In a society that quickly measures our value by the variety of zeros in our checking account, it is simple to be tempted to flaunt our financial well-being within the hope of impressing others with what we’re able to.
This will not be recent. Visible wear is a phrase first utilized in 1899 to clarify “spending money on luxury goods and acquiring them as a public display of economic power.”
But attempting to impress others with our wealth is an empty and silly game. It is smart to remind ourselves of this fact often and to set our decisions apart from it.
The desire to impress others can profoundly influence our decisions—the cars we drive, the garments we wear, the neighborhood we live in, the vacations we go on, and even the roles we do. But the momentary admiration these material goods bring is brief and temporary.
Before we understand it, our automotive gets a dent, fashion trends change, or our phone is outdated. These once impressive estates aren’t any longer eye-catching. And we’re trapped in a cycle of shopping for, listing… and having to reboot.
There will all the time be someone richer, someone with an even bigger house, or someone with a more luxurious automotive. Trying to impress others with our funds and purchases is a game with out a finish line.
And all this happens on the expense of our happiness – and sometimes also our financial condition.
When we use money as a measure of success, we quickly lose sight of what really matters.
Also, one person’s wealth doesn’t make them inherently more successful than another person. Too many other aspects come into play, starting with where we began in life.
The self-proclaimed millionaire could also be celebrated, but what in regards to the one who has risen from extreme poverty to a stable life? What in regards to the man or woman who might be millionaires but gave away their money to the poor? Their journey will not be as glamorous, however it’s probably more remarkable – regardless that they’ll probably never appear on the duvet of a magazine.
Some of probably the most impressive people I’ve ever met had a number of dollars of their account.
Success in life will not be measured by dollars in your checking account. It is measured by the love we share, the selfless lifestyle, the obstacles we overcome, the progress we make, the legacy we leave and the life we touch.
There are greater memories we will leave behind than the quantity of things we have now bought.
Some people have said to me, “I do not care if I leave a legacy. I’m not attempting to impress others.”
I normally reply, “But you haven’t got a selection. You will all the time be remembered by someone. The only query is: “What will they remember you for? Will you allow them with positive or negative memories?
It is smart for all of us to reflect on our heritage and the legacy we leave behind. And I’m not talking about financial wealth, but in regards to the example we set, the lives we touched, and the difference we made.
Imagine using our wealth to interrupt the cycle of kid poverty, provide medical assistance to the sick, or solve any problem on this planet you like solving a lot. Each of those decisions may end in less wealth to display together with your purchases, but all of them bring more good on this planet and success in our lives. These activities increase the worth of our money way more than any material purchase.
Whenever we feel tempted to purchase something simply to impress others, we must always stop and ask ourselves, “Why?” Usually, motivation will not be healthy… neither is the result.
In the long term, it’s our actions, not our strengths, that make the best impression.
