How much money do you have? Do you have too much? Do you have too little?
These may seem like rude questions (they kinda are), but lately the news has been highlighting an article by Sam Polk in the New York Times, “For the Love of Money.” In this article, he says that, as a bond trader, he became addicted to money: “In my last year on Wall Street my bonus was $3.6 million – and I was angry because it wasn’t big enough.” Eventually, he realized that there was something really wrong with this experience of money.
Now, this is not generally our problem. Many of us struggle to have enough. But underlying both of these conditions is a deep unhealthiness with money in our culture.
Why? Why does our culture have such a difficult relationship with wealth, abundance, and prosperity?
When we begin to think systemically about it, get a bigger picture, we might begin to wonder what it means that our country’s history has been filled with people who had more than enough, and others who actually starved to death for lack of resources.
This doesn’t matter if we are all individuals, but if we are part of a system that feels the desperation of some while we also feel the luxury of others, something is going to start to get fundamentally out of whack.
Having said this, however, you’ve still got whatever problem you’ve got with money, right? Getting paid enough, or having a good enough job, or falling constantly into debt–whatever it is, you’ve got to solve it. Ugh.
What if we could find a way to come into harmony with the centuries of wealth inequality so that we could have our own proper relationship with money? What if, by including the dignity of everyone, we could start to breathe and receive and move forward with honor and action?
Take a moment, and imagine all of your ancestors before you: poor and rich together. See the dignity of everyone, including anyone who was “bad,” used money wrongly. Thank them for your life. And ask for their support as you choose an honorable and life-oriented future for yourself with money.
Leslie Thathank you for this article! I love the topic. To live a happy simple life we don’t need a lot of money!Unfotunately our undrestanding of being comfortable and safe and happy so manipulated that we think (believe)more of money will get us more comfort, safety, and happiness !This creat a tense relationship between us and money! Off course the very poor that don’t have enough to eat and the very rich have different relationship with money I think!
love and peace