Financial Freedom

Lesson 8: Having greater success, now

1. The Power to Succeed
2. Being True to Your Self
3. Inner-Directedness
4. Overcoming Obstacles
5. Being Decisive
6. Minimizing Risk
7. Some Things Money Can Buy
8. When Less Is More
9. Knowing What Makes You Happy
10. Financial Vision
11. Planning for Life

1. The Power to Succeed

For many, success is a matter of rising above life's hardships and limitations, and living life on your own terms. It is a process of overcoming the tendency of things to remain the same, or worsen. The power to succeed is the ability to realize and fulfill your true purposes — your own highest purpose in living.

If you are not fulfilling your own purpose in living, what would you consider success? What would be the worth of all the wealth you might have, create, or build? What would be the purpose?

This course is not about "being a success at everything," or even a success at everything you might want to be successful at. Rather it is about being successful at what is right, good, and true for you, in a higher sense. This means recognizing and succeeding at what truly matters to you. Otherwise, you are to a certain extent not being true to your self, or being a success at something less.

Success is not found in blissfully, mindlessly, or unconsciously acting out all of your programming and conditioning, and being approved of and rewarded for this by others (like a trained seal in the circus). Life has a far greater dignity, purpose, or value than that. The idea is to find the higher purpose, the higher truth, in your life choices and actions, and get free from anything less.

What do you want to have greater success at? Why? Do you want to be a success at what you do, because that is really what you enjoy doing? Do you want greater success at what brings you wealth, so that you can be doing something entirely different? Think about that. It is never too late to realize why you are doing what you do, or to find a way to do what really matters to you.

For all of the people who believe they are here to "have fun," thinking that is their reason for living, we must point out that a true purpose in living has to mean making a difference that you were here. Having fun seldom meets that criteria. It is important to enjoy what you do — and to do something that makes a contribution, which you can properly feel good about doing. That is different from doing whatever makes you feel good.

You have to ask yourself: is what you are doing true to who you are? Are you putting off being happy for some time in the future when you get to do something else? What if you could do what you really wanted now? What if you had the power to succeed at what really mattered to you?

Learn to be more aware of why you are doing what you do, why you are choosing what you do, and why you act as you do, in all areas of your life, not just in relation to money. Purpose is the underlying motivating force, intention, or energy behind each and every action. Choose actions that have only the highest purposes, the purest intentions, the highest aspirations. This is the essence of what it means to find "success" in your life, in your own choices and behavior, to fulfill your true purpose in living. Purpose is not conceit, pride, or a feeling of being "better than" others. it is a humble, inward-looking, honest form of self-expression that comes from knowing your true self.

Do you believe success depends more on having money and things outside you, or on what you have within you? Success comes from within you, including financial success. Learn how to work from the inside out.

Challenge and overcome whatever keeps you from experiencing success: programming, conditioning, ego fantasies, and self-delusion. Some people sit around and wait for the "universe" to give them everything they want, and their life demonstrates this illusion; it keeps them from finding real success. Financial success takes real work, in the "real world," beginning with you.

2. Being True to Your Self

Success comes down to the choices and decisions you make. The kinds of choices you need to make in order to have financial freedom are not just about money. They are about how you choose to live your life, the things that matter to you, knowing what you really need, and finding what you have to share with others. That is how to experience a deeper, truer, more real success, rather than just making a given amount of money.

You have plans for your life. How are they going? What has been going well? What hasn't? And, do you know why? If you don't choose what is most true to your self, you cannot act in a way that is true to your self. Is there a better choice you are hoping to make in your life?

In our society, a person may go through their entire adult life and work experience without ever having thoughts, feelings, or desires that are true to their own self — regardless of how much they may serve the agenda of others. They may be thoroughly programmed to pursue everything that conforms to external influences while denying everything that arises from their true inner self. In this way, many people live a lie, and have little possibility of realizing or acting on their own true purposes in life; their lives are unfulfilling.

People make choices all the time which do not truly serve them, which do not get them where they want to be. They have the potential to make better choices, to act in a way that is more true to who they are. But, more often, they sleep-walk through life, unaware of having any greater purpose, unaware of their power to choose something better. They make choices that provide immediate gratification, not knowing who they really are, what they really want, or how to really have it.

To the extent that your awareness is limited by social conditioning, habitual, self-limiting patterns of behavior, popular programming, ego, desire, and emotion, you may be devoid of a higher purpose — or true inner-directedness. Real success begins with waking up out of this sleep, this state of unawareness, or denial.

