Editor's Note: The following is an excerpt from the new book Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions, now featured at the Patheos Book Club.
Make a list of everything you think would change if you were wealthier.
Think about all the feelings you generally try to escape by pushing yourself to be successful. Do you think you'd feel better about yourself? Would you feel more satisfied in life? Would you feel less worried? Less pressured? Less overwhelmed?
Now ask yourself: How can you create those feelings right now?
If you think you'd feel better about yourself with more money, what actions can you take to operate with courage and integrity so that you feel good about the person you're being now? If you think you'd feel more satisfied, what would need to change in your professional life in order for you to feel more fulfilled and purposeful now? If you think you'd feel less worried, pressured, or overwhelmed, can you start meditating, so that worries have less of a hold on you now? You may very well have a lot more money someday, but if you answer these questions now, someday won't be the day you realize that money isn't enough.
Create a second list of everything that makes life valuable to you.
This list might include spending time with your family, helping people, trying new things—whatever you treasure most in life. Now cross-reference this list with your schedule from the last week. Did you have sufficient time to incorporate these things into at least some of your days? Or were you too busy working to fit them in? How can you do things differently next week so that these valuable things don't fall by the wayside?
1/4/2012 5:00:00 AM
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