Is the US economy a metaphor for our lives?
Downturn. Crisis. Recession. Stimulus package. Tax breaks. Pink slips. Foreclosures. Falling stock prices. Overvalued. Overpriced. Unregulated. These are some of the words being used to describe the current state of the US economy. Words you’re not likely to hear–at least in mainstream media and definitely not from politicians–are greed, lust, gluttony, foolhardy, crazy, unrealistic, unhealthy, disconnected.
Now, in no way am I saying that people deserve to lose their jobs, their homes, or their retirement savings. I know there is much hardship that many are now facing due to the shifting sands of economic fortune. I do think, however, that their are many ways in which we ourselves brought on this reality. Here are a few.
Spending more money than we have to spend. I got my first credit card my freshman year in college. Though I’ve been responsible with how I use it most of the time, I have gotten myself into debt (revolving debt that stayed with me for months) three times in my life (in 17 years of credit card use, mind you). While there are plenty of forces outside of ourselves that encourage us to spend copiously, the true fault lies at our own feet. We are the ones who choose to buy it now and pay for it later. Now we’re finding out what paying for it later can look like.
Confusing stuff with a price tag with stuff of value. Yes, the media tells us that trinkets, toys, and the telltale symbols of the “good life” are what we need, but again, we’re the ones buying that line and filling our lives with many things that ultimately have little to no real value to us. Sure there are material things I’m grateful to have and some items which I truly treasure. The problem for most of us is that rather than spending our lives building lasting value–deep friendships, memories of time shared with loved ones, meaningful work–we busy our lives traipsing after things whose value is fleeting at best.
Seeing continuous growth as the best, and only way, to live. I cringe whenever I hear people tout the many ways we can grow our economy. Is it good to have a market for our wares and demand for our products? Yes. Is it realistic or healthy to believe that growth is always good and should be a constant? No. Last I checked, unchecked growth went by another name — cancer. Life is cyclical. There are seasons of growth to be sure, and we reap our bounty at the harvest. Those times, however, are followed by months when the land is dormant and we allow the earth to regenerate herself in preparation for the next season of growing. Perhaps, living so far removed from the natural ways of life, we have forgotten that “there is a time for every purpose under heaven” and that growth was never intended to be a constant in our lives.
Being unwilling to make some of the “hard choices” in order to create what we truly want. While I don’t believe in suffering or having a mindset that we must deprive ourselves, I do also think that we’ve forgotten how to be discerning in our decision making. We’re currently working to pay off some debt we incurred last year. To do that, we shifted items in our budget to put more of our income toward elimination of the debt. So for a few months, we’ll have less to spend for entertainment or eating out, but I’m glad of it because this choice is enabling me to create something much more important — no debt.
Being afraid that less money will make us poor. I believe that one of the biggest lies in our culture is that money/material possessions equals happiness. By buying so many things and then needing money to maintain these things, we make it imperative that we must work, work, work. So addicted are we that the average US worker has less than 2 weeks vacation in a year, while our brothers and sisters to the north get nearly a month of vacation annually, and our European neighbors enjoy over one full month off from labor every calendar year. The rewards of less work include more time to use as we choose. In many countries, this time is spent savoring relationships, relaxing, and simply taking the time to live life day-to-day. I’ve rarely seen a correlation between money and happiness — in fact, after a certain point, money or material goods add no value at all to our lives.
Keep your life from becoming bankrupt of value
So here’s my advice for quick ways to add value to your life.
- Know what’s valuable to you. Is it more time for yourself? Time to cultivate new relationships? The ability to travel? Don’t let our culture or other people tell you what should be important in your own life. You make that choice.
- Start eliminating whatever doesn’t add value to your life. This might mean selling or giving away some possessions. This could look like changing your work, moving, redoing your household budget or otherwise making shifts in your choices. Again, don’t let the ideas of others overrule your own judgment.
- Be thankful for all you have. Each day remember that you’ve had enough air to keep you breathing and enough water and food to sustain your body. Once you start truly appreciating all you already have, chances are you’ll realize you need less than you once thought.
- Share what gives you value. When we generously offer the value from our lives to others, all of us become richer in the process. You can either give your valuable items away (e.g., donating your money or material goods to charity, allowing your neighbor to have food from your garden) or simply share them (e.g., loaning your favorite books and movies to friends, sharing your lawnmower with your neighbors).
- Live with the end in mind. Unless there are radical new scientific discoveries, we’ll all be leaving our bodily form some day. Envision your life at this end point. What legacy do you want to leave behind? What impact do you want your life to have had? Once you have some ideas clearly in mind, start making subtle shifts now to move toward a successfully fulfilled vision. Start putting money aside to give to a favorite charity. Give heirlooms you never use away to family or friends who will love and appreciate them now. Leave your legacy one step at a time and see how much richer every day starts to become.
If you have suggestions on how to live a rich, rewarding life, please share them in the comments section. I know your wisdom would certainly add value to this post.
