cultivate A RICH INNER LIFE, creator girlies,

Elle Ray

Jul 01, 2024

🤎this week on the Spoiled Girlie Support Group🤎

💗meanwhile, in girl world💗

📖besties book club📖

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

🍵the tea🍵

how to cultivate A RICH INNER LIFE (Old Money Secrets)

“An inner life is the realm of one's private space of emotions, thoughts, values, practices, hopes, and reflections that nurture one's spirit and sense of well-being. There are ways to experience intellectual richness without being elite or having old money.

—Elle Ray

Today, we're talking about feeling "old money" by cultivating a rich inner life. While the term "old money" might sound cringe-worthy, there's something to admire about the lifestyle's emphasis on a rich inner life, including reading and taking time for oneself.

Thorstein Veblen's "Theory of the Leisure Class" argues that those who engage in such activities do so because they have the time and resources, thanks to others doing their labor. While this may be true, pursuing a rich inner life can still improve one's experience of life.

Feeling rich comes from being able to read, think, write, and share thoughts and vibes with others. This is a form of wealth.

If you want to embody the "old money" vibe, focus on cultivating a rich inner life.

I wanted to talk about cultivating a rich inner life because I saw a TikTok that resonated with me (I can’t find it now but if you know which video I’m talking about, let me know so I can credit her!). The TikTok mentioned how many women center men in their lives because they lack a rich inner life. Getting a hobby can help stop the boy craziness. This idea applies beyond just dating; it also affects how we shop and consume content.

People often feel uninteresting because they are not interested in anything themselves. The most interesting people I know are those who engage in activities they are passionate about. When someone doesn't engage with their inner life, they miss out on personal growth. An inner life includes activities like reading, journaling, creating art, and music, all of which nurture one's spirit and well-being.

Engaging with one's inner life allows for a focus on positive behaviors and helps move away from harmful ones. For instance, mindless consumption can be replaced with mindful creation. Creating things, whether cooking, baking, sewing, or knitting, provides a high that consuming can't match. This high from creating is more fulfilling than the temporary satisfaction from buying things.

I strive to create as much as or more than I consume.

While I'm online a lot, I balance it by creating content, tailoring clothes, or engaging in other creative activities. The satisfaction of making something with your own hands surpasses the thrill of purchasing. This philosophy may not apply to everything, but it's a mindset worth adopting.

Part of having a rich inner life is creating things you enjoy and would consume yourself. For example, I create big sis advice because I didn't have a big sister growing up. This creation is meaningful to me and offers value to others.

Even if you don't have the privilege of pursuing your passion full-time, you can still engage in creative projects on the side. This can fuel your inner fire and enrich your inner life. It's challenging to form deep relationships with people who don't have a rich inner life, so I surround myself with those who do. These individuals can process things on a deeper level, and sharing our inner lives feels like touching souls.

People with rich inner lives often exhibit humility, understanding that in the grand scheme of things, we are inconsequential. However, this awareness doesn't lead to negativity but rather a desire to positively impact others. Cultivating a rich inner life leads to a fuller experience of life and more mindful interactions with the world.

Reading, journaling, and engaging in creative activities help you understand yourself and recognize patterns in your life. You can identify what types of friends, partners, and jobs you gravitate towards and decide if you want to continue those patterns.

Kiki (@kiki_astor), an author who identifies as "nouveau pauvre" (new poor), suggests experiencing the richness of life through books and recreating experiences at home instead of spending lavishly. This approach allows you to enjoy intellectual and emotional stimulation without needing to be elite or old money.

In today's world, we have more opportunities to engage in leisure activities than ever before. We can take advantage of this unique time to cultivate rich inner lives, bypassing the barriers that once restricted these experiences to the elite.

Ultimately, in a world that often devalues us, our inner lives remain our sanctuary. By nurturing our inner lives, we can find fulfillment, creativity, and a deeper connection to ourselves and others. This inner wealth is invaluable and irreplaceable.

So, take the time to cultivate a rich inner life. You'll discover a fuller, more mindful way of living and a greater appreciation for the world around you.

Now go get that bag, bestie!

Also, speaking of getting that bag, if you’re a creator girlie who wants to take your content creation hobby into a full-blown business, I created The Business of Content Creation which details exactly how I took Manifestelle into a 6-figure business.

*Use code CREATOR100 to get $100 off*