What is Money?

The Journey – There are always detractors

My finance challenges and the bold statements I made last few times we have engaged each other about money seem to have incited mixed reactions from these streets of Fabebook “at least it shows that you are reading”.

One reader went as far as to warn me that by linking money to happiness I will be labeled names, and to borrow from his very well-articulated message “I lack inhlonipho and because of my education I therefore am not humble”.

The lesson _  be open to financial knowledge
 

Here is the gist of the problem for me. Why would my challenging you to openly talk about money result in negativity? A concept that is so easy and is meant to empower and enrich, a truth “money does define the quality of the life you will lead” that however much we may try to ignore because it challenges the norm and our teachings, because it probes our way of thinking and living, suddenly make me be the bad person.
 

I will admit, even though I don’t expect you to always agree with my point of views, I was initially a little disappointed by such responses. Initially!
 

My effort is not to make people feel bad about themselves, is not to make people judge my life and notions. My effort is simply to empower you to get comfortable with the concept of talking open about money, gain an understanding on the value money has in your life in its completeness, learn to better manage your finances and realize that without this component intact (amongst all the others), anything else you do will not reap as much satisfaction and happiness. Try as you might, you will not be happy living in poverty.
 

If you still don’t believe me, ask the mother who sat the whole night watching her baby wail and squirm, her mouth red, throat dry from trying to suckle at her mother’s breast, screaming for food. Oh sure, this mother had her loving husband right next to her, comforting her in her own frail state. Now, do imagine because she had love in her heart, had support from her husband she was therefore happy?

 

 

Money in its singular
 

Money in its singular existence will not make one happy. Well – so they tell me (I laugh)…

Like everything else, money doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You’ve probably heard the wise saying that “money is the root of all evil” – as the bible clearly says. Many people have killed one another over a couple of Emalangeni; many have cheated and stolen, finally losing their very souls in the drive to acquire more and more riches.

I need all you to try and understand. My intention is to help us all build an abundant life and learn to enjoy each day to the fullest. Abundance is a combination of all aspects as personal development, spiritual fulfillment, emotional intelligence, financial intelligence and yes, even sexual fulfillment (a few of my readers agree with me here).

To single out finances on its own and start thinking if you have a lot of money, then it translates to you being happy is simply not what I am pushing for. And yet, to ignore the value money has in your life, the power that it has to define how you can build a fulfilling, respectful and loving existence, would be to delude yourself.

One of the readers last week agreed with me to some level here. To quote him he wrote “properly managed money will achieve some happiness. Taking into some consideration that the basic needs of the human being are shelter, food and sex, a man (referring to both sexes) can only earn respect and feel respected when he has achieved the above-mentioned. It is only when achieving the above that He demands respect, order and gain love thus working his way to happiness”.

But what is Money?

To be continued……………………..