It isn't that people are lazy, or don't want to work hard. Sure, some people are. But, the reason most people don't experience greater success — and financial freedom — is, they don't work on having the life they want — from the inside . They don't realize that they need to change — they need to change their thinking and behavior — before their life will change the way they want. Instead, they focus on everything outside them, all the things they want in life. They buy whatever they want, and then do not have money to put towards ensuring their financial independence. They live out their social programming to fit in and be like everyone else, a creature of consumption and artificial needs, without a higher purpose. And, so, their life becomes a lie to themselves.

There is a much better way to live, and it is all about learning to be true to your own self. Not in a selfish or egotistical way, but in a real way — in the choices you make, daily, and in the plans you have or hopes you have for your life. You need to learn how to take a dream and make it real.

There is a lot of money made by catering to people's illusions, egos, desires, dependencies, addictions, neediness, and selfishness — and their popular social programming. But, this ultimately brings them, and our entire society, down, not up. Realize, you can make a better choice for yourself — and, in your actions, and help others in making the best choices for themselves, too. That is a much better way to make money and be successful.

Simply do what you can do to serve others — and your own highest purposes for living — and you will experience a success that you can relate to, that makes a difference. Anything else is just ego. How many people lose sight of this in their lives? They chase after money, and the more money or "success" they have, the more they succumb to ego. And the cost and complexity of their lives skyrockets.

Life is so much simpler than that. Don't make it unnecessarily complicated, out of ego.

In your own case, do you have a dollar figure in mind, that will indicate when you are successful? How does that serve as a guideline for doing what is right, good, and true for you? It is okay to have financial goals, and to have the money to do what you really want in your life. But, money in itself does not provide any insight into what is really best for you, or what is right at all.

Without this insight, your choices and actions may tend to be unthinking, superficial, and less rewarding or fulfilling. They might make money, but the reward will always be something outside you.

3. Inner-Directedness

The common failing of almost all "success" programs is that they do not require sufficient introspection, and they do not ask a person to listen to their conscience. Basically, they can be used to make a Nazi a better Nazi, more efficient, more productive, more goal-driven, more unquestioning, more mindless in succeeding at what is fundamentally wrong, evil, and untrue. We would caution anyone against merely following their society's agenda, popular programming, values, or beliefs. Historically, the masses tend to be very unaware, readily programmed, lacking in discernment of the truth, and mindless. You really do not want to go along with the herd.

Discern. Not all thoughts, feelings, and desires you are aware of are true; learn to discern between those that are life-supporting and those that are not, those that will serve a higher good and those that will not. You have to realize these things for your self; no one can — or should — do this for you.

Success means something different for every different person — it has to be what is most right, good, and true for you. No one else's idea as to what success is, ultimately has much meaning. To this day, the world is full of examples of people who readily conform, who accept and do what they are told, who are content to let others do their thinking for them. And they do not do well in the end.

People who achieve financial independence think and act for themselves; they get advice on financial matters, but they make their own decisions. They are inner-directed. This clarity of awareness, perception, understanding, and choice is the basis of true success.

You are likely trained to let others do your thinking for you, or to go along with what others say or do; that's the way your society works. And, that is what you need to overcome, to have a different quality of life, a different outcome. You have to be different to be truly successful; you can't be just like everyone else. The majority tends to be thoroughly programmed, unaware, unquestioning, and habituated to the way things are in their life as the way they must be. You have to think differently. Organizations, institutions, and systems that impact your life are invested in the past and resistant to change; they will do almost anything to protect their illusions, rather than admit the truth. That includes the financial system, the medical system, the educational system, the religious system, the political system, and so on.

The more inner-directed you become, the more likely your thoughts, feelings, and desires will break free from the mold; they will no longer be in conformity with most people's ideas. This is all right. In fact, this is almost a definition of creativity or true creative thought.

The more self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth you experience, the more you will value your own ideas. The more relevant your ideas are to fulfilling your own purposes in living, the more likely you will pursue those ideas and act on them. Action is the key. Sometimes it takes some outer support, or just getting used to independent thinking, to gain confidence in your own perspective or understanding, or to overcome self-doubt.

Realize when old thoughts, ideas, and beliefs you may have do not serve you any more, when they only keep you in the same position, when they only produce the same old results, or when they condition you to the same old approach to reaching your goals — and block your true creativity.

Remember, nothing is as creative, progressive, and uplifting in its influence as what is right. Love what is right more than anything, more than any intellectually or egotistically or emotionally satisfying thought, feeling, desire, or gain. Adhere to the highest — the highest purpose, the highest principle. And do what is right simply because it is right.

