When we’re little, we’re often taught that if we do well in school, we can get into a great college. When college comes around, we’re told that if we do well in college, we might land a well-paying job. But what happens when we do everything right and still can’t seem to make ends meet? What happens when we realize that you don’t have to be the most educated in the world to earn the most? Doesn’t that give you a feeling that you’ve been lied to your entire life? Well, yes.
Now, money is a powerful force in our world, and it’s one that we can’t escape from. In fact, it’s probably the reason you clicked on this story in the first place. It has value. From the moment we’re born, we’re taught that we need money to survive, and we see our parents spend it. We need it to buy food, to have a roof over our head, and to live a comfortable life. And yet, despite its importance, we’re never really taught how to manage it properly — especially in schools, which is quite ironic. Not only are we not told about its physiological influence, but we are also not taught how it can shape our sense of identity.
As we grow up, we’re bombarded with messages that equate success with wealth. “If you ain’t rich, you ain’t nobody”. We see it in the media, in our social circles, and in our schools. The pressure to succeed financially can feel immense, and it’s one that can lead us down a dangerous path. But take a moment to consider this: the people who bring you up, who teach you valuable skills (parents and teachers), and give you food — are they really worth as much as they make? They’re worth way more.
You see, the problem with this mindset is that it creates a hierarchy of value. We begin to believe that people who have more money are more valuable than those who don’t. We start to equate wealth with intelligence, talent, and even righteousness. “Oh look, he’s the world’s richest man, so he has to be right”. Wrong! By the same token, this leads us to believe that those who are struggling financially must have done something wrong or must be lacking in some way, which is a severe oversimplification. Thus, money is not only power, but also serves as a mask, a cover to generalize two types of people: those who’re rich and those who are not. This toxic way of thinking can actually ruin your own self-confidence, but don’t let it.
Remember that money doesn’t define our worth as human beings. We all have unique talents, abilities, and contributions to make to the world, and these qualities aren’t tied to our bank account. We should learn to value ourselves and others based on our character, integrity, and the positive impact we have on those around us.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m not advocating for the abolition of money. That would create chaos, to put it simply. Everyone needs it, including you and me. In fact, it’s important to develop healthy financial habits. This includes creating a budget, saving for the future, or distinguishing between desires and needs, luxury and necessity. Indeed, Financial literacy should be a required part of our education system since it’s a real world skill and problem we need to develop. Sure, solving for the hypotenuse might prepare me for College, but what about life?
At the end of the day, the constant chase for more and more money should never come at the expense of our mental well-being, nor our happiness. Find value in the little things that build you up as a person. Your family, your friends, and your teachers (even the bad ones). So come with me, let’s take a step towards a different approach towards looking at life. If you’ve enjoyed this story, follow for more original content.
