Money is needed for pretty much everything, from basic necessities to accomplishing your biggest dreams, and for many people becoming rich in life is the ultimate goal. Having a lot of money, however, isn’t the end all be all because having money isn’t the only way to be rich. Celebrating the yuletide season is a perfect reminder of this as you gather with family and friends for the holidays, participate in the act of giving gifts, money, or your time to charity and spend time with your loved ones.
There are two things that typically happen to persons who consider money to be the only way to be rich:
- They easily become frustrated with the process and eventually give up on the seemingly impossible dream of becoming rich or acquiring wealth.
- They finally achieve financial freedom but quickly realize they are still empty, unhappy, and unfulfilled.
When it is understood that money isn’t the only way to be rich then you will begin to see how rich you are in other areas of your life that has very little to do with how much money you have in the bank. Riches can be found in so many other ways such as:
Being rich in love– You can’t put a price tag on the love you are able to give and received from your family and friends. Knowing that you have a support system who loves you no matter your financial status is worth more than any amount of money in the world
Being rich in joy– Whether we like to admit it or not, money on its own, can’t buy happiness. No matter how many things you are able to afford to be able to live a comfortable life if you lack joy it’s almost as though you have nothing.
Being rich in health– Wealth without health is meaningless. 50 cent says “get rich or die trying,” but what is acquiring wealth if you aren’t healthy enough to be able to enjoy it?
Now, obviously, you can’t take love, joy, and health takes you to the bank but rest assured that they can give you the kind of rich experience that money can’t buy.
As you go through this last week of 2022 and prepare to enter the new year, reflect on the good times because gratitude helps to keep you focused. Being grateful for what you have now will influence your perception of wealth. You may not have wealth and financial freedom now, but think about what you have that you can be thankful for. This could be your family, friends, a good support system, a job, a business, food to eat, clothes to wear, running water, and electricity at the flip of a switch. You see, sometimes you can get so caught up with the financial goals that you are striving for that you completely forget to be grateful for what you already have.
Remember also to be kind to others. Taking the focus off of yourself for a moment to help those who are less fortunate, those in need or simply to support a worthy cause with your time and or money can actually be beneficial in increasing your quality of life as it gives you a sense of fulfillment. It will also give you the drive to continue working towards your financial goals because it will help you to see that achieving wealth gives you the capacity to not just create a better life for yourself but that others will be able to benefit and live better lives because you are able to help them as well.
Wealth is a means to an end, it’s not the end. Money is a tool and should be used as such. The real value of money lies in what you can do with it. If you believe that having money is the only way to be rich or wealthy then you will miss out on having riches found in the fullness and quality of life. Yes, money is a significant part of being rich but it isn’t the only way to be rich.