Money for the sake of a life of ease?

Some people I have met in my life hold to a belief that is very peculiar to me: that the purpose of financial wealth is to provide for a life of ease and luxury.

What I find very strange and quite tragic about this belief is the following reality: the human soul, unless it is in a position of actively striving for achievement of something beautiful, meaningful and challenging, will stagnate into unhappiness.

A life of learning, opportunity, sharing, and exploration... yes, these things can be expedited through the tool of money. And money is the most important practical tool for the entrepreneurial types among us.

It is fine to enjoy the finest that one can afford (such as a beautiful house that shelters one's family, provides warmth, and the opportunity to create together a loving home). I personally believe that one should not be stingy as long as one lives within one's means, and has a plan for getting out of debt while building a saving.

But to wish for money for the sake of a life of ease, comfort, and luxury... a life of "retirement" and "not having to do anything"... is that not tantamount to wishing for a life lacking in challenge, courage, and the joy of achievement that can only come through hard work, effort, and creative intelligence?

Seems like a lot of pop culture (and the insane lottery frenzy, which I may write about later) is gearing people in the direction of "sloth as virtue".

How about a life of financial wealth where one uses one's wealth for the sake of exploring into unchartered territory of adventure, creativity, sharing, exploration of ideas... and offering a helping hand to those who need it in this world?

Some people like luxury for the sake of luxury and maybe it gives satisfaction... but is it truly the ultimate purpose of wealth?

Patience and Surrender

Patience.

The "virtue of virtues", according to many philosophers.

The modus operandi of Nature.

The primary wisdom of the master gardener.

One of the keys to the most glorious achievements of man.

Absolutely necessary in making an authentic, joyful connection with that lovely, beautiful girl.

A pillar for the generation of financial wealth.

One of the most powerful "forces" in the universe!

Yet...

... we mostly pay lip service to "patience".

We do not remember what the word represents.

I was confused too. Until I realized that patience is a far more intense event than I had understood it to be. It is far deeper than the conventional line of "just be patient". You see, it is an event that must come about through our own inner choice. Without anyone seeing the choice!

Alas! To align our heart with patience, we must find that PIVOTAL POINT, that second, where it is time to make the choice to LET GO of any expectation for that which we are trying to be patient for.

Letting go... choosing to free ourselves from the enslavement of expectation.

That is true patience, where we do not just play a role for the outer world while dying with agony inside, but truly feel peace in our hearts.

You cannot cheat in this life journey. If you lie to yourself, you will not get away with it.

Allow your painful expectations to collapse... into surrender. Openness comes about, automatically. All you have to do is allow your expectations to collapse... gently, if need be, yet with the awareness that the weight of collapsing expectations will bring temporary pain.

Leaving the Cave of Inner Dishonesty...

To love, is to truly live. To give, is to expand and grow. To share, is to become more.

However, there are in us... certain aspects... which forcefully and subtly tug us away from honestly expressing our innate, irresistible desire to love, to become more.

So we become pulled in many directions (inside of our minds), and at times, end up feeling torn apart.

These aspects express themselves through the voices of doubt, fear, blame, and manipulation (which is borne of fear). They are born in the cave of dishonesty about our own emotions, our habits, and our weaknesses. When we are dishonest about ourselves to ourselves, we dishonour ourselves.

How about if we stop listening to these aspects, stop taking them seriously, begin just watching them without acting on them... and instead, allow honesty to shine forth?

Honesty will shine forth when we realize that we are safe... that we are actually better off... if we allow it to shine forth.

And it is only through inner honesty that love has a chance to pour out.