Is Guilt Over Wanting More Money Keeping You From Becoming Rich?
Many people struggle with the idea of wanting more money. On one hand, they have the desire to earn more, or even to become rich. On the other hand, they have certain beliefs about money that can make them feel guilty over wanting more. It might be that they feel that desiring more money is greedy, that it means that others will have less, that it is not noble or praiseworthy to want to gain wealth, that it is not holy or pure or any number of other feelings.
The truth is that wanting to become rich is one of the most noble pursuits. In this article we will address some of the issues that many people - perhaps even you - have with money and look at why most of those ideas about money are unfounded.
If I Have More it Means Others Will Have Less
There is a common idea that there is lack in the world. The feeling that there is not enough to go around pervades our societies. It’s no wonder, really, since in most societies there is a large gap between those who have and those who don’t. It can make it seem like there is only enough for a few people to be rich and by those people having all the money everyone else has to suffer.
In truth, though, there is more than enough money to go around for everyone. It is our idea that there is lack that keeps people from having enough. There is no longer a gold standard, which means that more money is printed whenever we need it without the need to have gold to back it up.
In today’s world very little is done with actual cash. Instead, most money takes the form of numbers on computers. Or it can be numbers on our credit card balances, numbers written on checks or a variety of other intangible forms. The truth is that these things are all just representations of money. They are nothing more than symbols that represent how much each of us has.
Because of this it means that the supply of money is virtually unlimited. It is only the idea of limited supply that keeps people from having all that they want. When you realize this then you can’t help but realize that you having more does not mean that someone else will have to have less.
It is Greedy to Want More Money
Most of us are taught growing up that it is greedy to desire more. Many of our religions teach us that sacrifice is holy and noble and that desiring more is a sin.
The truth is that the desire for money is almost always not out of a place of greed. Instead it comes from the desire within all of us to grow, expand and become all that we can be. In order to be the best we can, to enjoy life to the fullest, to have the time to appreciate art, literature and learning, to expand our minds and our ideas to their fullest potential, and to make a difference in the world we need money.
It is not money itself that we desire. Instead, it is the opportunities and possibilities that money can buy. It is the good that we can do with money and things it can buy both for ourselves and for others.
The desire to become wealthy is nothing more than the desire to live a full, rich, abundant and rewarding life and to share that with those around us. When you think about it, being all we can be and sharing that with the world is the most noble pursuit of all.
As Lincoln once said, you can’t help the poor by being one of them.
The Truth is, Money is a Tool
Few if any of us desire money for money’s sake. Instead, we desire to use it as a tool to expand ourselves. To become all that we can be. To experience life to its fullest. To bring joy to others. To provide shelter, food and enjoyment to our loved ones and those around us. I hope you can see there is nothing greedy about that at all.
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