The more you align with what is right, good, and true within your own being, the more successful you will be in fulfilling your highest purposes in living. This produces greater self-satisfaction, independent of external conditions. As you seek and accept more inner-directedness, you may find that you simply give up pretenses, lies, and falsehood; the ego will fade in its imagined glory; many preconceived ideas you may have had will no longer hold any truth for you. And behavior that once brought ego gratification or excitement will no longer draw you in. Illusions, negative, harmful, and destructive influences will be seen more clearly for what they are, and avoided.

The benefits to your life and overall well-being — not just your financial well-being — can be very great, when you seek true inner guidance, insight, understanding, perspective, and intuition.

4. Overcoming Obstacles

There are many obstacles to financial success, and success in general — and most of them are internal. Time and time again, people have proven in their lives that these obstacles can be overcome. These include:

Lack of knowledge and information. We are simply not given a real financial education in the twelve years that culminate in graduation from high school, or in the four or more years that produce college degrees. If the information on how to achieve financial freedom has not been given to you, and you have not realized it for your self, then it is unlikely that you will achieve it.

What works: develop your financial intelligence in the same way that you would develop your understanding about any other aspect of your life. Learn the language. Learn what information, investments, opportunities, and advice are available, and how to make use of them.

Lack of awareness. Most people live each day within the limitations they have come to accept. They do not experience much awareness, and commonly mistake a lot of thinking or wishing or desiring or acting for awareness. Awareness is a quiet inner sense of self, and what is right and good and true for you. It is not being lost in the world outside you, or mistaking your programming, conditioning, or popular propaganda for truth.

What works: develop greater inner awareness, by taking time away from everything you are focusing on in the outer world. Learn to center, and to act from a place of calmness, clarity, and inner-directedness. Learn to be more self-aware, and appreciate how this differs from being egotistical, selfish, prideful, and ambitious. Simply be true to your self, in everything you do.

Not thinking for your self. It is simply not workable to follow the herd and do what everyone else does, not if you wish to wind up someplace of your own choosing, someplace better than the common road to debt, failure, and disappointment. Our education does not prepare us to think for ourselves, but to be programmed by the thinking of others, especially authority figures. The media will happily do your thinking for you, and treat you as nothing more than a mindless consumer, unless you choose otherwise.

What works: learn what it means to truly think for your self. Learn to find and draw upon the natural flow of creative intelligence within you. Pay attention to, recognize, and be willing to pursue your own ideas — which may differ from what you have been taught or told. Develop a sense of self-reliance, trust yourself, and learn to appreciate and unfold your own inner wisdom.

Complacency, lack of initiative, and inertia. Clearly, you have to go against the prevailing forces in our society if you wish to be more successful. It takes an act of will, a willingness to act, and the actual behavior that diverges from what you have already been doing. You have to do something different. And, you have to overcome the programming to be a passive consumer, with little vision or plan for the future, little sense of purpose, and an endless list of things to take your time and attention, to gratify you in the short term.

What works: refuse to take the easy way. Anything worth achieving in your life is going to require something more of you. That's the good news. You already have it in you to fulfill your own true purposes in living. Know that. When you seem to be unable to move forward, take whatever step you can see in front of you — in the direction of your long-term goals. Keep your vision forward, and refuse to let your future be just a long stream of yesterdays. Take action. Now.

Fear, lack of courage, unwillingness to risk. What keeps people from even appreciating the creative ideas they may have — or renders them unable to act on them, if they do happen to have that awareness — is usually some form of fear. Fear is that feeling which tells you you cannot, you will not succeed, you will lose, it isn't worth it, and so on.

What works: listen to what your fear may be saying to you, and then let it go. Do not mistake fear for truth. Fear is an emotion, which does not come from your quiet, aware, centered, wise, and knowing inner self. Fear is not awareness or some greater form of consciousness, or anything to be obeyed in your life. Know that. Be willing to do what is right, good, and true for you — find that place in your heart; it is where your truth resides. Courage is a willingness to take a reasonable (not heedless) risk, having honestly considered the realistic gain or loss you might expect. Courage is wisdom in action.

Lack of discipline. It is so much easier to focus on things in our lives that give us some immediate gratification, than to do the more difficult things that ask something more of us. Discipline is simply honoring your commitment to what you know to be right, good, and true for you — such that you make a practice of doing it. That includes things you may not "enjoy," such as exercise, proper diet, finding financial information, following a plan of saving and investing — for the long term.

