This is definitely a fascinating question! I'd like to think after I took care of the "problems" (finding a facility that can compassionately care for my mentally ill mother, etc) I could work on using it for the lack of purpose I feel in my life right now -- supporting causes I believe deeply in, and traveling to those places to participate in the work firsthand. (For example, one project would be to buy as much undeveloped land as possible, then donate it for preservation.)
Interesting, I wrote a post recently (The 10 challenges money won't protect you from / I will not place a link here because it would feel trying to sell you something and that's awful).
Being a foreigner in this country I see many cultural blind spots and the #1 is the addiction to money and wealth, a subject a write often about.
I like to use the NVC framework to dig deeper into questions like these. What needs would be met by having a million dollars? Can these needs be met with a different strategy? Money is not a human need, we want peace, love, happiness, connection etc. Money is at best a strategy, and when we sacrifice our human needs for the sake of the strategy we are entangled. A job I don't like, a relationship that is disconnected, car bills that remove freedom rather than support it, a house mortgage that creates stress instead of connection and safety. The list goes on.
I also like to remind myself that the universe was created with everything we need in almost infinite quantity and for free (Air, water, sunlight, love, and food because the trees don't sell apples) and we have created to system on top that creates tension and scarcity.
The million dollar question is a good rabbit hole to start with.
A similar thought exercise can be applied to “Work” (in the broadest sense of the word)…
Many people think the best work = work where you make a lot of $$$.
But actually the work that you love you’d not only do for free… you’d PAY to do 🤯
(this has become a helpful exercise for filtering activities: would I PAY to do this?)
great point...
This is definitely a fascinating question! I'd like to think after I took care of the "problems" (finding a facility that can compassionately care for my mentally ill mother, etc) I could work on using it for the lack of purpose I feel in my life right now -- supporting causes I believe deeply in, and traveling to those places to participate in the work firsthand. (For example, one project would be to buy as much undeveloped land as possible, then donate it for preservation.)
to continue on my elaboration above.
Buying land and donating it: need for contribution? To matter? To make a difference?
Finding a facility for your mother: need for ease and comfort, efficiency (in creating bandwidth) hence freedom.
Even without money we can find other strategies to meet our needs for contribution, freedom, ease and comfort...
Money is helpful, unless it is the chain we are choosing to remain jailed.
And i hope you win the lottery too. Because it would definitely help you and your Mum.
Love
Interesting, I wrote a post recently (The 10 challenges money won't protect you from / I will not place a link here because it would feel trying to sell you something and that's awful).
Being a foreigner in this country I see many cultural blind spots and the #1 is the addiction to money and wealth, a subject a write often about.
I like to use the NVC framework to dig deeper into questions like these. What needs would be met by having a million dollars? Can these needs be met with a different strategy? Money is not a human need, we want peace, love, happiness, connection etc. Money is at best a strategy, and when we sacrifice our human needs for the sake of the strategy we are entangled. A job I don't like, a relationship that is disconnected, car bills that remove freedom rather than support it, a house mortgage that creates stress instead of connection and safety. The list goes on.
I also like to remind myself that the universe was created with everything we need in almost infinite quantity and for free (Air, water, sunlight, love, and food because the trees don't sell apples) and we have created to system on top that creates tension and scarcity.
The million dollar question is a good rabbit hole to start with.
Love