The money I’ve earned proves that The Secret is no joke
The Secret has worked for me, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If you’ve read Newsweek lately or if you view the “Today” show regularly, you may be having your doubts about The Secret and the Law of Attraction. Whether these naysayers actually don’t believe in the Law of Attraction or they’re too greedy to share the goodies with others, I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m a believer because I’ve seen it work in my life in the one area that was once a frequent challenge — money, finances, and material wealth.
The financial goals I have focused on
When I worked in the corporate world (I left in December 2004) I made approximately $3,500/month and I hadn’t earned near that amount since going out on my own. Starting after I attended the phenomenal Millionaire Mind Intensive event in Atlanta in November 2006, however, I’ve focused on earning “at least $5,000 or more each month.” I did NOT busy myself with “figuring out” how I was going to earn this amount, I simply put my attention on what I wanted.
The financial bounty that has resulted from my focus
Since putting my focus on what I wanted–though this includes other things, I’m looking specifically at the monetary desires–all manner of awesome things have happened.
- Out of the blue, through NO solicitation of my own, a $5,000 engagement came my way. In one fell swoop I reached my goal! I was giddy with excitement to see how abundance came looking for me.
- Three people have approached me for coaching without my lifting a finger (except to answer their calls or reply to their emails). So far, one is a new client and the other two are in the process of deciding.
- Over 100 people registered for a free blogging teleclass I offered and several have become clients. Current income from this (all these people got special pricing) = $1,200 with more on the way.
- A teleclass series that hadn’t met it’s minimum registrants, climbed over that threshold, so we’re now “all systems go.” Net income here = $1,800 spread over a couple months.
So the total to date for March (and we’re just at mid-month) is $8,000 and though I’ll owe taxes on this, it’s still my most profitable month ever! Add to all this an A+ in my first graduate school class, an amazing “out of the blue” opportunity to do an Outward Bound course in the Linville Gorge area of North Carolina, and great health (I did have bronchitis for 4 weeks prior), I am living proof that the Law of Attraction and the other teachings of The Secret do apply to me and work in my life.
I’d love to know what you think about The Secret. Have you practiced these principles? Are you skeptical? Drop your comments into the mix and let’s see if I’m “just lucky” or if others have also been creating powerful results using the Law of Attraction.
Check out The Secret yourself and make your own decision. Get the book or DVD version.
Dismantle barriers to abundance in your life
I don’t think most people are truly ready for abundance. Sure, people get excited when they learn about The Secret or they start playing the Prosperity Game. They say they want abundance, yet for many of them, they have unconscious barriers that continue to block out the bounty that’s naturally flowing their way. How do I know this? I know for two reasons:
- I observe it in my clients, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances.
- I experience it myself
Break down your walls of resistance to the prosperity all around you
Below are several critical questions I invite you honestly answer IF you are truly ready to let the ocean of abundance be the sea in which you swim.
- Does the space in which I live and work reflect a nurturing, bountiful universe or does it feel lifeless, stifling, depressing, or overwhelming?
- Does how I treat my body show that I honor my physical self or that I take it for granted?
- Does the way I talk–to others and to myself–honor the life within all beings or do I talk in a way that judges, competes, and disrespects?
- Do my habits, rituals, and celebrations affirm the bounty of life or do they reflect cynicism, entitlement, pettiness, or obligation?
- Does the way I use my money accurately reflect what I value most deeply or simply what satiates me in the moment?
- Do my relationships allow me to be fully loved, honored, appreciated, and adored as my creator would unconditionally accept and affirm me?
- Does my work call forth my unique contributions and my gifts of service?
- Does my first response in any situation show a positive outlook that sees the possibilities or does it show my doubts, fears, or lack of faith?
Whatever we are waiting for–peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance–it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.
~ Sarah Ban Breathnach
I would love to know what you think of these questions and even what you discover within your answers. If you’re willing to share in this journey to accepting the abundance all around us, please leave your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Closer to millionaire than you think
The title of Steve Pavlina’s recent post, 5 Wealth Lessons From 20 Percent of a Millionaire, really caught my attention. He’s got lots of great ideas (way more than 5 really) about how he shifted his consciousness about wealth, which is something I’ve been actively working on since attending the Millionaire Mind Intensive in November 2006.
What wowed me with Steve’s post was when he wrote that his cash net worth (excluding assets like his highly-profitable blog; $40K/month) was $200,000, therefore he sees himself as 20 percent of a millionaire. As of January 6, 2007 our (my husband, Bruce, and me) net worth was over $238,000 so that means we’re nearly a quarter of the way to being a millionaire couple. Woo Hoo! We rock!! What an awesome realization to have (Thanks for the spark, Steve!) Heck, even if I divide that in half, I’m 12 percent of a millionaire. . . little did I know.
So, my invitation to you is to do the math. If one of the dreams you have for yourself is to live a rich, abundant life–financially and otherwise–start off 2007 by figuring out your current net financial worth. Though it might be lower that what you want it to be, if you start to see yourself as already on the path to becoming a millionaire, arriving at that destination is bound to get a lot easier from now on!
