How to earn less but feel much richer

This morning I was reading an article in the independent called “how to earn less but feel much richer” At the end of my stay in Egypt I had already decided to study further and I was wrestling with the choice between 2 courses. One would almost guarantee a job and a very healthy annual salary the other would cost me more to study whilst offering less job security but a greater potential for personal growth.

Ultimately it because a choice between idealism and reality until I realised that a major part of reality is living and if the option is there we should always choose the option which is more likely to enrich our lives as a whole and not just financially. Happiness and a satisfied soul should come above financial gain. So after the istikhara I made my choice. Counselling it is.

My dearest friend graduated this year and instead of making the most out of her degree financially speaking she has chosen to take a job with Islamic relief which will mean that she will be struggling financially but the elusive satisfied soul that we are all in search of will be attainable more readily here.

So when I read this article about people giving up there high-powered jobs for jobs which would get them out of the rat race and read their experiences it made me think is this the beginning of a trend? Is the 20plus generation looking for more then just a healthy bank balance or is it as symptom of this society ills. I read somewhere earlier on this year that by 2020 the second biggest killer in the western world will be depression. Maybe we are starting to recognise that there is more to happiness then the values championed by capitalism.