Hey Friends,
Welcome to another edition of Raw and Real, where every week we have:
1 Raw and Real Conversation
2 Raw One-Liners
3 Real Gratitudes
Let’s go!
1 Raw and Real Conversation
In September 2018, when I had quit my first job as a CA to go solo, I struggled with money.
In almost 3 months, I ran out of my savings.
Did not want to disrupt the long term funds.
And it was clear I would have to go back and find another job
Which I did.
(PS: This was the picture of mine travelling in the Delhi metro, that a friend’s friend clicked, where I am apparently “tensed” because things were not “working out” during those three months. The good old days :( :)
When I joined my next job in December 2018, I decided I would do two things:
Freelance along with the job (To build marketable skills)
Create an emergency fund of at least a year
Because of these two reasons, I was able to quit the next job in 2020, and become a full-time writer.
God has been kind, I haven’t thought of going back to another job as a CA.
However, what I also see in a lot of people, especially in the Creator Economy, is the race to earn more and more and more and more and more and more and more. And even more.
To some extent, it’s good. Money is an important thing.
However, in a lot of cases I have seen people:
Forgetting to be kind
Being rude to others who are earning less
Not remembering where they came from
Being ruthless about everything and everyone if that doesn’t make them money
Have basically forgot how to have a life
That, my friend, is the ultimate failure.
By no means I am saying you should not make more money or grow further. You absolutely must.
However, money is just one part of the pillar of your life. There are other pillars as well, such as:
Your relationships with others
Your mental and physical health
Your relationship with your own self
When these pillars do not get as much attention, here is what happens:
You start feeling weak (yes)
You get angry often
You think the world owes you something
You are not able to let go of past wounds
You have given up on your hobbies
You sort of stop doing things that gave you joy, because they don’t make money
It happens with most of us, until we realise we need to nurture all pillars of our life.
If we don’t, imbalance is the ultimate outcome.
If we do, little do we know, we end up making more money!
That is the paradox of life. The more you stop chasing the very thing you want, the more that same thing comes back at you, at ease.
So, my friend, try being more present (we all have a scope to, myself included). There is more to life than making money. Money is super important, just like (not more than) health, happiness, peace, hobbies, and making the person in the mirror proud :)
When you live a well rounded life, your money won’t jiggle jiggle, it would fold :)
2 Raw One-Liners
Whenever you are feeling extreme happiness or extreme anger, don’t act.
It is incredible how much you can achieve when you attach a timeline to what you do.
3 Real Gratitudes
I went for a long drive to Bahrisons Bookstore in Vasant Kunj last week. Just a weird way of chilling on the b’day :)
Last night, my two flatmates came to my room, just to chat. Some time later, a flatmate’s Mom also came over, and she questioned her daughter for borrowing so many books from me. “Will you be even reading these?” And then I realised, damn, my parents have never questioned me on reading a book. That my parents are a gem. That we should look around and be grateful for the good things our parents have, and each one of them have something that we wouldn’t trade for, ever.
Nature. It has been raining and the heatwave has fortunately gone away. Enjoy it, while it lasts :)
That is it for this week, ladies and gentlemen :)
Have a great weekend, and week ahead.
Stay raw. Stay real. Stay authentic.
Nishtha
Reads of this week:
I wish to be a kid again |
33 life lessons on 33rd birthday |
Always doubt what everyone believes in |
Whenever you are ready, here are some of my books that would help you:
The Corporate Life Handbook: The book everyone working a corporate job needs :)
The Career Changing Guide: My bestseller so far :)
How to Deal with Heartbreak: Because, life happens :(
Every Writer Needs to Read this: I wish I had this one, when I was starting out as a writer
This is What You are Looking for: Small Life Lessons for a Happier Life