Are You Living Or Are You Surviving?
Although this website is dedicated to writing about all things finance, we do like to venture off. However, one thing we enjoy writing about is life. Life as a whole and varying perspectives. In this article, I am going to give my take on the difference between living and surviving. Once this is done, I hope that you, the reader, are able to take a look at your life and find out which one you’re doing. Furthermore, it is our intention to help you transition from one state to the next. Therefore, we will discuss the differences between living and surviving. Lastly, we will go over the method that some people may go through in order to achieve their end goal.
Surviving
Many people may think that these two words are synonymous. However, in this instance, they are not. In my opinion, most people are surviving. However, this is only based on personal experiences. There are many aspects that one needs to consider when deciding whether they’re surviving or living. One of the aspects that one must consider is finance. Having your finances in order is a huge factor for stress and living life to the fullest.
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this can be considered one contributing factor towards surviving. However, how much money is enough? Everyone has different lifestyles. Furthermore, there are many people who’re completely content with living paycheck to paycheck. This means you can still be living your absolute best life without an abundance of money.
The other half to the coin of surviving is your mental state and how you view life. Depression is a huge reason why people aren’t living their life the way they want. There are many factors that can cause depression such as finances or doing poorly in school.
According to the government of Canada, 1 in 3 Canadians will be affected by mental illness during their lifetime. Therefore, surviving, when we talk about it, is more than just financial stability. However, an unfulfilled lifestyle is the other half to the coin. You can have one without the other. However, the lack of one can cause a discrepancy in the other. Therefore, having a fulfilled and stable life is the most optimal.
Surviving means living paycheck to paycheck with an unfulfilled lifestyle. It means that you’re just getting by for the moment with hopes that you’ll be in a position where you’re satisfied. This can mean making more money, getting married, solving family issues, workplace issues or getting over an illness that you struggle with. The point for most of us who aren’t lucky is to survive until we can live.
Related Articles
- 4 High-Return P2P Lending Platforms For Canadian Investors
- Can Money Truly Buy Happiness?
- Highest Paying Trade Jobs In Canada
Living
Living, in my opinion, is the end destination. It’s the point in life that you get to and can say you’re truly happy. This means you have enough money, can go on vacation without them being an escape from your life or maybe are in love. One thing I’ve learned is that some people can be extremely happy without any money, all they need are the little things. I’ve met a few people in my life that could care less for money, all they want to do is see the world.
Most people survive until they can live. Entrepreneurs do this as well. They’ll work a dead-end or part-time job to save up enough money to fund their business endeavors. However, this can feel draining and be a cause for discouragement. Discipline is a hard thing to develop and there are those who’ll work a job, give up on their dream or passion and succumb to their job. This is common in sales jobs.
One of my seniors in a sales job I had expressed to me that he only started as part-time. However, he found that he was earning enough money to fund his life which made him complacent. The shocking part to me was that he was not happy. He was surviving. He wasn’t earning enough money and felt like his passion was too far from his grasp. This is what most people should avoid at all costs.
Having everything you want in life means something different for me than it would for you. Therefore, I implore anyone reading this to start a checklist.
The Method To The Madness
With all madness, there is am method. Therefore, what is the method of transitioning from surviving to living? Well, this is where the checklist comes in. This checklist is going to be a road map to success. Although, most plans don’t go exactly as planned. However, it will be used to guide you in the right direction.
On your checklist, you’re going to have a list of things that you want to have in your life right now. Don’t just think money-wise. Think of emotionally, relationships, health, short-term, long-term. You will basically be taking a deep dive into your life. Once you’ve discovered what you’re missing, it’s time to devise a plan of execution. Figure out which one is the most important. However, solving the quickest ones work as well.
Example
Let’s start with a financial example. You decide you want to become an entrepreneur. However, you’ve simultaneously decided school isn’t for you. Despite what people say, there is nothing wrong with that. However, you need to earn some sort of income. Therefore, your first step is to find a job. This job needs to be one that you can tolerate and earns you enough money to do three things.
First, survive and pay your monthly expenses. Second, you need to be able to save a little bit every paycheck. Lastly, the money you earn needs to fund your business venture. Living paycheck to paycheck until there is a big payoff is the epitome of surviving until your business takes off and you can start living.
The next example can be for your health. As discussed in our article about vegan diets, people take health seriously. Foods are becoming less processed, environmentally friendly and catered towards a different lifestyle. There is no need to go cold turkey on foods you like. However, the goal is to slowly integrate healthier eating habits into your diet.
Conclusion
Surviving, for many people, is what you must go through in order to live your life to the fullest extent. Sometimes just getting by is enough. However, it is important to always have an end goal in mind. However, living your life to the fullest extent can be found in a way other than having an abundance of money. Only you will know what you need in order to truly become happy. Therefore, create a plan and execute it. Once you’re living, your perspective will change and you’ll most likely see life from a different perspective.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If mental health is whats stopping you, you’re not alone and there are resources that can help you. If money is what’s stopping you, create a business or start a side hustle. Traveling is your thing? Start saving and get a travel rewards credit card to fast track the progress on purchasing trips. As I’ve said, everyone is different. Therefore, it’s up to you to find out what truly makes you feel alive.
Shameed is just a man on a mission to help those around him gain financial success. Obsessed with writing about all things finance, this GTA native is constantly learning and sharing his experiences with others.
