Being Rich

            People spend their entire lives chasing things:  Possessions, cars, other people. We might chase relationships, love or security. We might chase money and position.  

            And then, we finally get these things – some of us get that love, the gorgeous model, a big house or six figure income.  Then we think we’re really rich. This society is based on the idea that if you’re a millionaire, or have lots of stuff, you are rich.

            But I’m going to give you a whole different version of what I consider being rich. Because I’m rich…I’m rich in every aspect of my life. Financially, I’m fine. Emotionally, I kick butt. I have friends I love; I have friends all over the world. My soul is enriched every single day by the things that I do – because I only do things that I love. I’ve got the most fantastic dog in the world. I work with people who are fantastic and amazing. I get to travel to places, I get to do things, and I get to experience a full range of life.

            I lead a rich lifestyle, because everything that I do makes me feel rich – rich as a human being. But the greatest thing about being rich is that you absolutely love yourself. You love everything about yourself. I’m not talking egotistically – not walking around with a big ego saying, “I’m the greatest person in the entire world” – not that at all.

            What I’m saying is that you are content with who you are – you’ve accepted all the things about you – you believe in yourself, and in your little nuances. Maybe you have skinny legs, or bad hair or your eyes cross a bit – whatever it might be. You’ve embraced all of your insecurities.

            You can look at yourself in the mirror everyday and say, “Life is an amazing gift.  Every second of every day I’m going to spend living my life, experiencing my life and being an active participant in my life.” That’s the definition of rich.

            There are people who will always have more money than you, and there will be people who will always have more things than you. But the fact is that loving yourself, and spoiling yourself in little ways, is what’s important.

            For instance, go out and buy yourself something you really like --if you can afford it--embrace it and do it. Get out there and have dinner with a friend you haven’t seen in a long time—share your heart and your soul--that’s a rich experience.

            Everybody should lead a rich lifestyle. It doesn’t take money. We always want other things. People think, “I’m going to be happy as soon as I get better skills,” or “I’m going to be happy if I can fall in love.”

            Or there are women on the internet approaching forty thinking, “I need a family or I won’t be happy.” You know what? You’re not happy right now! So you’re going to attract all the wrong people, and you’re not going to live a very rich lifestyle.

            For a lot of people, the idea of being rich is to accumulate things. That’s how they believe they will reach an acceptance of themselves, and contentment. But I always say you become happier and more comfortable with yourself by learning to let go of everything you thought you needed.

            Learn to let go of everything – your fears, your desires, and everything else, so you can find the true essence of yourself. Once you do, you find out who you truly are.

            Once you get there, it’s just easier. When you believe in yourself, you realize that you are perfect as you are. You’re not the BEST – there’s a big difference between accepting you are perfect just the way you are, and delusional belief you are better than everyone else. You’re not the best. No one is the best in everything in all ways. But you are perfect as you were created. You’re perfect as you are.