growing it doesn’t have to get in the way of finding inner peace. In fact, having money can simply be a means to a noble end, like funding worthy causes and sharing it to the less fortunate. As long as you find a more important purpose for your existence other than simply accumulating wealth, you don’t have to worry about material wealth stumping your spiritual growth.