The ROI of Life

As a coach I think a lot about outcomes - goals, successes, achievements etc.  You know, the headlines we all are gunning for.  The ones we share about on Linked In…  

And this way of thinking, if you follow it long enough, leads to a big picture world view that looks something like:  “My own worth in life can be calculated by measuring the return on the investments made in me.” 

Or in other words, am I putting back into the world more (money, positivity, contribution, love, etc.) than was put into me growing up? Am I a net positive on the world? Or am I subtracting?

Obviously this is a dramatic oversimplification of how we impact the world, but I have to admit that I find myself subscribing to this world view quite often.

How do I understand and justify my own privilege? How do I feel ok about how much and what I am contributing in the world? How do I compare that to how much I am taking or prioritizing my own needs? This equation has a certain appeal in its simplicity. It helps contextualize a lot. 

And also, it is a scary internalization of an economic system that values human beings for what they produce, instead of what they are. This is a world where you are only “worthy” if you are making money and “achieving” inside of the system.  Which to be honest is a system and a way of thinking that is failing so so many. 

I don’t have any good answers here, just questions.

I don’t want to (nor can I afford to) opt out of the system and sit on the couch and eat chocolate all day. That is not a life I would want to live over the long term. 

And, I notice the brokenness and the emptiness that comes from judging myself and others using some form of this Return on Investment equation. 

I’m curious if others have thoughts or recommendations on sources of wisdom for this topic - I have so much to learn.