Prosperity

Wouldn’t life be easier if we knew what we wanted? Are we too busy to figure it out? Do you value intrinsic prosperity (friendships, purpose, control, accomplishment and pride) more than extrinsic (wealth, possessions, income, personal reputation and network)? It’s an everyday dilemma for many of us. It may be deciding whether to stay at an unfulfilling job (intrinsic) with a secure steady paycheck (extrinsic). It could be weighing retirement to pursue a passion (intrinsic) or to keep building the retirement fund (extrinsic). Parents are challenged every day with finding balance between kids and family (intrinsic) and career and income (extrinsic). Can we afford to wait till we are 89 years old like Fauja Singh?

Physical Prosperity

Basic Physical Needs

Water to drink, shower and plumbing. Clothing that is seasonal, appropriate for job and for kids going to school. Housing or shelter with heat and air conditioning. Food to stay nourished.

Time

Able to see family and friends and spend quality time. Able to get away to see a doctor, personal business or kid event. Do not need to work 50+ hours to make ends meet. Time to achieve purpose, pursue passion or other desired activities.

Health

Health and access and means to get medicine and quality healthcare. Means to afford health food. Ability to be physically active with family, career, passion or other desired activities.

Support

Moral, physical and emotional support from family, friends and/or care givers. Someone to call when car is broken or to pick up your kids when delayed.

Safety

Feel safe (about physical harm and harassment) at home, neighborhood, workplace and children at school. Personal security, safety net for accidents, illness or other adverse advents

Extrinsic Prosperity

Weekly Paycheck

Steady income from a job, business, retirement fund or unemployment.

Career Path

Have a secure job or business that requires your skills and/or education level. The ability to get a similar job quickly and/or opportunity for promotion soon.

Economic Lifestyle

An income stream that supports a comfortable and/or desired economic lifestyle. A reasonable level of debt. Low or no stress for fear of an event that could trigger major changes.

Physical Possessions

The desired home, home furnishings, automobile, clothing, electronics, etc. to achieve a quality lifestyle.

Annual Savings

A good percentage of income each year is going toward saving for a house, child's education and/or retirement.

Financial Wealth

A good amount of savings or equity to ensure an economic safety net and confidence in a desired future lifestyle.

Personal Reputation/Network

A good personal reputation (trust, credibility, competence) that enables you to accomplish goals and desired dreams or goals. The desired with family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby), community (neighborhood) and/or online (Facebook, Linkedin, etc.).

Intrinsic Prosperity

Purpose

The feeeling of a sense of purpose with family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby), community (neighborhood)and/or online (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).

Connected and Loved

Quality interpersonal relationships, feelings of belonging and love. This includes with partner (intimacy), family, friends, colleagues (or classmates), community or with people involved in common activities.

Control

The feeling and ability to have control over aspects of life. A healthy balance of being committed to people and ability to control your life with respect to family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby) and community (neighborhood).

Opportunity

The opportunity to pursue and fulfill your dreams, desires and/or make changes within your family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby) and community (neighborhood).

Competence/Competitive Success

Competitive success - winning, meeting and overcoming challenges, achieving high performance. Competence - Desired levels of knowledge, people skills, empathy (ability to relate and understand others), wisdom, creativity and enduring grit (perseverance).

Accomplishment/Pride

Feeling good about where you are in life. You may not be content (still have big goals), though feel good about things thus far. Happy with sense of accomplishment, personal achievement (i.e., running a marathon), completing things, putting things behind, overcoming challenges, volunteering (giving blood). Pride in who you are, choices made, actions taken, what you have and the people you have around you.

Confidence

Confident that you belong and worthy. Confident that you can make changes, successfully achieve goals and dreams.

Community Prosperity

Freedom & Privacy

Protection of individual rights and freedoms. Democratically elected government. The ability to keep aspects of life private. Respect for religion and political views and the ability to express views no matter what they are.

Safety

Quality homeland security (national defense and law enforcement), local emergence services (fire, ambulance) and justice against people that cause you harm (harassment, steal, etc.).

Resources

Natural (parks, clean air and water), Energy (oil, natural gas, solar, wind), Infrastructure (highways, internet, wireless, power grid, airports), safe and reliable products (medicine, cars, food), quality services (doctors & hospitals, education and government).

Economic

Free market based economy that is reasonably regulated. Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes new ideas and ventures. Low corruption and a fair chance.

Cultural

Diversity and respect for many difference cultures. Diversity of ethnic restaurants, festivals and espressions of culture. Rich art, theater, music, etc.