A new Mercedes-Benz… Riding first class on Jet Blue… Countless martinis on the beach…
If I were to ask you, “What does luxury mean to you?” How would you respond? What would be the first thing that would come to mind? A never ending sea of wealth? A mansion over flooding with maids that come running at your every beck and call?
Think about it for a moment. What does luxury mean to you?
Now think about this: Luxury is often mistaken for having money. You needn’t own a single penny. Fancy clothes and expensive meals are examples of comforts, not luxury. To do what you want, how you want, and when you want without the restraints of fear is luxury.
Is that what you pictured luxury to be? Jean Cocteau, French poet and novelist, advocates this when he states, “You have comfort. You don’t have luxury. And don’t tell me that money plays a part. The luxury I advocate has nothing to do with money. It cannot be bought. It is the reward of those who have no fear of discomfort.”
Sure, luxury may include all those material wants and desires you have. But it also involves freedom. Freedom to escape fear so that you can live a luxurious life. Does this life have to involve material things? No. Luxury is whatever excites you. Fills you to the core. Luxury is your ideal life. A family-oriented mother living in a medium-sized house who works from home just so that she can be near her kids every day lives a luxurious life. Why? Because being near her children so often fills her with joy. It’s what she wants to do. Therefore, she has luxury.
Luxury is the life you want to live. If you live in a mansion and absolutely cherish the life you live, fine. You have a luxurious life. But if you live in a mansion, with everything you could ever wish for, but absolutely hate everything about it for whatever reason, then your life is not luxurious. Something is holding you back from enjoying your life. After all, what are material things if you can’t enjoy them?
The next time you start envying someone else who seems to have everything she could ever want, look again. She might not be living a luxurious life.
I have a homework assignment for you. Take a look at your life as it is now. Get out a piece of paper or notebook and jot down everything that truly excites you about your life in list format. What do you look forward to when you wake up each morning? What do you absolutely enjoy doing day after day? Jot it all down.
Then, jot down everything that you dislike in your life. Try listing things or events that you have to deal with on a regular basis. What’s holding you back? What would you change? Is there something you especially hate?
Now, look at both lists. Which list is longer? If it’s the second one, you aren’t living a luxurious life. Try thinking up ways you could make your life better. Could you maybe quit your job and find something more suitable for your needs? Work less so that you can spend more time with family or special hobbies that you like to do? Jot down everything that could be improved and the deadline for each improvement. Make sure you stick to that deadline, though, and start taking action immediately so that you can achieve the ultimate bliss, a luxurious life. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Hell, don’t wait until tonight.
Tags: Luxury
I've been making money with my writing since 2008. With this income, I'm able to travel the world, indulge in my hobbies, and govern my own life. And the best thing is, I love every second of it!
Hillary Bost (1)
I LOVE that Jean Cocteau quote!
It shines a unique perspective onto this concept called luxury.
One guy who I immensely respect, Michael Masterson, the driving force behind the juggernaut information marketing company, Agora Publishing, put out a little guide called, “Living Rich: My personal guide to having a multi-millionaire’s lifestyle on a normal budget”.
The underlying premise of this guide is to show you that have luxurious experiences in your life, you don’t have to blow all your money.
He shows you all kind of ways to indulge in your preferences for fine quality without being a dummy about it.
I CAN NOT RECOMMEND THIS GUIDE HIGHLY ENOUGH!
Thanks Christina for reminding me to go through it again.
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Haha, I love it too! When they hear the word “luxury,” most people think money – fancy clothes, constant vacations, nice cars – and they completely miss the whole point of a truly fulfilling life – to do what makes them happy. Life is all about the relationships you build and the memories you share with the people you love and cherish; the things you can buy are trivial compared to the true benefits of forming a tight relationship with someone else or spending time with the people who matter most.
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll have to check that guide out.
Christina