Prosperity

Written by Leigh Martinuzzi

Recently I had a great conversation with Joan Sotkin in an interview on the topic of prosperity (check it out here). Having reflected on our discussion I felt it was a good opportunity to share my perspectives and open up a similar dialogue in your life. When you think of this word, prosperity, what are the first thoughts that come to mind?

Many of us, I believe, would immediately associate prosperity with wealth and material possessions. However, prosperity or to be prosperous in life is more than a measure of the dollars in your bank or the wealth accumulation you achieve. There are other elements that also indicate one’s prosperity including the likes of health and happiness.

How does one live a prosperous life? How do you define prosperity? What does it mean to you?

Like health, happiness and success there is no global meaning and therefore the solution or paths to achievement within these areas is localised or unique to the individual. How I classify success or prosperity will differ from the meaning you attach to such words or measures.

Although we will likely have similarities in meaning, our journeys in life will vary. It is for this reason, I believe it is important that we spend some time defining and identifying what such things look and feel like to each of us on the individual level.

If society and the cultures we live in are governed by such words of success, wealth or prosperity, it is important to ensure we understand why. What is prosperity and why is this important? And perhaps more pertinent a question, why do these things matter to us individually? Do we use them to measure our personal progress? Are we concerned, or do we care about how others may perceive our level of prosperity? Why is this a concern?

Sorry if I sound a bit like a broken record, however, I feel it critical that we question and define such things if indeed we use them as a measure.

Personally, I do feel that being prosperous in life is important. I desire prosperity. Now, I could leave it at that and if guided by what the status quo considers a prosperous life I would continue towards it by measuring my success by the wealth accumulation I achieve.

There are two issues with this. Firstly, if money or material possessions don’t truly bring me joy I may find myself constantly in chase of things that are irrelevant or unimportant to my journey. Secondly, if I don’t achieve such milestones my identity may be impeded. It may begin to develop thoughts of self-doubt, not ideal for one’s overall motivation towards progress.

Therefore it is better to agree that, yes, prosperity is important to me and then ask why and define what a prosperous life will look and feel like to me. As Joan suggests prosperity should be defined by how the individual wants to feel. From there we can start to set and pursue “feeling” goals instead of “achievement goals” – goals that are measured by a definitive endpoint. Let’s be honest, to be prosperous in life should be a good feeling, not something that brings us down.

If for example money was a measure of prosperity and yet what we were doing to achieve a level of wealth wasn’t making us feel good – perhaps the tasks were not aligned with our passions or the pursuit was having a negative impact on our health, then we could reassess our goals. Why do we insist on the pursuit of things in life that make us feel like crap? We have all done it and most of us continue to do it.

As we look around us at others we see plenty of people chasing prosperity and yet if we could look closer, peep under the covers of their life, we may see they are unhealthy, unhappy and in a world of pain of their own. If what we do brings us suffering or others around us suffering, I believe, we should always reconsider our approach.

Prosperity must be defined at the individual level. We need to understand why it’s important and consider how by living a prosperous life we wish to feel and then create appropriately aligned goals and habits from there.

We should care less of what society regards as someone who is living a prosperous life. We must shake off the judgment of what others think of how much prosperity we have. We need to avoid comparing our lives to others as a measure of what prosperity must look like as we only have a very small insight into how they actually feel.

Instead, the pursuit of prosperity is to be intrinsically defined. It is a matter of how one desires to feel from the actions we undertake. The origin of the word prosperous means doing well. How does “doing well” in life look and feel to you?

Make sure you check out my interview with Joan using the link below.

Leave your thoughts, comments and questions below. Reach out directly by email of social media. Peace, Passion & Purpose.

652 The Hidden Why Podcast Presents Joan Sotkin – Prosperity

 Further Reading and Resources 

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American Psychological Association: The largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United State

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Tiny Buddha: Simple wisdom for complex lives.

Brain Pickings: An inventory of cross-disciplinary interestingness, spanning art, science, design, history, philosophy, and more.

Mind Body Green: Lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life.

Zen Habits: Find simplicity and mindfulness in life.

Creative NonFiction: “true stories well told.” 

Addicted 2 Success: Motivation & Inspiration Website full of quotes and inspiring articles for entrepreneurs.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree: science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome at life.

The Positivity Blog: Practical articles on happiness, self-esteem, productivity and social skills.