Funny, even though I’m accepting short-sale offers on a rental property, it doesn’t occur to me as “financial failure.” I guess it did occur to me as an “investment failure.” I thought I would sell this year and walk away with $30k or $40k in my pocket, but instead, the home is worth $40k less than I owe on it now. After a lot of successes, it was a bit of a shock to be in this situation and definitely uncomfortable.

But “failure” is essentially the interpretation or label we give to something, it’s our “story” about it. We can just as easily view something as a “learning experience.” Yes, the numbers on the paper missed their mark in a huge, huge way. As an investment, it is a “failure,” and a lot of homeowners are going through this same “learning experience” right now, as well as a lot of lenders.

The experience has taught me to look at what the “learning” might be for me. The lessons are many, some of which were in this post. But a key one for me (who has had “the Midas touch” for years), was compassion for people going through hard times. I truly realize now that it can happen to anyone, and have noticed that financial failure of some form another is something many of my mentors have in common. (Hmmm… maybe that’s how they got to be “mentors.”)

Thanks Lydia. This article seems to have “struck a chord” with many. A lot of people are in financial pain right now, and situations they never thought they’d be in.

(I can relate! Right now I’m trying to short-sale a rental house which lost so much value it is now a complete liability and no longer an asset.)

Fortunately, these situations are only temporary, unless we “identify” with them and let them define us.

Regarding career, we aren’t what we do, and yet, we are most empowered when we can find a way to DO the thing that we ARE – i.e., to express our mission, our talents, and our desires through a career that aligns with our “calling.” A true vocation, not just a “job.”

When we have a job or a business that does not express who we are and our mission, it is especially important to not let that become our identity. And even when our work does align with who we are, we get to remember that “who we are” can grow, change, and expand, and is not limited or defined by our work.

Thank you for this encouraging article. I will pass it on to my husband.

Thank-you Susan! Yes, happiness and financial wealth are only indirectly connected, and money can’t buy love, just like John and Paul sang. However, we do need money to live in modern society, and we need to be self-aware of what makes us happy so that money can “serve” our ultimate mission, purpose and happiness in the best way. (And I agree with Chellie Campbell, who says that since we are spiriual beings having a physical experience, she would like to succeed and progress on both planes!)

Funny, I usually crave being with people and going to services on Easter, but writing this was my Easter activity, one I carried out with joy as it unfolded.
Kate

Thanks Nancy! It inspires me, too, the whole idea that there is something valuable and even freeing about our hard times. I put one of the sunset pictures on my computer desktop to remind me!