What works: focus on your long term goals, and the reasons why you have them. Know why you choose to do what you do, how it ultimately serves you. Learn to do whatever you need to do for no reason other than you realize you need to, and why. If you find little reward in an activity you need to do, reward yourself in some other way — and be sure it, too, is something that truly serves you (and does not cater to your possible addictions or self-limiting behavior).

Lack of vision. Most people get their vision — especially their financial vision — from television. Basically, nothing you see on television is real, and that includes the news. It is a representation, selectively formatted and edited to elicit a predetermined response from you. A personal sense of vision has nothing whatsoever to do with the programming you get in all the media, which is designed to produce an emotional reaction, stimulate your desire to spend, and believe that life is defined by consumerism, egotism, and hedonism. All of that is ultimately self-defeating in the long term.

What works: find your own sense of purpose, develop your own long-term goals, and be willing to forsake the popular programming which is leading the majority in the wrong direction. Be willing to take a stand, to stand for something, to see what others do not or cannot. Question everything, rather than mistaking the indoctrination by authority figures for some kind of greater truth. Learn to stand back and be objective, see where your life is heading, and make better choices — now, for the future.

5. Being Decisive

Decisiveness is a willingness to make decisions — tough decisions — here, now. It is not fearing the outcome of a decision, or being heedless of risk, but it is simply going forward with what you know to do. This "knowing" is not always intellectual; it is not always from the head, but more often from the heart, or the "gut."

People who experience a high level of success know what they want, choose it, and take whatever actions are needed to make it happen in a real way. Part of the process is learning to work with what happens after you make a decision, not just getting enough information to make the decision. Things are often different from what you might expect; being decisive isn't a guarantee that thing will go as you expect or hope. But, you learn to work with the way things develop.

The more hard work, knowledge, commitment, and decisiveness a person has, the more it may appear that things go their way. Some people call this "luck." When we choose a course of action, commit to it, and make consistent choices aligned with our purpose, previously unseen factors may come into play which support our decision. Of course, there are bad decisions, or ones that we either learn from or need to abandon. But, the more prepared we are, the more informed we are, and the more we rely upon what we know within us, the more likely we are to move in the direction we have chosen, successfully.

Intuition plays a significant role in decisiveness. Everyone has a different experience of awareness, intuitiveness, perspective, understanding, and insight. We each need to learn to work with what we have. Some people can make intuitive decisions with a minimal amount of information or knowledge; they just seem to be able to call upon their intuitive abilities regardless. Others need a lot of information before they get a sense of what is right for them; it is as if their intuitive sense is a reflection of all that they know, on a subtle level; it all comes together in a feeling or knowing of what is likely to work out for them. Intuition may also be a feeling of when it is right to act, which is often at least as important as knowing what to do.

Consider your own life. Are you decisive? In what areas? In what areas are you indecisive? Why? What holds you back? Lack of knowledge or information, lack of understanding or insight? Do you usually make decisions without a felt sense — an intuitive sense — of it being right? What else do you need to know, before you can make a decision?

Most people tend to be more decisive in some areas of their lives than others. What keeps us from making the right choice, is usually fear, doubt, or worry. Ironically, fear of loss or failure can keep us from doing what will bring us gain and success. And, the more fear we have, the more we react to things outside us, and tend to ignore true inner knowingness. Fear overshadows true awareness; it is not the same as knowing what is wrong. Fear is just an emotion, and a very limiting one.

Learn to discern the difference between fear and knowing (or intuition). Intuition is often a feeling, but it is not an emotion; it is a knowing. Learn what it means to rely more upon intuitive knowing; the most successful people do. They recognize the particular feeling, sensation, or signal that tells them what is right for them, and what is not. And, it is different for different people. Also, learn the difference between so-called "positive thinking" and intuitive insight. Positive thinking is little more than having an expectation that things will go well, just because you think so — or imagining that everything will go well as long as you do not think about the negative aspect or liabilities. That simply does not work in life, especially in the financial area.

There are ways to practice being decisive, learning when you have enough information to make a good decision, without a lot of risk. For example, you can create an imaginary stock portfolio; make believe you have ten thousand dollars to invest, and find the funds, stocks, or other investment that you believe will produce the best return for you during the next year. Keep separate imaginary accounts for different mixes of investments. Then, track your investments, and see how your portfolio does. Various ones may go up or down. There may be unseen factors that enter into play. The entire market may go up or down, and carry along your investments. It is harder for some people when they use real money, their own money; others find that, once they have learned the art of investing, using their own money lets them feel the pulse of the market better.

