The things people value in this world are all subjective based on their personal beliefs, opinions and preferences. What’s fascinating about this is that whatever is valued ultimately leads a person to become who they’re destined to be. So if you only value positive things you will turn out to be a positive-thinking person. Conversely, if you only value garbage you just might turn out to be trash. So, do you value the right things?
Assets versus Liabilities
In business, an asset is simply something you do or possess that brings you income; a liability on the other hand is simply an expense that depletes from what you have saved or can put you into debt. Naturally people will seek to obtain as many assets in their lives as possible. However, many people easily misunderstand what an asset is versus a liability.
For instance, a car, mortgage and children are all liabilities, yet many people view these as assets because it gives them comfort and peace of mind. It also fuels their beliefs that these things bring tangible profits into their lives. But these same people would see investing in stocks or having a business as a liability because of the risk involved; they never realize how easily that they can turn these so-called liabilities into assets. Based on the latter, a lot of what people place value in can seamlessly be questioned.
Examples of “valueless assets”
A man would see a beautiful woman and to him she looks like a 10 out of 10. He thinks that her looks are definitely an asset, so he chases after her. He eventually marries her then a few years later they have a divorce and she takes 75% of what he owned. From day one, the woman had been a liability but the man refused to see it.
Likewise, a woman may see an attractive man wearing fine and expensive clothing who reeks of confidence; they get married and later on in the relationship he ends up consistently abusing her and steals everything she owns. Just another example of a clear-cut liability that many people miss.
Recognizing true value
Now when all of the above is studied the first thing that may come to people’s minds is, “So what? Life is all about risk.” And once again this goes back to their value systems. They will continue to value the same things, if for no other reason, because they believe these things are valuable and will make them content.
Maybe so, but what’s being said here overall isn’t about taking risks to obtain the things that make you feel happy and are seemingly an asset to you. It’s about recognizing the fact that whatever you value can actually be meaningless or may never actually be a real asset; you may have just always thought it’s been an asset so you may relentlessly continue to value it. And you may continue to value these things whether or not you grasp that you should probably place more of your focus elsewhere.
You get what you pay for
At the end of the day, no one has the right to tell you what you should or should not value in life. After all, you are your own person and you are at liberty to make your own choices. But the freedom to value whatever you desire also comes at a price. You must live with the consequences that stem from chasing the things you value most.
If you value beauty more than brains, don’t complain if you end up with a pretty, dumb blonde; if you value money more than friends, don’t whine if you end up with all the money in the world yet completely alone; and if you value misery more than happiness, don’t expect the world to ever put a smile on your face. When it comes to value, you usually get what you are willing to pay for. Yet the question will always remain: are you valuing the right things? And still, there will always be an answer that only you can give.
