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.

kitchen deep cleaning Deerfield ..

In The News:

X Square Robot unveils Wall-OSS open-source AI model that helps robots adapt to unpredictable real-world tasks beyond narrow scenarios.

Airport workers report surge in fake lost luggage claims as scammers retrieve discarded baggage tags containing passenger names and travel information.

Unlike robotaxi competitors, Tensor focuses on consumer-owned self-driving cars that adapt to highways and urban roads with full redundancy systems for safety.

Medicare scams cost $54 billion in 2024 as fraudsters target beneficiaries with fake calls demanding payments and personal information to steal benefits.

Scammers create fake Evite invitations that mimic legitimate event emails, requiring users to verify senders and use antivirus software for protection.

The new Apple Watch hypertension feature passively monitors blood pressure patterns over 30 days using sensors to detect chronic high blood pressure signs.

Chrome extension spyware disguised as a free VPN service highlights security risks after it captured private browsing data from trusted sites.

New research shows how fatty acids in cooking oil can safely dissolve and recover silver from circuit boards without harmful chemicals or environmental damage.

The Fox News AI newsletter gives you information on the latest AI technology advancements, and about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Anthropic investigates alarming AI abuse case where hacker automated entire cybercrime campaign using Claude, stealing sensitive data from defense and healthcare firms.

TikTok, Meta and YouTube restrict Charlie Kirk shooting videos with age gates and warnings while X faces criticism for allowing continued circulation.

Cybercriminals use fake troubleshooting websites to trick Mac users into running terminal commands that install Shamos malware through ClickFix tactics.

San Francisco startup Fable launches Showrunner, an AI platform dubbed the 'Netflix of AI' that generates animated episodes from text descriptions with Amazon support.

Apple raised iPhone prices for some models despite receiving tariff relief from President Donald Trump, with the new lineup starting at $799 for the base model.

A two-story 3D concrete printed home in Western Australia demonstrates faster construction methods that could reshape American housing amid rising costs.

Credit scores remain important during retirement for insurance rates and housing applications, while seniors become prime targets for identity theft and financial scams.

Scammers now send unexpected packages with QR codes that redirect victims to fraudulent websites or download malicious software to steal sensitive information.

Meeting AI tools record private conversations alongside work discussions, creating privacy risks that can be managed with proper settings and awareness.

Hotel privacy concerns are valid but rare, with methods to detect hidden tech using smartphone flashlights, mirror tests and scanning apps.

Improve your Wi-Fi speed and reliability with 10 simple router optimization tips that don't require special apps or expensive subscriptions.

A Columbia University breach exposed names, Social Security numbers and academic records of nearly 869,000 people, with notifications beginning in August.

Rental car drivers use AI-powered apps like Proofr to protect themselves from unfair damage fees as major companies deploy automated inspection tools.

Fox News' AI newsletter brings you the latest on technology advancements around artificial intelligence.

OnTrac data breach between April 13-15, 2025, exposed personal information of over 40,000 people including Social Security numbers and medical records.

Your Money or Your Life!

Success