Finding the ever elusive balance-Hug and Nudge

Hug and Nudge-Two Answers to One Question

(Vol V)

Sometimes a warm hug is the answer to our question 
and sometimes a gentle nudge is the answer.

'Hug and Nudge' is a fortnightly column with two different perspectives from two different continents and cultures on the same question in personal development area viz. 
Jennifer Sertl (based in New York, USA) and
Dr Amit Nagpal (based in New Delhi, India).

"On one hand my Spiritual Journey has made me realise that Happiness lies beyond material possessions. Yet, somehow since finding my true Inner Self, have lost the drive that's necessary for progress in the conventional sense. How do I find the right balance?"

A Great Question by Vijay Nallawalla

www.vijaynallawala.co.in

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Jennifer Sertl's Answer

So, how much is enough and where lies the balance?

No person has the right to tell you what is or should be your personal threshold for wealth and or what values you should emulate. It would be a mistake for me to assert my own biases on your very personal question.  I can however share how I am advising those in my circle of influence.

I think of money the same way I do of oxygen and blood flow - it is an energetic expression that allows for circulation. I think we sometimes forget that money is a currency - the definition much more aligned with “current” - meaning  the flow of energy, or of a river. Compound interest was a social invention that radically changed the entire economic ecosystem and created a belief that it was economically more viable to hold on to money than distribute it. 

Given that we are at an interesting time when as Paul Gilding @paulgilding says “the Earth is full” and we are at the end of growth as we know it. I have met Paul personally and highly recommend his book The Great Disruption http://paulgilding.com/the-great-disruption and also his TED talk http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_gilding_the_earth_is_full.html.

I am someone who likes to explore all realms of possibility including best and worse case scenarios. If I can articulate and envision worst case scenario - I feel better prepared and more resilient. I invite levels of rigor with people’s imagination to strengthen scenario muscle.

There is a huge shift in the macro: women’s role in the world economy http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/third_billion via @boozcompany, the rise of social capital such as @socapmarkets  http://socialcapitalmarkets.net/ and digital currencies rising such as Bitcoin http://bitcoin.org/ gaining momentum.

The entire economic landscape is in flux an in the midst of redesign.

Here are all the people and resources that keep me current relative to #thefuterofmoney 

https://twitter.com/jennifersertl/future-of-money-socap/members

What does all this mean to you?

Good times or bad times, I think it wise to re-evaluate your life design and trajectory at least once per year using a holistic dashboard such as the one we use at Agility3r http://www.agility3r.com

As you can see finance is only a part of the bigger picture of personal vitality. You have to decide where money enables personal fulfillment among a bigger picture of dynamics. You also have to consider your primal and community families and their impact on your choices. I am reminded of Malcolm Gladwell’s book Outliers http://www.gladwell.com/outliers/index.html where he featured a community that has great health and high levels of collaboration. He articulated that the greatest contributor was that those who had more didn’t flash their wealth and those who had less were not made to feel ashamed. I am sure there is a lot more to that story - but it is impossible for you to consider your own choices without looking at the core values of your community and those whom you feel primally connected to. There is a relationship that has to be explored for your own authentic threshold to be established. Peer impact on choice was a topic of another post  http://www.enlargeexcelevolve.com/2012/11/are-people-basically-good-or-bad-hug.html

This is a great time for all of us to revisit personal vitality and recalibrate.

I will leave you with a few more thoughts to chew on.

Here is a perspective on the science of spending: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/opinion/sunday/dont-indulge-be-happy.html?pagewanted=all

Here is some sage wisdom for contemporary time: See like a Stoic: an ancient technique for modern consumers by Tim Rayner @timrayer01 Sage Wisdom for Contemporary Time http://philosophyforchange.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/see-like-a-stoic-an-ancient-technique-for-modern-consumers/ … by @timrayner01 #a3r

 And also one of my favorite quotes:

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury~refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable, & wealthy, not rich;

to listen to stars,birds, babes and sages, with open heart;

to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly,talk gently, await occasions,

hurry never;in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common – this is my symphony.

 William Henry Channing

Wishing you both happiness & simplicity,

Jennifer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fELBk3ddwe4

♫ www.youtube.com/... ♫

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Brief Profile

Beacon of hope. Purveyor of discipline.
Global Citizen. Transleader.
Coach. Facilitator.
Co-Author- Strategy, Leadership & the Soul and Founder of Agility3R.

Watch on Youtube
Find out more about Jennifer's works here:-
http://www.agility3r.com/blog.html

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Dr Amit Nagpal's Answer

The balance is slowly but automatically reached when we discover our deepest passion (life purpose) and find both satisfaction of the soul as well as monetary or worldly success, after the hit and trial and initial struggles. The path is not easy and it always helps if one is enjoying the journey (rather than worrying about the destination)

The saying goes, even if you win the race, you are still a rat! But if a person discovers his passion and purpose in life, gives his mind, body and soul to it, he is bound to achieve perfect and everlasting happiness. However it is easier said than done. Even if we take the risk of leaving a cozy job and jump into a profession we are passionate about, we may end up as losers due to a lack of perseverance and sometimes, lack of faith in a higher power /ourselves.

One lesson which life is constantly trying to teach us is to find balance, in each aspect of life. The most difficult act of balancing is to balance between self-interest and interest of others. Conor Patterson, British Life Coach, puts it beautifully:-”There is a fine balance between self-nurture and devotion to another. If you get obsessed with self-nurture, then you get too isolated to enjoy a relationship. However if you get lost in another person’s life, you forget how to respect your own desires.”

The desires for fame, money and power can give us a drive, a purpose to work hard but they give only temporary happiness to most people (and actually make them insecure and stressed with the fear of losing them). If you want to be famous for your positivity, want to make money to spread abundance around and use your power to benefit the weaker sections of society (or the underdogs), then there is nothing wrong in desiring fame, money and power.

That’s why I pray to God, “Give me fame, money and power, but before giving these, give me the wisdom to handle them”

Here is a daily prayer, I would like to end the post with:-

O Lord

You MAY

give me knowledge, so that I can endow

give me money, so that I can enrich

give me power, so that I can empower

give me wisdom so that I can enlighten

give me leadership, so that I can enrol

give me enthusiasm, so that I can enthuse

But you MUST

Give me refuge, so that I can enter Higher Consciousness

And merge with thee

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Brief Profile
Dr Amit Nagpal is a Personal Branding Consultant & Deepest Passion Coach. He is based in New Delhi, India and specializes in personal branding with a holistic touch. His philosophy is, "Enlarge as a Human Being, Excel as a Social Media Being and Evolve as a Personal Brand"

To know more visit www.dramitnagpal.com
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Related Posts

Hug and Nudge (Vol 1)
Hug and Nudge (Vol II)Hug and Nudge (Vol III)
Hug & Nudge-(Vol IV)
3R for Organizational Growth and 3E for Personal Growth