Where You Are

Stilling the waves of money anxiety is not about having more. In the same way, competitive yoga makes no sense. Although, being people, we have created ways to weigh and measure people in conspicuous progress there too. You are as “advanced a yogi” on day one, as you will be after years of practice. The starting point, is always the same. Where you are. It is also the destination. You are already enough. Despite feelings of inadequacy and manufactured discontent. That realisation does not absolve you of action. It just means the key is not in comparison. Deal with the cards you are dealt. Money anxiety stills through the relationship between what comes in (however big) and what goes out (smaller than the in). Through building a buffer for the unexpected (however big) and an Engine of reserves to reduce your reduction to being a productive asset. Letting go of your judgement of yourself. Letting go of others judgement of you. Price is not value. Salary is not worth. You are not your job. Life is not a competition.

Missing Middle

"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11). In a world of scarcity, there is a lot of value in massive social pressure to work beyond enough. Drilled into my bubble growing up were ideas like delayed gratification, hard work, self-reliance, and being a provider. No one owes you anything, but people will rely on you. I have friends who were told not to do subjects like Art, Music, or even Biology because they wouldn't put food on the table. In a gendered society, it was normally guys given these constraints (there were definitely many constraints put on woman too). Be a Man. 'Missing Middle' or 'Idle Rich' is a term used for people who have enough themselves, and so choose other pursuits as they are free from financial constraints, and can be motivated by nice issues like fulfilment. I love 'childish things', but I also understand the why of putting them aside while there isn't enough food on the table for everyone.