Have you also been wondering if you can retire early, work flexible hours to do what you love or slow down to give time to your health? Perhaps you’re thinking about spending more time with family but feeling uncertain about how to manage your bills. The quest for balance between financial security and living a life filled with meaning can feel overwhelming.
I’ve come across various formulas about how much money you need to feel truly secure. And about how to choose a lifestyle that lets you do what you love without draining your savings. There is no one-size-fits all solution, and no “magic formula” that guarantees peace of mind.
However, some stories stay with me, constantly reminding me to question my own ideas of what makes a good life. One such story is Lord Ganesha’s encounter with Kubera, as shared by Devdutt Pattanaik.
Kubera, the god of wealth, once visited Kailash to meet Lord Shiva, the hermit god. He looked at Shiva’s pot-bellied, elephant-headed son, Ganesha. He wondered how a recluse will be able to feed a child with such enormous appetite. As a favor to Lord Shiva, he invited Lord Ganesha to his home for a grand meal. He said, “Your father may not be able to meet your appetite. Whereas I have all the wealth in the world. Today you can eat as much as you like and satisfy your hunger”.
Ganesha starts eating and finishes everything in Kubera’s kitchen. They buy more food from the market. But Ganesha’s hunger was insatiable. Kubera had to sell all his wealth, yet it was still not enough.
Realizing his folly, Kubera fell at Ganesha’s feet. Ganesha smiled and said “You thought more food will satisfy hunger? While you seek to provide more, my father seeks to reduce hunger.”
Our current thinking around financial security often mirrors Kubera’s plight – the more we acquire, the more we seem to need. It is hard to keep up with that line of thinking. Adding more wood to a burning fire only increases the fire. You need water to extinguish fire. Like Ganesha’s message to Kubera, true peace comes not from having more, but wanting less.
Your reflections: What are some practices you have found effective in creating a meaningful life while also earning a livelihood?
The Sabad Project - Wisdom stories 
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