Click to subscribe in a readerA Crisis of Value
The current financial crises is forcing many people to become more aware financially than ever before. Financial vagueness and poor financial management skills have caused serious problems on various levels and many are moving toward greater financial responsibility in order to recover–or survive–financially.
Difficult times such as we are in now, act as the catalyst for deep introspection and an examination of values. In order to move into financial stability, what matters has to be defined individually and used as a basis for future behaviors.
Clearly the uber-focus on money and it’s potential as a stimulus for personal happiness and stability has proven to be inadequate to keep society glued together. Money is necessary for our economic survival, but when money becomes the primary focus and goal of our lives, something is lost.
When asked about the financial crisis during a recent airing of Bill Moyers Journal on PBS, the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary said, “It’s a crisis of value. We have misplaced, in deep ways, the ruler that we use to measure what matters most in life. And it has become completely exhausted by monetary value.”
When asked how he measures wealth, Warren Buffet said, “By how much love a person has in his life.” He said that he knows many people with a lot of money who he doesn’t consider wealthy because of the lack of love in their lives.”
Suppose for a moment that money is only a side-effect of the flow of energy through your life. When energy flows freely through your body, mind, and spirit, whatever you need to fully express yourself creatively will be there.
In his book Soul Currency, former Wall Street banker Ernest Chu talks about love and spiritual assets such as gratitude, forgiveness, and empathy as the basis for wealth. Focus on these and other inner resources is his advice for those who wish to flourish.
Try this: Whenever you hear yourself saying, “I need more money,” change it to “I need more love,” and ask yourself how you can reach out to others and share on a deep, authentic level, so that you and others cam grow wealthier by experiencing more love.
And every time you exchange money with someone, imagine you are giving and receiving love. Focus on love, not money.
Hi Joan,
Thank you for sharing this unique view on wealth.
I really believe that we create (mostly subconsciously) problems/drama because we think we’re going to get something out of it. When I was young, I created health problems to gain love and attention from my dad, who is a doctor and was not often home. Being sick was a way to make him come home and take care of me.
Once I became aware of this pattern, I shifted out of it. But then I created money problems because this was another way to connect with him. At the time, I didn’t do this consciously, of course. Looking back, I realized what was happening and have now made better choices on where and how I choose to receive love.
So, your suggestion to view money as the energy of love is right on. Money is the symbol we use to exchange value. So it’s about time that we all value ourselves and value others and exchange our love with each other.
Nat
Hi Nat,
I can totally relate to your story. I also used sickness and financial dramas to get the attention I needed. It’s wonderful to be free of those dysfunctional dramas.
Joan