Corporate employees often feel demotivated after being pressured by peers or relatives to raise their salary, but a social media user shared her experience, saying, “No less money or less salary; it’s about how you perceive how you want to live.”
The user, who goes by the name Sakshi, recalled how she started earning ₹15,000 and was the “happiest” at that time.
She shared this because her packages were increasing and her earnings were increasing ₹1.5 million up to ₹2.5 lakh, a feeling of dissatisfaction remained as her income seemed inadequate compared to others in similar circles.
“It was never about the pay”
She also talked about how her life changed when she quit her job and how it was hard for her to survive without an income, but she eventually got over it.
“I realized it was never about the salary. It was the comparison that created dissatisfaction. When I left my job for a few months, the zero salary at the end of the month hit me hard. But it also made me realize that you should work at something you really enjoy. Now I work without thinking about others. No money or salary is less, it’s about your perception of how you want to live life,” she wrote.
Reactions on social media are pouring in
The post sparked widespread discussion on the Internet about the connection between income, happiness and social pressure.
One user commented: “It’s much better to have a modest ‘lifestyle’ income doing something that sparks your curiosity than to be a miserable earner suffering from ‘comparison fatigue’. Real wealth is the ability to ignore the scoreboard.”
Another wrote: “The zero salary phase is different though. It really makes you rethink what really matters.”
A third user added: “Satisfaction comes from purpose, not payoffs.”
Similar experiences resurface
The interview also brought back attention to a similar viral story involving Seema Purohit. In the video, she shared how her first low-paying job brought her more joy than her current high-paying role in Dubai.
Purohit described how she got into what she called a “race” to find better opportunities and higher salaries. Despite her career success abroad, she acknowledged that she lacked the sense of fulfillment she once experienced in a simpler role.
Disclaimer: This report is based on user generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.
