Keeping Up with the Joneses: The Cost of Comparison

Send us Fan MailIf you are a human being you have heard the phrase “Keeping up with the Joneses”. It is a phrase that has been alive, and used for over a hundred years, since 1913. It was originally from a comic strip(of the same name) about a family trying to match the lifestyle of their rich neighbors. That comic strip has become a cultural reference for the pressure to maintain a certain social status.The idea was simple: No matter how much we had - it never felt like enough if someone else had more.And here we are today…over 100 years later STILL feeling the exact same way, but now it’s not just our “Joneses” (neighbors ) it’s everyone. “Keeping up with Everyone”, we are now comparing what we have,  to what the entire world has.Have you ever noticed how people in general are so comfortable saying they want enough to be Happy. BUT, when it comes to saying they love money & want to be wealthy, they get uncomfortable?Why is it that wanting a lot of money- and saying it out loud, sound so wrong and greedy.It’s okay to want money, and to want more of it.That doesn’t make you greedy. That makes you human.How you relate to money; that’s where everything changes.Greed isn’t just  about loving & wanting more-,Greed is wanting more at any cost:*At the Cost of your time* your relationships* at the cost of your peace of mind..* and most of all: At the cost of your integrity. Meaning you are willing to comprise your values, relationships, or honesty to get it.That’s when it shifts from something “healthy" into Greed.Just to clarify- Greed is the excessive desire, not just for money- but for possessions, power & status.I have learned to think when it comes to spending money.. “is this “worth” my time, and is it going to improve my life?  Remember, everything you buy costs you a piece of your life.Money on its own is neutral.It’s not good . It’s not bad. Money is just a tool. In fact- it does a lot of good:There is research out there to show that as your income increases so does your Emotional Wellbeing.Money actually gives & buys you several things…* it gives  you options*it gives you stress relief* it gives you fewer daily worries* and money buys  you FREEDOM- it gives you control over your time. And having control over your time, that’s a powerful kind of freedom. With this being said, it isn’t just about time, it’s about what comes with freedom, it buys breathing room , less stress, being more present, it buys your health. And we all know, less stress =’s a healthier you.When you remove constant money stress from your life, you actually create a space for happiness. Money doesn’t “buy” happiness, BUT it absolutely buys  relief. And that matters.Nobody is happy all the time- that’s not how life works. Happiness comes and goes. The better saying should be “ Money doesn’t buy happiness- but it does by relief, and relief is powerful”Money can remove stress, pressure, and constant worry.. and that kind of relief shows up in your life every single day. The goal isn’t to keep up with your neighbors- friends or people you don’t even know. Always keep in mind that we are all earning differently- spending differently and living differently- and again, that’s ok.The goal should be to build a life that actually feels good to you!Enjoy!Joanne DemersThe Aging Mask- A Lifestyle Medicine Podcast(949) 236-1529 (text)Follow along on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/theagingmask