Who is the happiest person you've ever met? Can you remember who it was? What was the person like? How did you figure out that they were truly and authentically happy? Was the person
wealthy?
I've met a few people who have seemed authentically happy. Two sisters who co-owned a gift shop in Turks and Caicos Islands. My daughters and I met them during our travel there last year. They
just seemed happy, seemed to have really good hearts, and were cheerful. They connected well with everyone who stepped into their store. I just felt a really good vibe coming from them. They
seemed content. At peace with life. We had a short conversation with them. The five of us took pictures together. That day has stuck in my memory. It brings a smile to my face.
Do you have any such memories of authentically happy people you have met?
What type of qualities did they have?
How did they make you feel about yourself?
Were they wealthy?
In what setting did you meet them?
How long have you known them?
Was it just a brief meeting?
I am curious to read your answers, but I doubt many of us will name wealthy people as the happiest we have met or the happiest people in the world. I understand we may not have personally met the
super wealthy to be able to comment on their happiness states, but we must have some wealthy friends or acquaintances. Mansions, an abundance of luxury cars, expensive jewelry, the best of the
best clothes etc.
Absolutely nothing wrong with these things! But do they really bring us happiness? Do they bring us joy? Peace? No, they do not. They absolutely don't. So why are we so hyperfocused on acquiring
more and more and more? Trying to keep up with the Joneses next door? Flashing things in people's eyes so people can equate our things with our greatness?
Wise men understand wealth and things do not equate with greatness, significance, happiness, or peace. They understand matters of the heart (the fruit of the spirit, Gal. 5:22) are what equate with happiness, peace, and significance.
The word wise is very important here because if you have not gained wisdom in life, you will keep pursuing wealth in order to be happy. Some do this all through their lives till they
depart from this earth. They failed at living meaningful lives—they were too busy chasing after wealth that they missed the entire process of living and thriving. They were on the rat race of
life.
If your favorite motto or statement to yourself, and to others, is, “Let's make millions,” you are completely missing the mark.
It’s no surprise to me that it’s the very people who are incessant million chasers who are the very ones who never make the millions. Or they make it the wrong way and have no clue how to handle
it responsibly.
Millions of $$$, things, wealth are overrated. Matters of the heart are, however, underrated.
It's time for a shift. That project, dream, or gift you have—if your focus and goal are to make money from it, you will never be successful at it. However, if it is a
deep-seated passion, and you truly want to implement it and birth it for real change in the world, and your real goal is to change and elevate lives with it, only then will you be successful at
it. Only then will you elevate yourself also with it.
Matters of the heart and soul first; wealth and riches then may follow as perks.
Have you noticed that the happiest wealthiest people are the ones who give a lot of their money and things away? They have open, generous minds and hands. As they acquire more, they give more.
They get happier because they are positively touching lives. They then work harder at their goals, they make and acquire more, give more…and the beautiful cycle continues. They did not start off
hyperfocused on acquiring wealth. They worked hard at their passions and then started to give away the fruit of their labor. Then their work seemed effortless, because giving to others made them
happier. They were not acquiring more stuff just for themselves.
How could it be that this very thing we all want to acquire is most meaningful when it’s given away? Because the most meaningful aspect of living is helping others.
The rat race of acquiring more and more wealth and materialism brings few any good.
Instead, let us join the "ladybug race." The race to peace, race to spiritual devotion, calmness of soul, the race to change others lives in any way we can.
I spontaneously just made that up "the lady bug race." Just as I write reality, I can totally also make things up :-)
But it makes perfect sense. If you've read my book, you'll understand the meaning of ladybugs. They are a symbol and messenger of peace.
So wealth is overrated. It really is. Let's take the focus off being rich, living in big mansions, driving flashy cars, and showing off our stuff to others. Again, there is nothing wrong with
living a good life, but please don’t chase after it your whole life and have no time to smell the roses, travel to peaceful and beautiful destinations locally or around the world, and meet people
from other cultures.
Let's allow the focus to be using our gifts to make the world a better and more peaceful place for ourselves and for others. That's why we are here in this universe.
We must also teach our kids these truths. They really need to know this.