Is money making you miserable?
What chasing riches really reveals about you...
Introduction: The Pursuit of Financial Freedom
Financial freedom is one of the most sought-after goals in modern society. We spend our lives chasing it, believing that if we can just achieve financial independence, we will finally be happy, content, and fulfilled. But what if I told you that financial freedom alone is not enough? What if the true wealth we seek is not just in our bank accounts, but in our connection to purpose, meaning, and abundance in all areas of life?
In this article, we’re going to explore why financial freedom is just the beginning and how aligning your wealth with your purpose can lead to a life of true abundance—one filled with connection, health, passion, and fulfillment.
The Real Meaning of Abundance
When most people think of abundance, they think of money. But abundance is so much broader than that. It’s about having an abundance of health, an abundance of meaningful connections, an abundance of passion, and most importantly, an abundance of purpose. True wealth is multi-dimensional; it’s about thriving in every area of your life, not just financially.
The Next Level Human understands that wealth without purpose is hollow. It’s like building a mansion on a foundation of sand. Sure, it might look impressive from the outside, but when the storms of life hit—when challenges, loss, or crises occur—it crumbles. Purpose, on the other hand, is the bedrock. It’s the foundation that supports not just financial success, but a life rich in every sense of the word.
The Drives: Power, Popularity, Pleasure, and Purpose
Let’s talk about the different drives that influence our pursuit of wealth and success. At the Base Level, there’s the drive for power—the desire to control, dominate, and feel secure. This drive, when unchecked, leads to a relentless pursuit of wealth for wealth’s sake, often at the expense of relationships, health, and integrity.
At the Culture Level, we encounter the drive for popularity—the need to be seen, validated, and admired. This drive pushes us to chase status symbols, luxury lifestyles, and social recognition. It’s why we might buy that expensive car or designer clothing—not because we need them, but because we want others to see us as successful.
Then there’s the drive for pleasure—the pursuit of enjoyment, comfort, and entertainment. This drive isn’t inherently wrong, but when it becomes the primary focus, it can lead to fleeting satisfaction that leaves us constantly searching for the next thrill, the next purchase, the next high.
Finally, there’s the drive for purpose—the desire to make a meaningful impact, to contribute to something larger than ourselves. This is the drive of the Next Level Human. It’s not about accumulating wealth or status; it’s about using our resources, skills, and passions to fulfill our unique purpose in the world. When the drives for power, popularity, and pleasure are in service of purpose, they remain in check and contribute to a balanced, fulfilling life.
The Difference Between Passion, Meaning, and Purpose
Many people confuse passion with purpose, thinking that if they follow their passions, they will find their purpose. But passion, while important, is just the spark—it’s fun, exciting, and makes life interesting, but it’s also fleeting and fickle. Think about the passions you had when you were 18 years old—how many of those are still with you today?
Passion can evolve into meaning, which is a deeper, more enduring sense of fulfillment. Meaning comes from our relationships, our work, and our experiences. Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and psychologist, famously said that meaning can be found in our love for others, in the work we do, or in the beauty we experience in life. But here’s the thing: meaning is something we receive from the world, and it’s not something we can own. It’s on loan—people can leave, jobs can end, and sunsets fade.
This is why your children, your job, or even your passions can’t be your purpose. They are sources of meaning, yes, and any good life requires meaning, but they are not the same as purpose. Purpose is something we create and generate within ourselves. It’s the unique contribution we make to the world, flowing from us outwards. While passion and meaning are things we get from the world, purpose is what we give to the world.
Purpose: The Source of Fulfillment and Joy
Purpose brings something that passion and meaning cannot: fulfillment and joy. While meaning brings happiness and contentment, and passion brings fun and entertainment, purpose is the only thing we can truly own. It’s the source of a deep, abiding sense of satisfaction and pride in who we are and how we live.
Here’s the crucial difference: happiness and contentment are wonderful, but they are conditional. You can lose a loved one, and in that place of grief, happiness and contentment are impossible to generate. But if you have a strong sense of purpose, you can still experience fulfillment and joy, even in the midst of grief. Fulfillment can coexist with pain and loss because it’s rooted in who you are and what you contribute to the world. It’s the quintessential, most powerful emotion because it’s unshakeable—it stands strong even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
Aligning Your Finances with Your Purpose
So how do we bring all of this together? How do we align our financial pursuits with our purpose, rather than just chasing money for its own sake?
The first step is to recognize the difference between your job and your work. Your job is how you make money, but your work is how you make a difference. For most people, their job finances their purpose. Few are fortunate enough to have their job and their work be the same thing. But the premise is this: when your financial pursuits are purpose-oriented, and come from a Next Level Human perspective rather than a Base or Culture Level, how you earn, save, and manage your money takes on an entirely different meaning.
When your finances are aligned with your purpose, every dollar you earn becomes a tool for furthering your mission. You’re not just accumulating wealth—you’re building the resources you need to fulfill your unique contribution to the world. Your investments aren’t just about returns—they’re about funding the life you’re meant to live. Your spending isn’t just about satisfying desires—it’s about fueling your passions and supporting the people and causes that matter to you.
Conclusion: The Path to True Wealth
The path to true wealth isn’t just about financial freedom—it’s about aligning your wealth with your purpose. It’s about understanding that money is a means, not an end, and that the true measure of your success is not the size of your bank account, but the impact you make in the world.
When you start aligning your finances with your purpose, you begin to see that every dollar has a greater significance. Your income becomes a tool for fulfilling your mission. Your investments are not just about financial returns—they’re about funding the life you’re meant to live. Your spending choices aren’t just about immediate gratification—they’re about supporting your growth, passions, and the people and causes that matter to you.
True wealth is abundance in every sense—an abundance of health, meaningful connections, passion, fulfillment, and purpose. It’s about creating a life that is not only financially secure but also rich in experiences, relationships, and contributions that matter.
If you’re ready to start aligning your finances with your purpose, here are some questions to guide you:
What is my unique contribution to the world?
How can I use my resources, skills, and passions to fulfill that purpose?
How can I ensure that my financial decisions support my mission, rather than distract from it?
In the end, the pursuit of financial freedom is really the pursuit of a life of abundance. And that abundance is found not just in what you accumulate, but in what you give—how you live your purpose and contribute to the world. By aligning your wealth with your purpose, you step into your power as a Next Level Human, living a life of true fulfillment, joy, and impact.
Want help living a life of true abundance? We invite you to enroll in Next Level Human Coaching.
Want to help people live a life of true authentic abundance? We invite you to become a Human Coach with Next Level Human.