Thanks again for the replies. The Grey approach sounds like an interesting possibility.
I was thinking about this this morning. I realized that while I do want the money for ME - what I really mean is I want the money to enable me to create the things I want to create. And that always includes sharing with others, contributing to others, creating things with other people. But it also includes solo travel, solo study, new experiences that are purely for my own enjoyment and/or development.
So I guess either a Lightworker or a Darkworker always, of course, wants what they set out to get for themself. They want the resources to enable them to make happen what is most important to them. The Lightworker wants their money "for ME" - to do what I think is best and worthwhile with it.
I like your thought-experiment idea, yossarian. Which would I die for? New experiences, or helping others? Unfortunately, my first reaction to that is - both. It depends on the particular situation. I've done things in both categories that I would have died for. It's just that sometimes I am driven to do something for another person that I think is totally and completely worthwhile. And other times I'm driven to do something for myself that I feel is equally worthwhile for me - to the point that, yes, I would die pursuing it. I'd probably never die for money. But, say, for a new experience like skydiving, or hiking 3 months through the jungle, I would gladly risk my life. The experience is more important.
And what if they were mutually exclusive? Actually, on this one, I lean towards the Outflow side. I have a few times given away (literally) my last dollar. One time in Hawai'i I gave my last dollar away to a homeless guy, then had to rummage through change to buy a small fries at McDonalds. Then again, maybe that was more of an Inflow thing. Because it was an interesting experience for me to be flat broke. I was actually aiming to experience that. So again, here, I was making an experience for myself more important than surviving.
But applied to this business in particular - I would sacrifice the money in order to provide better value. I know a lot of people are always looking for the cheapest way to provide something, so that they make a few extra bucks. It doesn't really matter to them that they're providing a less-than-quality product. I am definitely, whole-heartedly on the other side on this argument. I will provide something quality and make a smaller profit any day. When I do something in the world, providing something worthwhile is of prime importance.
I wonder if solo pursuits can be classified under Lightworker? I had an image of a hermit living out in the forest, away from society, say for 10 years. Is that inherently selfish, or could he also be living in that situation in a Lightworker-way? For example - providing benefit to the forest and animals he lives with?
I see the power of deciding one way or another. To have your fundamental motivation clarified is a rock-solid foundation for making ANY and EVERY decision in your life. Deciding ways to respond to situations your presented with; and deciding which general direction your life takes. Making that decision frees you up to make the big decisions about what exactly to do with your life. When the aim is clear, the specifics will get steadily clearer.
I guess my question is - if I really chose one or the other, would I have to completely forsake the other? Because currently I enjoy both. There are times when I do things for myself, and times when I do things for other people. And I get enjoyment out of both of them. If I would decide, for example, to live as a Lightworker (as described by Steve) - would it then be incompatible to take, say, a solo 3-month expedition through the Amazon jungle? Because that's the type of thing I want to do with my life. I wouldn't be deceiving anyone to do it, or exercising dominance, or utilizing fear to motivate me or anyone else; but I would also be doing it for purely selfish reasons. Is that compatible with Lightworking?
My guess, at the moment, is that YES - that is a Lightworker way of doing it. Because if I came across anyone, I would instantly want to communicate with them. I would never use fear or try to dominate them. I would rather exchange love. Could it be that even though it's a solo trip, I'm doing it because I want to Create something (Outflow), rather than because I want to dominate the world (Inflow)?
Whew. I didn't realize how much was behind my one little original question
