MONEY. MONEY. MONEY…………….

 Money mania seems to have taken over our society. Everyone is in the rat race for making money, young, middle aged and the old, alike. Fear that I might be left behind, dominates everyone’s mind. Result is, the Money Mania, money over everything ie love, caring, relationships, ethics & values. However, it’s always better to know little more, to make a wise, considered and mature approach to money in life.

   For certain sections of young and grown adults, earlier unimaginable sums, can be earned now at a relatively young age. Earlier, it took much longer to make money. Side by, they also learnt the real value of money and how to handle the money earned. Since they had worked hard for the money earned, they would spend it judiciously and save also. It could take years before one could even think of buying a house or affording a lifestyle or own things, one might have longed for years.

   Earning wealth is relatively easy compared to handling earned wealth, spending it judiciously, saving a fixed amount regularly in safe investments, also spending a part of the amount on charity or philanthropy or sharing, helping those not as lucky as you. When you earn wealth, it must also shine, please and satisfy your inner self, rather touching only outer physical body mass and disappear.

Some Sweet & Sour FACTS about MONEY you so dearly LOVE & ADORE:

1. People are good at smelling money and when you have it, many will like to befriend you, not because you interest them, it’s your money which they find interesting. They are mostly fair-weather ‘friends’. Do have them but don’t attach much importance to them. However, you need to be careful with them, do not expect much from them or count on them and if they ditch you, don’t feel disappointed. Never compare with them or confide in them.

 2. Since money or wealth is an important part of everyone’s life, you must clearly understand the correct role, perspective and place of money in life. Understanding money is also important because it plays a vital role in forming your ATTITUDE. Always consider yourself, the Master and money, your slave. Never try to impress others with your money, nor be impressed by theirs. Money and wealth is your personal domain, as long as you keep it that way, you will be happy and at peace. The moment you flout the equation, stress, pain, worry, doubt, envy, impatience, anger, irritation will always be there to give you company. Money cultivates high ego and accompanied arrogance. When we have money, flaunting comes naturally. Overcome and subvert that urge to live peacefully and contentedly for a serene existence.

 3. Because of our ignorance, most people equate happiness with fulfillment of their cherished desires. We remain in the illusion that when I will get my dream house, dream car or other objects or possessions, I will be happy. So many unrealized dreams are created through media ads, which tend to get converted into inferiority complex, disappointments, stress and frustrations, devaluing what you have, always fancying what you don’t have. But, after initial infatuation, follows the deep-set bitterness and negative emotions, when we realize that pleasures derived out of these fulfillments and acquisitions, are fleeting and temporary in nature. On the contrary, when we work on our inner peace we will be happy, vibrant, satisfied, fulfilled and contented.  

4. Wealth fulfills two basic human needs. Sense of security, which is physical and sense of achievement, which is emotional! After these two needs have been met by reasonable amount of earned wealth taking care of all your needs, additional wealth does not add to happiness. On the contrary, it caresses your ego, pride, greed, envy, jealousy and adds many more negatives. A person becomes a slave of these negatives but very strong emotions. More he accumulates, more clouded his judgment and thinking becomes.

4. GREED ; Present day culture of insatiable greed, never let you enjoy what you have. Greed focuses on what you do not have and some others have. If you have many things which others do not have, your sense of greed, dissatisfaction and discontentment, will simply ignore it. Greed can destroy what one has labored hard to achieve in ones’ life. Additionally, vicious present day culture of cultivated dissatisfaction through repeated TV ads, does immense harm to the psyche of the immature minds, which harps on, ‘only when you will buy the advertised article, you will be happy, you will belong to that class who can afford it’. So the dissatisfaction, temptation and lure in week minds, remain.

5. MAKE YOUR WEALTH WORK FOR YOU NOT AGAINST YOU: How to enhance your inner wellbeing, satisfaction, freedom and peace by earned or accumulated wealth? Answer is simple. Be generous in giving, sharing, helping and taste real inner pleasures, wellbeing and vibrancy in life. Be stingy and use your wealth only in selfish, self-serving pursuits for outward physical pleasures, you sow all vanities of life in full measure. Quality of your life is determined by, whether you are GENEROUS or STINGY with your wealth.

7. HOW TO ENJOY YOUR WEALTH IN FULL MEASURE; Remain down to earth, person of humility, valuing people more than money in all your dealings. Never consider anyone inferior because he is less wealthy. Give due respect to everyone irrespective of their financial status. Money shines, when you are not stingy but generous and open-hearted in giving. The amount you give will not make any difference to you but to the receiver, it can make hell of a difference, can use the money for eating, feeding his family, education or medical expenses.

  

So, for a graceful vibrant living, make it a habit to spend a part of your income in making a difference to those not as lucky as you. This one habit will create that soothing feeling of inner well being, when you would look back, with great satisfaction and pride, how you handled your wealth.