I am in the thick of performance season. Because of this, I feel like dance is a huge part of my life. To be honest, I need a break from writing about dance… which is why this week, I will be talking about a different pillar of this blog: slow living!
You cannot talk about slow living without touching upon the topic of finances. If you’ve read my previous post about why I stopped listening to financial gurus, you’ll know that the topic of finances is a hobby of mine… a passion, even. And I absolutely LOVE helping others with their financial well-being. Furthermore, I believe money is energy. The way you feel about, talk about, and handle money influences your relationship with it.
Slow living just made sense to me. I’m prone to overstimulation and feel restricted when my schedule is packed to the brim. I understand different seasons of life may bring stress, but I do everything possible to keep stress levels low.
One way to keep stress levels low is to have the best financial situation possible. This means avoiding debt, avoiding overconsumption, and reusing instead of repurchasing. Here is an article that explains the pitfalls of overconsumption and lifestyle creep which many people experience. Being aware of this is key; with tidy finances, you don’t have to pick up that extra shift or even that extra job.
Life can be stressful when you allow it to spiral. Today’s standard of living is higher than it’s ever been, and there is so much external pressure to keep up with this impossible standard of living. As a result, people are stretched way too thin. I believe this is why so many are drawn to slow living. We WANT to have time for our families, hobbies, and communities. But there is such a thing as overcorrecting when you’re saving every penny, depriving yourself, and yes…. not buying that next round for your friends!
You never want to have a white-knuckle grip on money. Being cheap is NOT conducive to slow living. I believe generosity with yourself and others is crucial to slow living, and you cannot have one without the other.
I’m sure you can think of a time when someone was cheap. Maybe you provided someone a service and they underpaid or even stiffed you. Or perhaps you’ve had a friend that expected you to pay for everything (or bummed all your cigs in college.) Lastly, maybe you’ve been in a relationship where they expected 50/50 down to the last penny. How did that situation make you feel? I sure wouldn’t stay connected with any of these people, because being nickel and dimed feels awful.
You say that it’s not that you’re cheap. It’s your arms are too short, and your pockets are too deep. You’ve got alligator arms.
Gaelic Storm
And the thing is, I rarely see cheap people thriving. This is because the energy of being cheap comes from a lack mindset. It means they never think there’s enough to go around… and worst-case scenario, will step all over others to get what they want. They look at people and see dollar signs. Um, barf!
People who are generous with themselves and others thrive because generosity opens the currents to abundance.
My grandpa is an example of an extremely generous person. He worked hard his entire life without complaint to provide for his wife and four kids. Today, he still insists on taking his whole family out to dinner, and fixing that deck for our grandma. As a result of his generosity, he has a huge loving family, a beautiful home, and even a second home in the South for the Winter. He’s not only generous with material things, but with his knowledge. He understands how important it is to talk to his grandchildren and teach us.
Think about money as water. It loves to flow.
The energy of generosity is the ocean base that allows the water to flow freely. Notice how oceans don’t run out of water, even though they give it to the bay and use it to nourish fish. They allow it to evaporate into the sky to make clouds which provide people with rain and drinking water. The ocean expects nothing in return, yet it overflows.
The energy of being cheap is a puddle base. It holds onto water so tightly and never gives. It doesn’t house any fish to nourish and gives nothing to make clouds. The puddle wants to keep all the water for itself. As a result, the water becomes stagnant and contaminated. It dries up in just a few days.
Running out of resources occurs when someone white-knuckles their money. They’re so focused on holding tightly onto what they do have, that they restrict themselves to the energetic current of resources.
So buy that next round. Get yourself the new art supplies you’ve been wanting. And pay your employees fairly and generously. You will never run out of resources when you are generous.
Slow living is not about scraping by, living in squalor, and being cheap with others. It’s about slowing down and tuning in to decide what matters to you. And more importantly, it’s about generosity without expectations of something in return.
Today’s standard of living is higher than ever, and this is why so many are drawn to a slowed-down life. This week’s post is about why generosity is crucial to slow living.