Dwight: Aiko, let's delve into the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Money often costs too much."

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Aiko: That's a fascinating quote, Dwight. It suggests that the pursuit of money can come at the expense of our values, relationships, or well-being—what do you think it costs most often?

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Dwight: At its core, it costs happiness. Money is meant to serve happiness, but when we follow beliefs like "no pain, no gain" and "hard work pays off," we endure the process just to enjoy the outcomes that money and its benefits bring.

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Aiko: That’s so true. When the journey becomes a constant sacrifice, it undermines the very happiness money is supposed to support—how do you think we can shift our perspective on this?

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Dwight: Often, our unbalanced pursuit of money is fueled by resisted fear: fear of being judged as not working hard enough, fear of negative comparisons to others, fear of becoming lazy without constant striving, fear that happiness is tied to possessions, and fear of disappointing others who expect us to live up to our potential.

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Aiko: It’s powerful how much fear can dictate our lives without us even realizing it.

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Dwight: The most crucial understanding is that if we’re not enjoying the journey of life, it proves that any benefits we’re gaining are simply not worth it.

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Aiko: That’s such a profound truth. If the process itself doesn’t bring joy, how can the destination truly satisfy?

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Dwight: The next step is to consciously re-prioritize the overall design of our life, placing the flow and enjoyment of the process above achieving results, even the result of acquiring more money.

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Aiko: That’s a wise approach. Do you think we’re conditioned to put results first, and how do you see us breaking away from that mindset?

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Dwight: Yes, we've all been taught to put results first and even take pride in the process being hard.

 

The third step is adopting a daily planning practice where you underpromise on tasks and even include extra buffer time as a cushion.

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Aiko: I love the idea of planning with ease in mind. 

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Dwight: Even with underpromising and adding buffer time, you might still take on tasks you don’t enjoy doing, at least in the way you currently approach them. It’s crucial to find ways to eliminate, minimize, or hedonize these tasks.

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Aiko: That’s a game-changer, Dwight. 

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Dwight: Lastly, it’s essential to address what might be the most significant issue: do you truly love your job?

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Aiko: That’s a big question, and it touches the core of our daily satisfaction. If the answer is no, what do you think holds someone back from seeking a job they’d love?

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Dwight: Prioritizing making money over enjoying our work is one of humanity’s greatest mistakes.

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Aiko: That’s such a profound insight.

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Dwight: While not always the case, when we focus on finding enjoyable work for this stage of life and minimize our expenses to make it easier, we often improve at that work over time, and more money tends to follow naturally.

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Aiko: That makes so much sense. 

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Dwight: Even if the work we love doesn’t pay much, prioritizing happiness allows us to adapt to living frugally and still feel content.

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Aiko: Exactly. When happiness is the priority, we will naturally find creative ways to make a fulfilling life work within our means.

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Dwight: Thank you, Ralph! "Money often costs too much." Let’s not accept that raw deal.

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Aiko: Perfectly said, Dwight. It’s a reminder to choose wisely and value what truly matters over fleeting gains.