Book information: Habitus (special hardcover edition) by Doris Märtin, Korean edition published by Dasan Chodang, 2023.03.24.
A book I came across through a group
Not long ago, I joined a business community called "The Group for Exits."
Along the way, the leader of the community I joined recommended a book to me. That book was Doris Märtin's Habitus. At first the word "refinement" felt a little unfamiliar, but as I turned the pages I was gradually drawn in. The book gave me a clear "blueprint" for how I should live from now on.
The seven kinds of capital in life that Habitus taught me
Doris Märtin presents the following seven kinds of capital as the elements that determine a person's refinement.
1️⃣ Psychological capital — How do you think, and how far can you imagine?
2️⃣ Cultural capital — What do you enjoy in life?
3️⃣ Knowledge capital — What can you do?
4️⃣ Economic capital — How much do you have?
5️⃣ Physical capital — How do you dress, walk and take care of yourself?
6️⃣ Linguistic capital — How do you speak?
7️⃣ Social capital — Who do you spend time with?
After closing the book, I looked back on my life so far using these seven kinds of capital as a yardstick. This post is a record of that reflection.
Psychological capital — the asset I hold most strongly
While reading this book, I became convinced:
"Psychological capital is the capital I have built up best in my life."
The evidence for this comes from several places.
First, according to my Omnifit pulse-wave test results, the balance between my sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is very stable at 49:51.
My heart rate and vitality index are also all within the normal range, and above all, I have a habit of getting past problems without taking on much stress.
On top of that, my top Clifton Strengths make the reasons for this psychological stability clear:
- Positivity: I am always bright and optimistic. I celebrate even small achievements and have naturally taken on the role of lifting people's mood.
- Empathy: I can read other people's feelings and think things through from their point of view. Thanks to this, the people around me often say they feel psychologically safe.
- Futuristic: I always look forward to what lies ahead and make plans. I see even today's difficulties as part of a process that will eventually lead me to a better future.
I have changed careers before, and it is not as if I have no worries, but each time I stayed steady, trusting that "time will take care of it." I can say of myself that my psychological capital already firmly provides what Habitus calls "the foundation for fully realizing your potential."
Cultural capital — moments when the refinement of a conversation takes shape
There was a moment recently that left a strong impression on me.
At a meal with a C-level executive, it came up that his child was majoring in music.
Since I had also learned an instrument at a private elementary school as a child, the conversation flowed naturally into music. That conversation created far more closeness than I expected, and I was even invited to a performance.
That experience made me feel the power of cultural capital firsthand.
Since then, I have bought a Seoul Arts Center pass (the arts center in Seocho) and have been actively going to concerts and exhibitions. I have also taken my dusty instrument out again and started practicing. In the end, culture becomes a wonderful bridge that connects people.
Knowledge capital — a thirst for expertise beyond my career
I work as an SAP developer.
But I do not want to be a developer who is simply good at coding; I want to become an expert who understands business operations and management as a whole. That is why I am also working toward certified tax accountant and certified public accountant qualifications. My studies in graduate school are also expanding my knowledge capital.
To me, knowledge is not just a line on a résumé; it is the power that gives weight to my words.
I will keep learning from here on. When it comes to studying, at least, I am becoming more and more sincere myself.
Economic capital — earning responsibly and growing it with a plan
For a while, I was not very interested in money matters.
The thought "I don't want to wear myself out making money" dominated.
But seeing how my mentors live changed my mind.
That is because I realized that economic capital is also one pillar of refinement.
These days I am steadily learning about and practicing personal finance, investing and saving.
I avoid living for money, but I believe I should actively build the financial freedom needed to maintain refinement.
Physical capital — waking up from the excuse of being young
A turning point came for me, someone who never really liked exercise.
I learned a big lesson when I struggled from a lack of stamina while climbing in Kyrgyzstan.
Since then I have been running for 30 minutes every day and going to the gym twice a week.
I am feeling firsthand that exercise is not just about managing fitness but an investment that raises psychological energy and self-esteem.
When the body is light, the mind is light too.
Linguistic capital — refinement shows in how you speak
There is something I feel more and more as I go through working life.
A single word can define a person.
I have built up my expressiveness and persuasiveness through graduate classes, project presentations and all kinds of meetings. In particular, since Communication is among my top strengths, the ability to speak is one of my most powerful assets.
From here on, I intend to add logic and specificity and build linguistic capital that lets me speak persuasively on bigger stages as well.
Social capital — in the end, we grow through people
In the past, I thought of relationships simply as "making friends."
But as I have grown older, I have realized that "spending time with good people is the most powerful growth strategy."
In graduate school, at work and in various groups, I have met good people who guide me.
Now I want to widen my network with people who share my ambitions, decision-makers and mentors.
In the end, we grow through people.
The biggest lesson Habitus taught me
What I felt most strongly after reading this book was "the beauty of balance."
The seven kinds of capital are not separate from one another.
Only with psychological stability do culture, knowledge, economics and relationships open up, and refinement rises on top of all those foundations.
Through this book, I got my hands on a blueprint for my life.
My resolutions going forward
After reading Habitus, I decided to put the following into practice.
- Psychological capital: keep my current sense of stability and live positively in every moment
- Cultural capital: broaden my cultural range through performances, exhibitions and instrument practice
- Knowledge capital: take on the tax accountant exam, study further in graduate school and keep developing my expertise
- Economic capital: set up a systematic personal finance plan
- Physical capital: keep up a steady exercise routine
- Linguistic capital: strengthen logical speaking and presentation skills
- Social capital: build deep relationships with people who share my ambitions
Why I recommend this book
Habitus is not simply a book that tells you "how to succeed."
It is a compass for life that makes you diagnose yourself objectively and find the direction of your growth.
I would like to recommend this book to anyone thinking about their career path, anyone who wants to grow, and anyone who wants to raise the refinement of their life.