watch the short video reflection from my 2018–2019 archives
how much of your life are you willing to exchange for more money? are you working longer hours, sending out resumes, watching the cost of living increase, or trying to figure out how to maintain the lifestyle you’ve created? whether you’re employed, self-employed, recently laid off, or starting over, the question is often the same: how do i make more money? but what if that’s not the question you should be asking? what if the money is simply what you’ve been taught to focus on instead of the actual things, experiences, opportunities, and solutions you desire?
i’ve been talking about money, manifestation, materialization, and what i call “mundane money woes” for years. the video contains excerpts from recordings i made in 2018 and 2019, but i’ve been documenting my journey through audio, video, photographs, and writing for more than 20 years. i’ve discussed the difference between manifestation and materialization many times, and i prefer the latter. in one of these older recordings, i talked about the importance of “holding a consistent vibration and frequency.” i’ve also questioned why people spend so much energy trying to attract money when their actual desire may be something that doesn’t require earning more money at all.
think about it. if you want more freedom, but the only way you know to get it is by working additional hours, are you actually moving closer to freedom? what happens when that additional income comes with more responsibilities, expenses, or financial obligations? i’ve experienced things materializing in my own life without taking on another monthly payment or needing perfect credit. that doesn’t mean financial realities disappear or that everyone will have the same experience. it means i’ve learned to question the assumption that earning more money is always the only path to getting what we want. sometimes we need to reconsider the problem itself, the possibilities we’ve overlooked, and the people we’ve allowed to shape our thinking.
i grew up in south phoenix, arizona, and have lived in detroit, brooklyn, and several other places across the united states. now i live in bahia, brasil. living in different places has given me opportunities to observe similarities between people, communities, and circumstances that aren’t always obvious from the outside. financial freedom doesn’t look the same for everyone. neither does success. someone can have an impressive career, a prestigious address, or a substantial income and still feel trapped by their obligations. someone else may have considerably less income but greater flexibility in how they spend their time. neither situation tells the complete story.
i’m revisiting these recordings because the questions haven’t gone away. people are still worried about job security, rising expenses, career changes, debt, and whether they’ll ever have enough money to live the lives they imagine. i’ve been talking about these subjects for a LONG time, and thankfully, life keeps providing me with evidence, new experiences, and more reasons to question what we’ve been taught. this isn’t about pretending money doesn’t matter. it’s about recognizing that money is a resource, not necessarily the destination.
before you spend another year chasing more money, consider what you’re really trying to accomplish. is it security? freedom? time with your family? the opportunity to travel, relocate, change careers, or simply live without constantly worrying about the next payment? once you identify what you actually want, you may discover that the possibilities are broader than the financial solutions you’ve been taught to pursue.
more of my archived teachings and personal reflections are available at faafo.cc.