A Short Letter To My Materialistic Ego
“I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer” — Jim Carey
Yes, I know you think money is gonna bring more joy, happiness, better health, better food, and more opportunities.
You are gonna soon realize that all you did is fulfill your materialistic ego. This is all short term.
If you are a dumb ass right now, after buying a 1 Million Dollar house you are gonna be just the same dumb ass with a house. Welcome to reality.
There are enough people in this world fighting for fame, money, and status. Do you consider that's a smart and unique life challenge? Please think before joining their race. I believe you can be much more genuine than that.
You can have a good life with much less than you think
Somewhere out there, is a person living on a budget of $100 per month and he is happy.
A family of 7 people with only 1 laptop. Some of them use it through the night to achieve maximum utility out of it.
And you feel unfulfilled because you didn’t buy that house, or your friends are driving those expensive cars whereas you don’t?
Remember the simple truth: “Less is more”
Money has the power to destroy your personality
Do you know anyone who became rich and suddenly changed? Did they change in a good way?
What did they do with the money? Did they add value to the world, or only to themselves?
If a gambler suddenly becomes rich, he goes and buys expensive stuff like clothes, cars, and houses.
Easy money goes easy. Hard money goes hard.
The problem is not that they didn’t have money. The problem is that they didn’t have a positive attitude towards it.
Less money can make you more creative
When there is no money in your pockets but you have a strong feeling about buying something, you cannot imagine how creative you will get in the process of achieving that.
Just remember the times when there we no phones and text messages. How kids figured out to use caps and thread to talk over the walls.
Deeper connections with people
Living under your means and going through life challenges will help you create deeper connections with people. Why? Because people connect a lot better when they experience the same pain.
Your life will be more interesting
Nowadays, people are fed up with money-making tales. We want to listen to horror stories about getting lost in a jungle in the middle of nowhere in a foreign country with nothing in your pockets.
This is why people like Ray Dalio and Elon Musk savor festivals like Burning Man — a 4-day music festival in the middle of the desert where the currency is not cash but creativity.
It's hard but enjoyable. This is what creates the best memories.
You will learn that money should be used as a tool
Yeah sure, you can make money to buy a better life. But It won’t necessarily make you happier.
There are a lot of people only thinking of money as a means to buy things and live a better life. In reality, money should be used as a tool. Like you use a pen to write down a thought. Or a brush to create an artwork. Money can be used in the same way, to create something meaningful.
“Feel free to spend 10 years of your life asking questions, being curious and discovering what it takes to be a true human being.”
On this journey promise me…
Promise me you are not gonna choose a career for the paycheck but for how much value you can add to this world.
Promise that you are not gonna choose your friends based on status, looks, or money. Choose them due to qualities like trust, honesty, and fidelity.
Don’t do things with the expectation to get something back in return. Put a seed of love in everything you do. You never know how big that tree can grow.
Promise me you are not gonna stop learning. Comfort can be a dangerous thing, especially at a younger age. Keep failing. The moment you stop failing you stop growing. Ignore all the negativity around failing for now.
Peace brothers and sisters.
