Work and life balance is a constant struggle faced with my
family. My wife has retained a successful career despite being a loving mother
to two children and serving faithfully in all her church callings. This does
not come at a small cost to her. There are many times where it seems she is
overworked and over stressed. At these times I always encourage her to try to
take a step back and evaluate what her priorities are and if she is fulfilled
in the activities she is pursuing. I as well face similar issues. Working
full-time while completing school and still trying find time for my daughters
often leaves me exasperated. When I choose to start a business I’m not
expecting this to change much. Learning this week’s material forced me into an
introspective mood. More questions than answers came to my mind. This did not
upset me though, like it normally would. It is good for me to think more about
what I expect out of my business and what plans I should make with my wife when
life begins to change.
Balance is not the only struggle we and my wife discuss. We
often discuss how money plays a role in our lives and how comfortable we want
to live. We have been very blessed so far in life to be able to purchase a home
and enjoy some amenities. With the thoughts of starting a business and growing
a family we discuss what would be the best future plan. Are we willing to
sacrifice a few years of comfort to hopefully have a bigger payoff down the
line and feel more fulfilled in our lives?
On a more playful note my wife and I always compare money
and our happiness in the terms of jet skis. It seems silly, I know, but it is
meaningful for me and my wife. In our early stages of dating we went on a lake
trip with some friends. On this trip we got to ride jet skis and we both agreed
it was some of the most fun we have ever had. Now, when we get our tithing
statement back or put money away in savings I say, “Look at all that money it
could get us a nice jet ski”. We both know we aren’t at a point in life where
buying one is a smart idea but that doesn’t stop us from thinking about how
happy we will be when we can afford such a luxury.
My attitude toward money is very practical. I need money and money makes life comfortable and fun. I know money is not the only thing that will bring me happiness but it sure can make my life a whole lot easier and less stressful.
ReplyDeleteYour view of money can affect your life in various ways. For example one way it can affect your life is in choice of a career. Some people choose a career solely focused on the financial rewards of that career. In this sense their career can make their life miserable even though they have a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteThe rules for prospering are these: Make enough money to provide for yourself, make enough time to feel fulfilled with your family and make enough compromise so these two can coexist.
ReplyDelete