It is not just a matter of when to acquire an investment, but also a matter of when to sell it; and both rely upon an intuitive sense of timing. You can learn to be decisive, unemotional, non-reactive, and self-directed in your life. Practice, especially when you can do so with minimal risk, so that you will be able to draw upon this ability when it really matters. Few of us can see the future, but we can all learn to make decisions which honor what we do know.

6. Minimizing Risk

There is a risk in many things in life; something may be gained, and something may be lost. It is not the case that "everything happens for the better." People suffer real losses in life. You are the only one who can decide what risks are worth it in your life, including financially, and how to minimize those risks. In many cases, people transfer their risks to the insurance industry, via insurance policies. But, that does not keep bad things from happening. Neither does unawareness, ignorance, or denial.

Millions of people choose to accept or "retain" risk, as the insurance industry calls it — risks that they cannot really control. They live in earthquake, hurricane, wildfire, drought, tornado, and flood-prone areas. Some people are unaware of the risks involved in living where they are — builders build homes in flood planes, and then people are surprised when they are flooded out and lose everything. Some of the most expensive real estate is along coastal areas, or on bars of sand out in the ocean, because it is pretty. People assume that disaster will not befall them.

There are ways to avoid or reduce some risks significantly, if you don't want to risk losing everything. If you have seen natural disasters on television or experienced one directly, you may appreciate the value in not being in that situation in the first place. Some risks come with a warning, such as hurricanes; others, like tornadoes, do not have a long warning; some, like earthquakes, have no warning at all. They are unavoidable. So, the question is: do you want to risk everything, including your life or the lives of your loved ones, for a nice view, or a few more days of sunshine each year?

Unfortunately, wealth buys a lot of illusions, and a lot of denial.

New Agers, many of whom live in California on top of the San Andreas Fault, prefer to imagine that if they just think nice thoughts nothing bad will ever happen to them in their lives. Some believe they are physically immortal, just as long as they don't believe in death. If they have not yet died in this life, they are free to believe whatever they wish. But, that is not a plan for living. It is living in denial.

There are very real risks that you have accepted simply by living on this Earth. And, no matter what plane of existence you may imagine you are living on, if you have a physical body you are subject to the physical laws of this universe, and the karma (causes and effects) that shows up in people's lives on this Earth. You live in a world where everyone dies, and there is a plague of disease, violence, warfare, crime, lack, poverty, hunger, abuse, and everyday destruction of human rights and human lives. That is the world you live in. If you do not accept the reality of that, or if you imagine wealth or good thoughts will insulate you from that reality, you are merely setting yourself up for a very rude awakening. Of course, even the most diehard New Ager, positive thinker, or "law of atrraction" believer has insurance on their car, on their home, on their health, and probably on their life.

It is not possible to eliminate all risks, so rather than thinking it can never happen to you, get adequate insurance. And be aware that there are things that will not be covered by insurance. Be very clear on that. You can reduce risks, by risking only what you can afford to lose for what you believe will bring you more of what you truly want — and by facing reality.

People have different subjective impressions of "risk," including in financial matters. What may seem like an excessive risk to one person may seem quite reasonable to another, in a very similar financial situation. But, in general, there is an inherent risk in various things, especially investments, and it is usually better to risk more when you are younger than when you are nearing or in retirement. The theory is, when you are younger, you have more time to recover from a potential loss.

Some people refuse to invest in anything other than bonds issued and backed by the US government, such as T-Bills (or Treasury Bills). There can be risks associated with bonds, such as bond defaults, and lower yields, as well. But, Treasury bonds are considered to be just about the safest investment. For the risk-averse, their lower yield than the stock market average is more acceptable than having sleepless nights or fears about losing everything if stocks drop in value. You have to assess your own willingness and ability to accept risk, speak with a financial planner who can factor in your specific life circumstances, and decide what is appropriate for you.

The examples portrayed in the media about the "good life," are about hedonism and materialism. They create the illusion that the rich and famous are somehow sheltered from problems, or are better than the rest. That is just an illusion. They suffer just as much in their unawareness, lack of financial sense, irresponsibility, self-destructive behavior, addictions, divorces, and other problems. No one is sheltered from the real liabilities of merely living in this world. Do not imagine that having a lot of money will accomplish that.

7. Some Things Money Can Buy

Money can buy many things that are valuable in our lives. First you have to understand the things that money cannot buy, so that you do not spend your life trying to purchase them: love, peace, joy, and spiritual realization.

