Your life, your terms

There are a lot of gospels that are being preached with so much vehemence these days that it is driving lots of folks to depression and a low estimation of self-worth.

For instance, the investment preacher makes it look like it is a sin to keep even a part of your money in the bank. Not everyone wants to invest. Some folks just want to keep part of their earnings in the bank and plan their lives around what they have and be content. Investment is good but those that chose not to do so consciously are not making a lifetime mistake.

The entrepreneurship preacher, when he is done talking, makes it sound like you have failed by being a 9-5 worker. Suddenly, even with your 9-5 job, you start feeling inadequate because you are inundated with droves of information putting the entrepreneur as the supreme being. These guys never talk about the challenges of starting and sustaining a business/company. They are always quick to cite about five or so guys that started multi billion dollar companies from garages. They conveniently forget how five to ten people in 6 billion is a joke of a sample size. Entrepreneurship is cool but it doesn't work for everyone. Some folks work best when they are in a structured work environment and that is not a weakness or limitation. Its what works for that individual.

The guy preaching education is out there making folks feel like if you didn't go through college or didn't sit in a classroom to receive instruction, then you are not "educated". They don't realise that in the 21st century, non-traditional education is increasingly becoming more adopted and accepted. You can study for and acquire a bachelors, masters and PhD degree from the comfort of your home. There are a whole range of skills and learning you can acquire via remote learning. These options are conveniently left out of their gospel.

On the other hand, you will find another person preaching about guzzling up skills like your life depends on it. For them, the most important thing is taking online courses and acquiring certificates. They tell you classroom learning is old school and if you are not taking an online course, then the world has left you behind. This has been a common message during the COVID-19 lockdown. Taking online courses is good. But it must be with focused purpose. The fact that someone did not take an online course during lockdown does not make them a failure or a lazy. They probably engaged in a great deal of other productive stuff.

The side hustle guy makes you feel lazy for not adding a side hustle to what you are currently doing. While side endeavors are great, some folks are okay with what they are currently doing and are content with it as long as they plan their lives around their current earnings.

If you are not selling out in your sales, it does not mean that you are failing. It might just mean that market forces are not currently in your favour or you need to tuneup your sales strategy. But, visit instagram and you see everyone is selling out. Don't be deceived. Even though some people are actually selling out, a lot of them would have sold just one item in a whole month and they will still post that they sold out. Its all a strategy. So, don't be pressured by it.

Now, nothing is wrong with aspiring for more. But most of these preachers do so, not from the goodness of their hearts. The investment guy probably has a scheme he is running that he wants you to invest in. The side hustle guy possibly has a business he want you to patronise. The online learning guy might have a training he is running and wants your patronage. In the end, it is every man for himself. After all, if you have a tree behind your house where you pluck money, you are not going to take a microphone and shout to your neighbor about it.

We know all these things are important, but it is only the individual that knows what works for him. It is a matter of perspective and finding balance. Beyond God's, it is only the individual's opinion that matters in running his own life. After all, he is the one living the life. Social media has put so much pressure on people that even a seemingly successful person is at the risk of feeling some level of discontent and dissatisfaction with his/her life. The sad thing is that we don't even realise that what we see on social media are only sanitised and edited highlights of what is defined as a "good life".

Don't judge or assess yourself on the basis of the success (legit & legal) of the next person because you have no idea how much effort that person has put into his venture. You should judge yourself only on the basis of the efforts you have put into your endeavors. If your success is commensurate with the efforts you have put in, then you should be content and happy. If you feel you are working harder than you are successful, that's when you should worry and probably rethink your strategy.

In the end, every individual should do what brings him or her unconditional happiness without infringing on the freedom and right of the next person.

These musings/opinions are the exclusive preserve of my humble self which I thought to share with anyone that it might strike a chord with.