Show Me the Money!

Have you ever really considered what money means to you? The fact is, money provides you with food and clothes, puts a roof over your head, and it may even buy you a few pretty baubles on special occasions. When asked to ‘dig deep’, what many people answer is: Money gives you FREEDOM - the freedom from worrying about the necessities of life and, perhaps, to attract the ‘wants’ as well. In short, the freedom that comes with financial abundance is in peace of mind.
Is it possible that this peace of mind can come regardless of the number of zeroes on your paycheque? Do we need to continuously work overtime or take on extra assignments to increase our income in order to achieve the happiness we seek? Do we have to win the lottery to make our dreams come true?

Recently I was introduced a professional 30-something woman and asked what she did at the federal government job. She said, “Count the days until retirement.” My interest peaked and I responded, “What do you do on a good day?” The response: “Wait to win the lottery.” She wasn’t getting rid of me that easy! I asked, “What would you do with the money?” The response, this time, was more surprising: “I would do more good.” When I ask her to name two more things she would do if she won the lottery, she answered: “I’d be single and I’d travel.”
Imagine this woman’s shock when I told her that I had already fulfilled all three of her wishes WITHOUT winning the lottery.

When she recovered (I jest), we talked about how these things are quite possible and how fashioning the life of your dreams is completing within your reach but, putting first things first, you MUST change the belief that money is the answer to your prayers.

All joking aside, this exchange made me realize that it is common to believe that happiness is tied to the almighty dollar. By the time we reach adulthood, we are conditioned to believe one or all of the following: Money doesn’t grows on trees. Money is the root of all evil. Money can’t buy happiness but it sure makes the hard times more comfortable. You may look down on people who are poor and look up to people who are rich. Either way, your perception of money affects how you view the world and what you attract in your life. Any time that we blame our situation on lack of financial abundance, it is that lack that we continue to attract. You may not even realize how often you think this way but with increased awareness, you can alter your negative perceptions of money, change your focus from lack to abundance and achieve the success you desire, financially or otherwise.

The truth is that happiness, and success – however you define it – can be experienced when you have financial abundance, but the reverse it not true. Having financial abundance does not preclude happiness. Lesson Learned.

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