Dear Lukas,

you’re very welcome.

My parents never judged materialistic people, they themselves are very “rich” without living like it, also had friends which were living a very materialistic life.

That’s good to hear – so you actually had a good role-model: your parents are rich and humble.

I think I need to make a choice in some sort of way, I don’t want o to impoverish myself, but I want to leave the consumption-oriented business, I think these things are harming our planet and our future livelihood and I can see and feel that this is not in accordance to what I want to be living.

That’s a very good, a very noble striving. To not add to destruction of our planet and exploitation of people and resources, but instead to do something positive, something that adds real value. I admire you and support you in that striving, Lukas!

You don’t need to impoverish yourself, indeed, but come up with a different business model, where you’re doing something worth-while, something with purpose, something that makes you feel good about yourself.

Living a capitalistic life and nurturing capitalistic tendencies don’t go together with my concept of not harming other living beings.

A while ago I’ve come across a website called consciouscapitalism dot org. You may want to check it out, it seems like their values might align with yours…

I wish you all the best in finding your way – a way that aligns with your highest values and yet provides income for you. If you ever feel like sharing about your journey, be it successes or challenges, you are very welcome. I am rooting for you!

Dear Lukas,

you’re very welcome, and thank you for your blessings. You are very kind!

I am already working on a business plan for exactly that, with the foundation being capitalistic – in a sense that its the base for the company to be healthy, to not write red numbers, but do not have it as an ultimate goal, which I currently feel like is the case with the company I am owning a big share of. I already communicated my intentions to sell everything off and start anew.

Good to hear that you’re already working on a new business model. So your plan is to sell your share in the company you’re owning together with your brother, and start alone?

About your brother, you wrote that you’ve changed your attitude towards him:

At the same time I tried to look deeply into my brothers existence and understand his suffering to gain compassion and understanding, both of these things helped me tremendously already. As a third practice I now ALWAYS hug my brother when I see him and listen to him thoroughly when we talk, to give as much attention as possible in order to not just practice on my cushion, but to also live what I try to practice.

That’s so sweet! To try to understand your brother and really listen to him, and have compassion for him. Do you still feel jealous at him sometimes? I am not asking this to judge you, just to check how things are now…

There is a book in german roughly translated to “Lead, shape, move: Values and wisdom for a globalised world” by the dalai lama on ethical business and it inspired me a lot, maybe you can find it as an English translation

I’ve looked it up and found an interview with Dalai Lama about ethical business. And the interview is on another really cool website, called bthechange dot com, if you want to check that one out as well.

Thank you so much for your kind words once again!

Dear Lukas,

good to hear from you, and specially that you’re working on your plan to leave the consumption based business world.

And i had a realization while reflecting. I somehow lost my Joy a long the way and with it my light heartedness.

Are you aware of what is stealing your joy? Perhaps there is a negative voice in your head telling you something, which makes you lose your joy? (e.g. perhaps there is a voice in your head telling you that you’ll never be happy and you’ll always stay behind, no matter what you do?)