Wellbeing Versus Wealth – A Balance [ Business : ]
Yesterday I posted a Blog ‘Wellbeing Versus Wealth’ and quoted David Cameron’s Speech. Here is a brief introduction to it……
(see yesterday’s Blog for the rest of the speech)
‘The central political challenge of our times.”
DAVID CAMERON will tell business leaders today that there is “more to life than money” as he attempts to make a clean break with Thatcherism.
He will tell business leaders that “general wellbeing” is more important than personal wealth and will list beautiful surroundings, culture and better relationships as society’s new goals’
As a result of this indepth reply from Amanda Vlahakis post, I have responded to her views and here are some of my answers
Amanda said ‘No one is raising the children any more because the government has got everyone chasing money instead.Other Europeans don’t work so hard, so why is it that we are finding that we have to work so hard? Why do they have the time to ‘live’ and ‘contribute’ more than just money to the world, and we do not? There must be another way and when we aren’t working we should be nurturing our children (who are the fabric of the society of the future) and being better citizens ourselves within our own communities.How can we do any of that at the moment, we don’t have any time?’
Madeleine Bunting’s Book called ‘ Willing Slaves’ describes how the Overwork Culture is ruling our lives in Britain.
Wealth – Obviously, most people equate having more money with feeling better, since more money means more luxuries,
more time for recreation, leisure, holidays. More money means a better quality of life, Because of our in-built quest for progress, by which I mean ‘bigger, better, more’, we have an unavoidable desire to increase our quality of life, and the best way to do that in the world today is by earning more money.
There is a constant battle to adapt and survive, anyone who is content to sit back and relax face being odd or left behind even?
It is this fundamental desire for a higher quality of life, this in-built desire for progress which never goes away, even with progress. People will always want more, even if they have all they need to live comfortably. When your wealthier your then faced with how should we invest the money? This current economic climate has blasted that plan well and truly out of the water.
Franck Peters wrote ‘Wellbeing, like Charity, begins at home. It is down to the individual, no government can help. The greatest influence starts at home and maybe in local councils, committee work. If you look at the transition town scene, then, those are good signs and good steps – with clever marketing when these towns are mentioned in popular programs such as the Archers so that the message begins to spread. I don’t remember, even from a perspective of looking at the UK from the outside, any mention of a national government.
Only when this has established at a grass roots level, will politicians on a national level begin to listen – because they fear loss of votes and with that, loss of power’
Governments fear the loss of votes? And for me seeing desperate young ‘failed’ teenagers, worn out mums and dads and several stressed out executives on a daily basis, the reality of this quest for ‘better and bigger’ is all too real.
Wellbeing – ‘being at one with Nature’ is for us to want foremost……..
Please add your comments if you have a different dimension or perception?
What does Wellbeing mean to you? What does Wealth mean to you? Can we balance both Wellbeing and Wealth?
These are timely questions.
Thanks, Carolyn
Lifestyle Online Blog
Must dash!
Cheers, Carolyn
He politely tells the young fan, he was not a player and then turns around to get his photo taken with James Hook (for those who don’t know him – he alternates with Stephen Jones as fly half for Wales 
Carolyn
