November 30, 2009 An Instrument of Change Wealth Is Neutral At its most basic, money is a tool that enables us to meet our individual needs. As a form of potential energy that empowers us to generate change, it is neither good nor bad. Yet many people react emotionally to issues concerning finances, unconsciously condemning currency itself, the manner in which money is spent, and people who live lives of financial abundance. Individuals who are rich in gifts such as high intelligence are acknowledged for their positive traits while those who have acquired material riches or aspire to become wealthy are frequently judged harshly. However, wealth is not a trait upon which judgment can be legitimately passed. It tells us nothing about how a person lives, what they believe in, whom they care for, or the scope of their values. Like any blessing, wealth is merely an instrument of purpose that can be used both constructively and destructively. From an early age, people learn to court wealth while simultaneously associating money with greed, selfishness, and unethical behavior. Consequently, this idea becomes entrenched in their hearts as envy. To attain a balanced and rational comprehension of money, as well as a fairer perspective of wealth, we need to recognize that outward manifestations of wealth tell us little about the individuals enjoying those blessings. When we feel the finger of jealousy prompting us to draw unflattering conclusions about people whose lives seem more financially secure than our own, we should remind ourselves that there are many elements of their circumstances we cannot see. Their wealth may be the result of long hours of taxing labor, they may donate a large percentage of their resources to charitable causes, or their bounty may be an incidental aspect of a life spent doing what they love. Ultimately, we can heal our hurtful associations with money by turning a blind eye toward both wea! lth and poverty when interacting with others and instead focusing on the individual before us. If you take a moment to consider you own feelings regarding money and wealth, you may discover that you equate financial prosperity with happiness, power, security, independence, or self-indulgence. Money itself, however, is none of these things. You can begin developing a healthier view of wealth by simply accepting that while some possess great wealth and others do not, we all have the potential to create lives of beauty, substance, and wisdom using the resources we have been granted. Top 10 DailyOM Courses: 1. Falling in Love with Yourself 2. Heal Your Money Karma 3. Overcoming Creative Anxiety 4. Heal Yourself with Medical Intuition 5. Permanent Weight Loss with Self-Hypnosis 6. A Year of Rumi 7. 21 Day Consciousness Cleanse 8. Overcoming Self-Sabotage 9. A Year of Color Therapy 10. Create a Life you Love New Courses | All Courses What do you think? Discuss this article and share your opinion Want more DailyOM? Register for your free email, or browse all articles | | Share the OM: From the Library: Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin E. Seligman More DailyOM: On-line Courses Soul Readings Today's Horoscopes Shop the Marketplace Join the Community |