Quote of the month: “Am I working to live or living to work?
Work can wait, but the rainbow won’t.” – Geela
How many times (at least in the movies) have we stared death
in the face at gunpoint? Yet, whether we realize it not, we
experience the same terrorizing and paralyzing effect whenever we
are faced with challenging moments in life where we are forced
to make choices that seem more like a “Sophie’s Choice” (you’re
damn if you do, and damn if you don’t). This is particularly
true when it comes to choosing between the pursuit of the
material world (which leads to slavery) and the pursuit of
the self by developing spirituality (which leads to freedom).
On the surface level, the road to money (the material world)
doesn’t parallel the road to the self (spirituality), so how is
one to reconcile the seemingly two opposite directions? The
beauty of life is that there can be infinite possibilities,
unlike an “either all or nothing at all” thinking which is not
only limiting, but also self-defeating. However, it takes
creative thinking and high awareness in order to solve this
problem. In order to make the right choices that lead to total
prosperity (from health to wealth, including riches of the
heart), it’s vitally important to gain perspective through
healthy insights into what’s considered to be one of the most
highly emotionally charged issues, money.
There are widespread misconceptions about money, which are
reinforced by the media. The most noticeable is the myth that
external riches automatically lead to a richer inner life that
gives us a sense of purpose, meaning and fulfillment, and even
self-worth. In a culture that worships vanity, and not virtue,
and is obsessed with external shallow values, it’s easy to
assume that “He with the most toys lives,” rather than “He
with the most joys lives.” Subconsciously we choose money
(materialistic pursuit) over life (spiritual pursuit) with the
belief that money is the cure-all and the answer to all of our
problems. It’s no wonder that the pursuit of materialism
becomes our first priority. So we sacrifice a lot (and can
even lose a precious part of our soul in the process of
achieving material success) only to discover that it’s a
dead-end for anyone after riches of the heart. But the
discovery that when we get “there,” there is no “there”
there, makes us realize that we got it all backwards.
It’s supposed to be “He with the most joys lives.”
Another misconception, originating from the Bible, is that
“money is the root of all evil“ (as if there is anything
virtuous about being poor and unable to help yourself or loved
ones, let alone make a difference in society). Accordingly some
people develop an anti-money behavior (by remaining poor) and
give money a bad rap. However, it’s not money but greed (the
love of money which corrupts some people in their attempt to
acquire it), which is the root of all evil. In fact, when money
is accompanied with purpose, then it can become a powerful tool
to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. When what we
do has also a sense of purpose attached to it, the tremendous
creative effort that is unleashed makes the process of “making
it” not only more meaningful, but also helps transcends the pain
that goes into achieving any note-worthy goal so that now it’s
viewed as pain with purpose, much like giving birth.
Money, which is neutral, should not be wasted nor worshipped.
Simply enjoy it and spend it wisely, preferably with purpose.
After all, you can’t take it with you (to the after-life) and
at best, it only gives you a false sense of security. Life
can seem harsh. The reality is that once you may be at the
top rolling in the cash, but next you may be at the bottom
rolling in the trash. It’s better to put your stock not so
much in money, which can come and go, but in your spiritual
development which is never subject to external changes and it
gives you the winning edge regardless of what life throws your
way.
There has to be a point to your life. Obviously, no one goes
through life thinking “the point of my life is to see how many
ice creams I can consume before I die.” That’s why it’s
vitally important to take the time to really reflect on what’s
really important in life. Ask yourself if what you are doing
is really bringing you a sense of meaning and fulfillment or
are you just going about everything the wrong way. Remember,
life is not a dress rehearsal. This is it.
One good way to gain clarity on the “big picture” is to ask
yourself every night before you close your eyes, “Am I living
to work or working to live?” Another way to identify what you
value the most in life is to ask yourself, “What would I do if
I had only six months to live?” This will help you avoid the
mistake made by many members of the “should have, could have”
club.
Since too much of anything could be a curse, balance is the key.
Simply put, when we strive for balance between the pursuit of
the material world and the pursuit of the self (by nurturing
that part of our spirit that enables us to experience real joy,
meaning and purpose), life then becomes a fulfilling experience
worth living. That’s when we no longer function just as human
“doings” but also as human “beings” who live consciously and
fully. And that’s when we discover the joy that comes from
going from making a living to making a difference, because money
is now used as a useful tool to help others. By so doing, we
actually give ourselves the greatest gift of all – peace of mind
and real joy that comes from knowing that our existence and life
mean something, even if for only a brief moment we help somebody
in need and our lives make a difference, however humble the
contribution. This sentiment is best captured in the words of
Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To know that even one life has breathed
easier because I have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
So who said you can’t have it all? Of course you can. The
fact is that the natural state of our spirit is total prosperity,
abundance with meaning and real joy and fulfillment. All it
takes is striking a healthy balance between pursuits of the
material and the spiritual worlds. Remember, the seed of money
is service and it’s there to serve you and not the other way
around. When money is earned the old-fashioned way (with
integrity) and is used as a useful tool to make a difference,
life then becomes an adventure in living rather than a problem
to be solved. And that’s the best-kept secret formula for
achieving total prosperity.
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