One of the main barriers we hear people talking about is that they feel cannot afford to cut back at work to make more time for family or other outside interests. While it is true that the U.S. economy is shifting dramatically, and that most families now require at least two incomes to be able to make ends meet, there is also some power each of us holds over how we spend our money, how we spend our time, as well as a certain amount of flexibility many of us have in terms of how much money we actually need.

We are living in a very unusual time. We have great hopes, and there are great possibilities, and yet Americans are working harder than ever before; the myth of seemingly endless prosperity exists, and yet an enormous poverty of time, family, community, and spirit surrounds us.

What are the choices we make that contribute to this poverty of time, family, community, and spirit? What are the exterior pressures that push us to place greater value on working to the bone than on connecting with our family and friends? What is it that makes us decide to give up on or forget our dreams?

Making change

We believe that there are very important choices this society must face if we really want to create time for our lives outside of work.

Significant change will only come from a collective effort. We will have to answer questions such as: what would a society look like if it were really set up to support families....or set up to help all people lead full lives? You can read our thoughts addressing some of these questions in the public policy section of the website. You can also support our work and become part of our movement for change by making a contribution to the ThirdPath Institute.

However, what we have also seen is that change is also beginning at the individual level, by people looking at their own lives.

Making more time instead of more money
More and more we are finding people who make innovative decisions about time and money. In order to create more time for life, many people are cutting back on all kinds of things; people are beginning to think about working less and living more. What would your life look like if you were to consider creating more time, meaning in part earning, and spending, less money?

Ask yourself about the major financial decisions you have made in the past few years. What choices have you made that tie you to your current (or even an increased) income? There is tremendous pressure in our society to "climb" - at our jobs, in our communities, even within our social circles. How have you reacted to the pressure?

What does this mean for your life?
We take the position that people have always done their very best.....and that so much more is possible. It's not rocket science, we are fond of saying, and yet we are asking people to face some of the biggest issues they have around identity, meaning, and intention. Who are you, separate from being a worker? Who are you, apart from being a parent?

What do you think? We want to hear back from you! Email us at time4life@thirdpath.org to let us know what you have done about choosing time over money to create, creating a life that keeps you connected to all of the things you most deeply care about.

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