Money makes the world go 'round. When there is enough to meet needs and satisfy wants, it's easier to say "I don't want money to control my life" and make choices to follow our dreams. But when it's truly in short supply, following dreams falls off the list and juggling to survive moves way on up there. I've worked with people over the last two years who are responsible, hard working people barely making enough to cover the basics. They aren't living extravagantly. They aren't lazy. They aren't irresponsible. There just isn't enough. And money, for them, is a constant concern. It's changed my view on economics, politics, education and social services to watch these men and women struggle to survive.
I don't want my life to be driven by money. We've made lots of decisions that allow us to not have to worry constantly about money. But we have enough. And it turns my stomach to see people who have more than enough continue to want more and more and more - often at the very expense of those who don't have enough to simply get by.
Money is a resource. When it's scarce, the scarcity drives behavior. When it's not scarce but we operate with a mentality that it is, then we hoard and worry instead of living generously and freely. And I wish there were some way to ensure that everyone had enough (said with great trepidation lest I be branded a socialist). Economics drives our world - at least here in the west. And money - or the chase for more of it - is responsible for much of the ugliness in our world. I wish the currency could be love instead.
This is absolutely beautiful. "I wish the currency could be love instead." and "When it's scarce, it drives our behavior."
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, my friend. :)
I tend to believe that our beliefs about money affect how much we have available. The poverty mentality with which I grew up rears its head frequently and affects my generosity and triggers panic, which further contributes to my "not enough" belief and a viscous cycle ensues.
ReplyDeleteI think the lack of dream following in times of scarcity is our limiting beliefs working overtime. We succumb to the thinking that we can't afford to live our dreams and end up in a viscous cycle of never having enough to live our dreams and the inevitable dissatisfaction with what life has dealt us. If we'd just pursue the dream with laser beam focus, so much would shift in our favor. Such a sad cycle.
And yes....how different poverty and abundance would be if love were the currency of the land.
My old West Texas friend used to say that money was "coined personality" -- and that how we relate to it speaks volumes about who we are. Interesting to ponder -- is it true?
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