The biggest raise I ever got was not actually a raise in pay it was a raise in time. It started with the realization of the value of time. When I started to think in terms of how much time something cost me I wasn't as quick to spend my hard earned cash. This is part of what led me to wanting less altogether, along with less to take care of. I've also learned that happiness is unrelated to wealth or material possessions.
Let me explain…
In wanting less and being satisfied with less I've gained much more than a raise in pay could have ever given me.
Things like:
A new mindset
Peace
Less work
More time
A chance to relax
Being able to be more observant
Freedom
Creativity
Most likely if you live in North American you don't actually need a raise, more money won't make you happy. Sure, maybe for a short time, you'll be able to buy more things, but the high from that doesn't last. Being satisfied and appreciative of everything you have, no matter how little or how much is so much better than anything money could ever buy.
In our society we do need money. It's the way the world around us works. If you can figure out a way around this, I'd love to hear it. So far, I haven't figured that out yet. We do need some type of income in order to actually live here, but you don't have to try and keep with everyone else or make more than other's around you. Your value as a person and your happiness is unrelated to how much you make. Our society values money. You don't have to in the same sense.
At a past job I worked a lot with the wealthy. People living in million dollar homes. People with second or third homes. Owners and CEOs of large corporations. Some of them very nice people. What I noticed is that it didn't matter how much they had, they weren't any happier than anyone else. In some cases they were more uptight and more controlling and more protective of their stuff. They weren't any "freer" with their money. They still wanted a good deal on everything. They wanted to pay the least they could for everything. Working with these people taught me something super important. It doesn't matter how much money you have, once your basic (and I mean basic) needs are met, your happiness is unrelated.
Once I made this realization and changed my focus and mindset I had given myself the "raise" of a lifetime. The best raise you can give yourself. Not only are you more satisfied and happier, there's so much less pressure to keep up. There's less work. There's more time to do the things you actually want to do. There's a sense of peace that money just can't buy.
Why not give yourself a raise today, start focusing on wanting less. Needing less whether it's processions or space means you could save more money. Needing less money may mean gaining more time. Time is limited and so valuable. You already have it, it doesn’t cost you anything. Choosing how to spend it is your life. Think about that and spend it wisely.
Seriously, really think about it: Choosing how to spend your time, becomes your life. Do you really want to spend your life working so you can buy stuff that will eventually rot away? Is there something else you'd rather be doing with your time?
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