Emotional Prostitution

We’re all whores.  We prostitute ourselves everyday.  Yes, this vulgar reality hits hard.  We compromise on what we want, what we need, and what we believe in.  We (most often unconsciously) prostitute ourselves emotionally.  We sacrifice our emotional well being as a trade off for some other outcome.  Usually the other outcome is the fulfillment of another’s ideas for us and oftentimes money is involved.

What does this look like?  It may look like us compromising our very soul for something too over-priced.  The market, e.g. our psyche, cannot bear the inflated cost.  Eventually, our pimp demands payment in full - usually with a very hefty rate.  The result ends up compromising our emotional well-being.  

I knew a young man who desperately wanted to become a doctor - he fantasized about becoming a surgeon.  He watched every surgery show on TV.  This young man was academically gifted and indeed met the criteria for genius I.Q.  The young man’s father vehemently opposed his son’s choice.  Why?  Because the son’s desire to practice medicine was incongruent with his father’s religious beliefs.  The young man became something else.  He became a depressed business man - albeit successful - but emotionally unfulfilled.  The young man died many years later in a tragic crash while on a business trip.  Fate? Accident?  Would it have happened anyway?  Who knows.  It did happen and that young man is dead.  He sacrificed his inner longing for someone else’s idea of what path he should pursue.

I’ve witnessed others emotionally prostitute themselves for financial security.  I know couples who stay in unhealthy relationships for fiscal stability.  Oh, yes, the immediate assurance of financial security is comforting - but our pimp will come prancing with a collection plate in hand.  And, one may state, “But, my income would be significantly reduced!  I cannot compromise my standard of living!”  You’ve just prostituted your emotional well being - and the price may actually cost you addtional fees to include your physical health and even your very sanity. 

Live your life.  Live honoring yourself and your needs.  Be mindful of emotionally prostituting yourself for another’s wants or monetary security.  I do not suggest we each embark on hedonistic paths of selfish pursuits.  I suggest we each become increasingly conscious of what possible pitfalls we could become caught as a result of emotionally prostituting our own inner desires.  Be mindful of selling yourself.  Ponder on this.