Investing in the butterfly-collective

Somebody: I invest.
Me: Why?
Somebody: So I’ll become financially independent.
Me: Why do you think that is important?
Somebody: Then I can choose to do what I want.
Me: Why is that important?
Somebody: Then I can do the things that give me happiness…
Me: Well, if your ultimate goals is happiness, then you should make that the focus of attention. Before every decision you make in your life, consider if it will increase your happiness instead of your cash stockpile.

This would be a general conversation I have had with many people over the years, trying to point people to their number one priority in life. Now I have come on a crossroad, where I finish my study and will start to get a job. This will put me in the awkward and previously uncharted waters of actually having some money. Now what?

I mean, it is important that I’ll be able to support my family later, take a vacation and generally be able to do the things I really like, and it just doesn’t sound like a smart plan to burn all the incoming cash.

So what to do…I thought about investing. Invest money now and I’ll make interest over it for 40 years. I hardly have any expenditures with my student home, cheap food, and no car etc, So I’ll actually can decide to put some money away and get more in return over the years, so later I’ll be able to have some more freedom in opportunities…

Though something doesn’t really feel right. I don’t like a lot of practises of many corporations, but I do have this money…

Then I had a “wait a minute” moment: 1) if money is not the most important, but the usual suspects as happiness, compassion and wisdom. And 2) smart investment when you’re young, will allow years of “returns on investment”…then I should use my money now wisely so I’ll optimize "world happiness"! Some of the most important rocket boosters of my personal development have been workshops and books, and these types of developmental aides, I will surely benefit from for all my years till the end of time.

So hell with corporations who’s honesty and integrity of their yada yada mission and value statements I don’t believe shit about. And damn, they surely won’t provide the biggest happiness return on investment…So the moment I’ll have some excess money, I’ am going to think about how I can invest it in true world happiness, compassion and wisdom for all, and probably by developing myself into a more compassionate and wise person.

And so I am personally going to increase the capacity for compassion and wisdom growth in the world today! and not wait for 40 years for it. This way I help building the momentum to help the change the world needs NOW. No way, that I am going to invest my money in the imaginary caterpillar cells, I’ll only put money in the imaginary butterfly cell, those are the investments that will have the biggest return on investment, happiness style…

So, anybody know a good workshop…or a got a job for that matter

Jeroen Maes