{"id":1002,"date":"2012-02-15T02:29:36","date_gmt":"2012-02-15T10:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/add-vodka.com\/?p=1002"},"modified":"2015-08-04T12:44:53","modified_gmt":"2015-08-04T19:44:53","slug":"the-life-enrichment-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/add-vodka.com\/the-life-enrichment-project\/","title":{"rendered":"The Life Enrichment Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last semester, a class that I took required that we read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People<\/em> by Stephen Covey. I\u2019d read the book before, but my personal opinion on it is not particularly favourable, so I got bored and put it down. This time, since it was a requirement for the class, I finished the book.<\/p>\n

While I still don\u2019t love the book, I\u2019ve been thinking lately about one point that Covey stressed in one of the seven habits. The point was that everything that we do should be directed toward our end goal. The habit was called \u201cBegin with the End in Mind\u201d.<\/p>\n

At the beginning of the book, Covey suggests people make their own mission statements, by considering what they want in life, and how they will get there. He suggests that, while writing your mission statement, you consider how you would like people to describe you when you kick the bucket.<\/p>\n

At that point, I did consider how I\u2019d like people to see me, and as of right now, I\u2019d love to be described as a leader, as hardworking, and as generous and as a great friend, family member, and colleague. This will likely evolve as I live my life, but it was a nice little exercise in placing and identifying my priorities.<\/p>\n

He then suggests, in the habit mentioned above, that the person only take actions that will help them work toward their mission statement.<\/p>\n

But, since I read the book, I\u2019ve thought a lot about how I can manipulate that idea into my finances. Of course, my mission statement isn\u2019t to become rich, or to be known as somebody who is wealthy. So I struggled with putting this important aspect of mine, and everyone\u2019s, lives, into perspective that way. Then, it clicked for me.<\/p>\n

We only have so much time on this earth. Unlike money, we can\u2019t earn more time. At the end of the day, it\u2019s very possible that I could be hit by a car tomorrow and not make it. I could get terminal cancer in 10 years and regret not taking actions to enrich my life. So, instead of reaching toward a mission statement, why not only do the things that can, or do, enrich your life?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know, I know. Everyone is probably thinking \u201cwell, I have to work, which doesn\u2019t enrich my life, and there\u2019s no way I can just quit my job\u201d. This is valid and true. But working does<\/em> enrich your life.<\/p>\n

Working provides an income, which you require to enrich your life. Food enriches your life in that it keeps you alive. The necessities, that we deem necessities in today\u2019s Western and many European cultures, enrich our lives because we can get the necessities that we need.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, how can we translate that into financial terms?<\/p>\n

Only spend money on things that will enrich your life.<\/p>\n

The big things<\/h3>\n

For me, that means my car. I just\u00a0bought a new car. My car enriches my life because it provides me with comfortable, much needed transportation. It can bring me to and from work, which is required for my necessities. It enriches my life by providing me with a means to get to school.<\/p>\n

School enriches my life because learning is important to me. Tuition eats up a massive chunk of my budget, but that\u2019s okay. Education enriches my life, as it is a value. It also enriches my life by increasing my employability. That will help me find a job that I like, and that enriches my life further by providing me with pay that can allow me more financial freedom to pursue my interests.<\/p>\n

Housing enriches my life because it holds a home; comfort; love. It allows J and I to relax and flip on House after a long day at work. It allows us to play with our dog, sit on the couch in front of a fire with a book, and wake up in a comfortable bed on Sunday mornings, ready to take on the day.<\/p>\n

The little things<\/h3>\n

The little things are where most of us struggle. Does that coffee really enrich your life? Maybe so. To me, coffee with friends enriches my life. It allows me to catch up with them over a nice, warm drink, and talk about our lives. Buying a coffee for myself if I\u2019m not with friends and I\u2019m on the run doesn\u2019t add any value to my life (yes, I need coffee, but I can easily make it at home).<\/p>\n

Do bank fees enrich your life? Likely not. Cut them out. Does that cute top enrich your life? If you\u2019re not sure that it\u2019s going to give you confidence and make you feel great about yourself, don\u2019t buy it.<\/p>\n

Along the lines of living with intention, only purchasing things that enrich your life may seem ludicrous until you break it down. Gifts enrich my life because I love to give things to my friends and family. My cell phone enriches my life by allowing me a method of communication with which to maintain relationships with loved ones. My internet enriches my life by allowing me an outlet (blog) and interaction with people. It\u2019s also a life enricher by providing me with knowledge.<\/p>\n

Sounds like you can justify everything<\/h3>\n

Food enriches your life because it keeps you alive and nourishes your body to enable you to take on the day. However, food from McDonalds doesn\u2019t enrich your life; food from home does a good job at that, without the added cost.<\/p>\n

Housing enriches your life because having a home is comforting and important, but having too much home for your family doesn\u2019t enrich your life; a home more suitable and affordable does a good job at that, the rest is just keeping up with the Joneses’.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, everyone has different standards and enjoyments, and we all live different lives. I might bash McDonalds, but the next person might see getting fast food as a life enricher as it cuts down on time, and that time can be spent with family and friends, or doing a hobby.<\/p>\n

We are all individuals. I encourage writing down your values \u2013 is it time, is it money, relationships? And applying those values when you question whether a purchase will enrich your life.<\/p>\n

When I think about it in these terms, I\u2019m motivated to cut down on my cell phone bill. Sure, my phone enriches my life by providing me with a means of maintaining relationships, but I could<\/em> pay half of what I\u2019m paying and still have a perfectly good cell phone plan.<\/p>\n

This also prompts me to cut out lots of my food spending. I could easily bring something from home, because going through the Taco Bell drive through doesn\u2019t provide me with any life enrichment over and above what my home-made pasta would.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What expense do you currently pay for that doesn\u2019t enrich your life?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last semester, a class that I took required that we read the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. I\u2019d read the book before, but my personal opinion on it is not particularly favourable, so I got bored and put it down. This time, since it was a requirement for the class, I …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[232,231],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Life Enrichment Project<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What do you pay for that isn't enriching your life? 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