Money is an essential tool that promises you and your family a safe and comfortable life. Earning money also allows you to contribute to the community. So, earning fair wages for your work and time is important.
Instead of being satisfied with what we are given, waves of greed drive our mind to chase a higher salary. In our desire to draw fat paychecks we forget the ultimate giver, Waheguru. Chasing money by ignoring other tangible aspects of healthy working life is inane and self-detrimental. Here are some other reasons to not be greedy about your compensation, and ways to be content.
You will never know what is enough.
It’s not surprising to find someone negotiating aggressively to earn the salary he or she desires but then quickly feeling insufficient and yearning for more. This is because the mind is greedy and it doesn’t always know how much enough is actually enough. The relentless chase is similar to dogs chasing a car.
ਏਹੁ ਮਨੋ ਮੂਰਖੁ ਲੋਭੀਆ ਲੋਭੇ ਲਗਾ ਲੋੁਭਾਨੁ ॥
This foolish mind is greedy; through greed, it becomes even more attached to greed.
ਅੰਤਰਿ ਲੋਭੁ ਫਿਰਹਿ ਹਲਕਾਏ ॥
Within them is greed, and they wander around like mad dogs.
Love for learning is the key.
Doing something that you enjoy will manifest in the form of higher productivity and quality, motivation to find solutions to complex problems, and learning about new areas of your field. These traits automatically result in faster promotions, higher salary, positive feedback, new opportunities, and general happiness in life. In today’s world, when technology is disrupting every industry, there’s considerable value in honing your craft, to the point where you won’t need to chase money. It’ll gravitate to you because of the value you’re able to provide.
Numbers don’t tell the complete story.
Widely cited research published in 2010 has shown that happiness plateaus at an annual salary of $75,000 ($90,000 in today’s dollars), making little difference in one’s emotional well-being beyond that. It is definitely important to be paid a fair wage for your services but other things that create a holistic and satisfying work experience include an open-minded boss, a schedule and commute that won’t drive you crazy, a sense that what you do matters, and a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion.
Waheguru is the ultimate giver
A Gursikh is always thankful to Waheguru for the opportunity to serve, whether it is professional work or Sewa in the local gurdwara. The Gursikh performs his or her work with the intention of serving the ultimate giver, Waheguru. Constant remembrance of Waheguru keeps the Gursikh insulated from terrifying winds of greed. Everyday do simran, and the mind will automatically become pure and get rid of greed.
ਚਾਕਰੁ ਲਗੈ ਚਾਕਰੀ ਜੇ ਚਲੈ ਖਸਮੈ ਭਾਇ ॥
If a servant, performing service, obeys the Will of his Master,
ਹੁਰਮਤਿ ਤਿਸ ਨੋ ਅਗਲੀ ਓਹੁ ਵਜਹੁ ਭਿ ਦੂਣਾ ਖਾਇ ॥
his honor increases and he receives double his wages.