Wealth

Let’s talk about WEALTH. Wealth, or lack of it, is a subject on many people’s mind currently. I know it’s cliché but I would say that my fisherman friend that I wrote about a few days ago is a wealthy man – whether he lives in a hut or a mansion. He spends time on some of the most beautiful beaches on the planet, he plays everyday in many ways, he eats fresh fish and fresh fruit, and – most importantly – he is happy, content, joyful!
But what most of us think when we say ‘wealth’ is money, and lots of it. Actually money is not all that much fun. A closet full of bills or a jug of coins does not, in and of itself, bring most of us joy. And the reason most seek wealth is to bring joy, or ease, or freedom, or power, or security or some feeling that we believe wealth will provide for us. It is also cliché that many very wealthy people are as unhappy, or more so, than those less financially well endowed. But it may be true.
I have found that if I practice feeling wealthy, imagine that I have everything that I need and want (for the most part I do), adopt a secure feeling that everything is handled (and, in reality, it is) and make my choices of what to do or say from that feeling then I am no different from those who have a huge bank account? How is my experience, in that moment, any different from that of Warren Buffett or Oprah Winfrey’s? And, the interesting thing is, that the more I am able to feel wealthy and abundant, the more I am – really.
My friend was telling me yesterday that since he has been walking around with the affirmation “I am a money magnet – or maybe money magnate” J - the more his finances are exhibiting evidence of just that. Fun, huh?!

Aspects of a good life

Living the good life.
I recently returned from a trip to Hawaii (paid for by my company). Gotta love that! While sitting on Sunset Beach, watching – you guessed it – the sunset, my friends and I were approached by an adorable 74 year old Japanese man, fishing pole and cooler in hand. He had the most jovial face, laugh lines around his eyes, and a beautiful singing voice. He sang Frank Sinatra to us. This man fishes, surfs, golfs, swims, sings and radiates joy.
One of the principles I embraced from my Feng Shui training is ‘live with what you love’. If each of us can find what we love and, to the best of our ability, surround ourselves with those things I believe we are living the good life – nothing more and certainly nothing less…