"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run." -Henry David Thoreau

Bartering life for a "thing". Is it worth it?   If you love your work then life rocks and getting a "thing" is no big thang.  If you have less enthusiasm for your work then what are you working towards?  Every time you exchange money ( your life) for a "thing", you are only rewarding yourself for a few moments until the novelty wears off.  Life will be a reward if you love what you are doing in it. You won't lean so heavily on "thing" rewards if you can find the joy in the now.

"Faith is the eternal elixir which gives life, power and action to the impulse of thought." - Napoleon Hill

Having faith in certain areas of life is no problem.  Generally we know we can count on getting to work, having to pay our bills, etc.  We have faith that these things will happen.  But faith can seem elusive when we are striving for something new or if something scares us.  Faith is the glue that holds you to something that you want because then nothing will stop you from getting it.

"Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change."
-Ingrid Bengis
 
 Enough said.  No need to elaborate.