WorkingAwarenessNetwork : monday morning minute

Have you ever heard the expression, “Money is the root of all Evil”

Timothy 6:10:  Right there in the Bible, isn’t it?

Well, yes and no.

It does have those words, but the actual quote is “For the love of money is the root of all evil.”

Quite a different perspective when we put it in that context.  

We often misinterpret and create myths when it comes to money and life.  Perhaps it's because money and our realtionship to it isn't discussed in most families.

In my own life I had thought growing up that money was bad thing.  

My Grandparents on both sides had become millionaires yet my parents chose social causes and a much more humble life-style.  Never discussing money as a family and hearing about strings being attached, I did believe that money was the root of all evil. 

Although my parents didn’t consciously instill this value,  I thought that either you do good in the world or you make money.  You couldn’t possibly have both.  However this is just another myth.  There are people in every sector of business that both make the world a better place and make money each and every day. 

Let’s take a look at some of the other common Money Myths:

Wealthy People are Greedy
If You Want More Money, Don’t Spend
Money Would Solve My Problems

Unfortunately until you break the myth, you'll find yourself in the same patterns again and again. 

Monday Mindfulness

This week know that like everyone in the world, just like you too, were raised with certain money myths.  See if you can catch yourself making statements that may not be true about you and money.

Also, I'm excited to launch two new classes related to Money this Wednesday.

If you resist money, it causes pain in your life or if you just want more of it, these classes are for you.

Have you ever watched a child who really wants to share their toy or food with another child?
 
Their face lights up.  They get excited that there is enough for a friend and they experience the magic of sharing.
 
Now imagine a child who doesn't want to share.  They're having a temper tantrum and they begin to shout, "mine, mine, mine."
 
If both of these children were, in fact, companies, which company would you want to support?  

I once met a woman who worked with Stumptown Coffee here in Portland.  She shared the company has a passion for helping the small farmer with health insurance and safe water.     And because of this help to the farmers Stumptown Coffee does costs more. 

Now I love Stumptown coffee, I don't mind paying more for it, and it's great that they've learned how to share their profits.

However, taking a clear look at my consumer choices, I must admit, I use the largest cable comany in the nation and they will probably soon become a monopoly, I don't have a clue who my cell phone supports besides themselves, and my car only gets 26 mpg.

Does this make me a bad person.  Of course not.  Do our money choices either support the company who shares and makes the world better or the one that continually shouts, "mine!"  The answer is absolutely yes!

Monday Mindfulness

Join me this week and pay attention to where you’re spending your money.  Notice without judment if your purchases are with people who honor the world as much as you do.

Have you ever been skydiving?

I remember being up, thousands of feet above the mountain range, in Albuquerque, New Mexico alternating between complete terror and total excitement.  As the plane rose higher and my stomach began to churn I remember thinking to my self, “Wow, this is really playing full out.”

3-2-1 and out I jumped, with an instructor harnessed to my back, screaming to earth at 125 mph.  Within seconds of the rip chord being pulled we were weightlessly sailing through the air.  I could see for hundreds of miles and I could only hear the silence of the wind.

I remembered this story recently when I had the realization that somewhere in the day to day of living; working long hours, raising a family and paying the bills, I had moved my sense of adventure to the back burner. 

I’ve ridden motorcycles in Morocco, been scuba diving in Maui, ran with the bulls in Spain, and dogsled across the Canadian border, however lately the concept of adventure is more the risk of choosing the hot curry over the mild, or should I shave today or not?  Where has my sense of adventure gone and how do I reconnect with it?

I’m wondering if you can relate?  Do you, like me, find yourself stuck in the monotonous aspects of living?  Do the lines from day to day, even from week to week, blur as you go to the same desk on the same days, eating the same things.

Monday Mindfulness
This week I invite you to take a risk with me and do something brave.  Something unplanned or unexpected, even if it’s a small step in an adventurous direction.  Make an adventure for yourself and remember that you’re never too old to explore, try new things, and be your own rock star.

Keep your eyes out because my next offering is going to be about adventure.

Wishing you a Mindful Monday.