Home
>
Success
>
Your Money or Your Life!

Your Money or Your Life!

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 Sophies Choice (youre damn if you do, and damn if you dont). 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) doesnt 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), its vitally important to gain perspective through healthy insights into whats 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, its 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. Its 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 its 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. Its 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, its 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 peoples 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 its 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 cant 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. Its 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. Thats why its vitally important to take the time to really reflect on whats 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. Thats when we no longer function just as human doings but also as human beings who live consciously and fully. And thats 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 cant 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 its 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 thats the best-kept secret formula for achieving total prosperity.

About The Author

Author of The American Dream: http://www.geela.com

Geela is an award winning singer/songwriter/composer, columnist, and author of the best-selling book THE AMERICAN DREAM, her true- life story of how she came to America as a young immigrant with nothing and overcame incredible obstacles to achieve mega-success. She founded ONE SPIRIT, ONE WORLD to help children and promote a culture of peace and harmony.

Get a free sample of her music and her book at http://www.geela.com.

best cleaning company Highland Park ..

In The News:

MIT develops needle-free glucose monitor using light technology. Revolutionary device could replace painful finger pricks for diabetes management.

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Your Money or Your Life!

Success