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?
For insight into prosperity: Personal Prosperity Insight or Personal Well-Being
Physical Prosperity
Basic Physical Needs
To have water to drink, shower and plumbing. To have clothing that is seasonal, appropriate for job and for kids going to school. To have housing or shelter with heat and air conditioning. To have 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
A steady regular 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. To be in an industry and/or have jobs skills that expect to be in demand in the future.
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, retirement, a goal or to become financially secure.
Financial Wealth
A good amount of savings or equity to ensure an economic safety net and confidence in a desired future lifestyle.
Reputation/Network
A good personal reputation (trust, credibility, competence) that enables you to accomplish goals and desired dreams or goals. The desired network of people such as family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby), community (neighborhood) and/or online (Facebook, Linkedin, etc.).
Intrinsic Prosperity
Purpose
It is feeling of having purpose with family & friends, career or school, passion (church, hobby), community (neighborhood)and/or online (Facebook, Twitter, etc.).
Connected & Loved
Quality interpersonal relationships, feelings of belonging and loved. 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 dreams, desires and/or make changes within life such as with 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. Happy with accomplishments, personal achievements (i.e., running a marathon), completing things, putting things behind, overcoming challenges and helping others (giving blood). Pride in who you are, what you have, choices made, actions taken and the people you have around you.
Confidence
Confident that you belong and are worthy, in abilities to 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.
Community 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.).
Community 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).
Community Economic
Free market based economy that is reasonably regulated. Entrepreneurial environment that welcomes new ideas and ventures. Low corruption and a fair chance.
Community Cultural
Diversity and respect for many difference cultures. Diversity of ethnic restaurants, festivals and espressions of culture. Rich art, theater, music, etc.
