Author Archives: Steven

Defining “Rich”

9 April 2009

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"Poor & Rich" by Luo Shaoyang @ FlickrThe word “rich” is defined in the following way: “having wealth or great possessions; abundantly supplied with resources, means, or funds; wealthy”.  In other words, money makes us rich.  The more money we are able to amass or the greater the possessions we own make us rich.  If we have the funds we are rich.

I think that being rich has nothing to do with money.  A more accurate word for the above definition might be “wealthy”.  Having money or possessions does not make us rich.  Being rich is not about how many zeroes you have on your bank statements.  Being rich is about living a full and complete life, one which is happy and filled with joy and is free from want.  That is what makes a person rich.

Money doesn’t make you rich, family makes you rich.  Money doesn’t love you, but your family does.  Love them with all of your heart and soul. 

Money doesn’t make you rich, experiences make you rich.  The stories you tell about the things that you’ve done with your life make you interesting.  No one cares about your money; no one that matters that is. 

Money doesn’t make you rich, relationships make you rich.  Your friends are always there when you need a helping hand and are there during the good times as well as the bad. 

Money doesn’t make you rich, community makes you rich.  Giving your time to your community can bring meaning to your life.  You have been blessed with a gift and being able to share that gift with people in need is a great way for you to live a rich life without needing to spend a single penny.

Money doesn’t make you rich, laughter makes you rich.  Laughter is the sound of happiness.  Even the “poorest” of folks still find moments of joy where they are able to laugh.  How many times when you are laughing are you thinking about money? 

There are countless things in our life that make us rich that have nothing at all to do with money or objects.  We all need to make a living, but we shouldn’t become a slave to the idea that the more money we have the richer we will be.  Our time on Earth is finite and we need to be looking for other things in our time here which bring richness to our lives.  Each second that ticks by is one less second we could be spending with our wives.  Each second that ticks by is one less second we could be out exploring our world.  Each second that ticks by is one less second we are able to spend with our friends.  Each second that ticks by is one second closer to death.  Do you really need the money or have you just convinced yourself that you do?

Becoming Better

6 April 2009

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We all want to be better.  As individuals, how we define “better” depends a lot upon what we value in our lives.  Some of us want to better ourselves by earning more money, losing 20 pounds, furthering our educations, or being more involved with our families.  The problem with becoming better is that many times a person doesn’t realize they need to make changes until they have reached a breaking point in their lives.

"Mountain Path" by Ernie Fischhofer @ FlickrThis is the fundamental problem with self improvement; we typically find ourselves at the very bottom of whatever mountain it is that we know we need to climb, and the challenge which lies before us is monumental.  Many people don’t even attempt to work their way towards a better self  because they may feel that the effort is not worth the reward or maybe they feel as though they aren’t equiped with the proper tools.  There are still others who will see the mountain and try sprinting towards the top, only to burn themselves out before they have made much progress eventually finding themselves back at the bottom of the mountain once again.

The key towards becoming a better you is to know what challenges await you in your journey and be prepared to overcome them.  There may be times when the effort does not seem worth the reward and that is when you must remind yourself why you have set out on your journey in the first place.  Maybe you want to lose 20 pounds so that you will look great at the beach in a bikini or you want to continue your education in order to find a job that you are happy with.

When you are making these changes in your life you will encounter people who will try to break your spirit.  They will tell you that you can’t/won’t/shouldn’t do it.  To these people I say “Why not?”  Why can’t I do something?  Anyone is capable of accomplishing anything if they set their heart and mind on doing it.  It takes a lot of determination. You will be faced with countless challenges along the way but if you keep your goals in mind you will be able to push past these obstacles and achieve greatness in your life.

Finding Fulfillment

2 April 2009

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WebEach day the sun wakes up to cast its beams of energy across the Earth.  Songs of birds saturate the gentle breeze of the early morning.  A fine dew rests upon the delicate silk of a spider’s web.  It is in this moment that the world could not be improved upon.

Have you ever thought there must be something more in life than this?  If you are willing to search within yourself, it is there that you will find the answer to what it is that you are longing for. 

We’ve heard the question “What is the meaning of life?”  The answer is so simple, so obvious.  The meaning of life is to live a life of meaning.

When you discover your passion you will find your meaning.  Follow your heart.  You will begin to live your life with intensity and have a clear focus of where your life is going.  You will control the path your life takes instead of feeling as though you have no path.

Stop restricting your potential.  Search within, find your passion and chase your dreams.