Money, power or respect - what do you desire the most?

By Behiver | behiver | 11 Apr 2023

As I was watching a drama and crime TV series entitled The Company You Keep, one thing stuck into my head from the last episode on it - people are pursuing in life one of three things: money, power or respect. This got me thinking and it might be right that we are inclined based on our past experience to try and compensate, pursue and reach life goals from these three dimensions. And while these three things are often interconnected and can contribute to each other, the underlying motivation for each of them can be quite different.

Money

Money is often seen as the key to financial security, freedom, and the ability to pursue one's interests and passions without worrying about not affording things. Valuing money means sometimes prioritizing the material possessions and financial gain, and working tirelessly to accumulate wealth and increase the net worth. However, money can also lead to stress and anxiety, as you might worry about losing what you have, or fear that the wealth won't be enough to provide the security we all crave for. But if you don't have money, it is hard to pursue other dreams as you'll always be limited by them.

Power

Power, on the other hand, is often associated with control, influence, and the ability to shape the world around us. Seeking power means to end up in positions of authority, or to industries that give you a sense of control over others. However, power can also be a double-edged sword, as it can lead to feelings of isolation, paranoia, and a constant need to protect one's position of authority. Nevertheless, this is an extreme and high intensity goal as pursuing it might require scrupulous actions in order to reach it.

Respect

Respect, is often linked to a sense of self-worth, dignity, and recognition. Valuing respect over other things may make you prioritize the reputation and the opinions of others, striving to earn admiration, trust, and a sense of belonging. However, seeking respect can also be fraught with challenges, as it requires navigating social hierarchies, cultural expectations, and the sometimes fickle nature of public opinion. The perception of others in such cases is very important, even if it shouldn't if you are feeling good with yourself and know that you have a correct view on thins.

I must admit that from these desires, some might weight more than others depending on our social status and the experiences that we had. I tend to think that I had and still have a successful professional career and I've know the lengths of power and set myself free from that, as I've seen that I value people more than that. And power means sometimes to take harsh measures for others and is not something I would hold to it against trying to make something good for most of the people around me. The respect is something that tingles our ego and pride, but I don't think that it should prime, but rather be a result of other actions. Bottom line for me I think the focus is on money and financial independence, which should bring in itself power and respect by putting them later on at good use and spreading the wealth.