If you are going to spend money, you may as well spend it on the right things. Be discerning, and don't buy on impulse; let your purchases be considered and wise. Young people are often more concerned with the things they can buy for the short term or to enjoy immediately. They usually don't think of themselves in their old age, or what they will need then; they just get what they want now. But, a little perspective goes a long way.

What goods and services can money buy, that may be of value in your life? Money can buy an exercise or fitness program at a health club, yoga, tai chi, pilates, and so on. It can buy complementary health-care treatments such as massage therapy, acupuncture, and so on. Money spent on health and fitness — in a way that makes sense to you — will serve you later in life, too.

Money can buy travel, and the broadening of your perspective in life, to better see your place in the world. Much of what we take for granted in our lives, especially in America, people do not even have in many places around the world. In a very real way, we do not appreciate what we already have — no matter how rich we may be. Appreciation for what we have, is necessary before we can appreciate something more.

What is something that is uplifting to you, that money can buy? How might it enhance your overall well-being, or allow a better quality of life in some way? One person may experience great peace and happiness from having a plot of ground where they can grow things. Another may find inspiration in playing a musical instrument. Realize, there are things that may help you to live a more soulful existence, which support the experience of inner fulfillment. Think about what form of creative self-expression you might enjoy.

If you don't know what you might like to do, go to a bookstore and see what draws your interest, perhaps a craft or trade, anything from quilting to car repair. It is always good to learn a trade or have a hobby, something practical that you enjoy. Make one of your goals in life to learn something new each year. Formal education may end when we leave school, but life should be a lifelong learning experience. You don't know what you could learn, what you could do. You might surprise yourself. People have become artists in their old age, taken up exercise, helped teach others to read, or learned a language. It is never too late to learn something new.

It doesn't cost much — and you don't have to go to another country — to learn another language. There are endless opportunities right where you are. In fact, you don't have to go anywhere to learn most subjects these days; education comes to your home via the Internet.

One of the best investments you can make is in yourself. What might help you to be a better problem solver and decision maker, experience less problems and more joy in relationships, increase your skill or knowledge base, develop your specific talents and abilities, network in your community, or have life experiences that you value? Something for your greater good will tend to have a positive influence in many different areas of your life.

Finally, it may be possible to use your money to create a safe and secure, peaceful and uplifting, environment in which to live. You can create an environment in which you feel free to express yourself, in a good way, creatively. Some people try to use money to insulate themselves from the world, from life, or from the consequences of their actions; that is not always the best use for money. Money should not be a shield to keep you from learning or growing; and money does not truly serve you if you use it to live in a state of denial, to cater to addictions, or to live in a fantasy world of ego and illusions. The more you practice using money for what truly serves your highest purposes in living, the more free you will be of all the things that — if you buy into them — only trap you, rather than freeing you.

8. When Less Is More

People often have their minds made up about what they want, what they think is best for them. However, what they may fill their lives with, or use their energy for, is not necessarily the result of deep introspection, self-knowledge, creativity, purpose, or understanding. It is often a product of their past programming, habit, social conditioning, addictiveness, ambitions, lack of awareness or perspective, or conformity to the world.

As a society, we demonstrate lifestyle inflation: the more money we have, the more deserving we feel of anything we feel we can afford, and the more we spend. Americans spend more than they earn. We always want more — and it's just programming. Always wanting more is the opposite of peace, contentment, and fulfillment in life.

Everyone wants more.

More success, or ...
More love.
More joy.
More peace.
More good.
More money.
More friends.
More sex.
More entertainment.
More education.
More family.
More vacations.
More business.
More customers or clients.
More respect.
More approval.
More recognition or acclaim.
More space.
More spiritual growth.
More impact or influence.
More authority.
More power.
More creativity.
More time.
More life.
More excitement or passion.
More contentment.
More toys.
More possessions.
More pleasure.
More play.
More ease.
More health.
More calm or quiet.
More experience.
More validation.
More support.
More.

What do you want more of in your life?

Why?

We often define ourselves by what we have, and the more we have, the more we feel we "are." When we align with what is simply true to who we are, we have more of what truly matters. When we live from ego, or make decisions in accordance with ego, we have less of what truly matters.

We can never have enough things to satisfy the ego; the ego always wants more of those things that cannot satisfy us; the ego wants us to pursue every illusion of happiness, rather than just being happy and content. This pursuit of "more" is not the pursuit of happiness. It represents unhappiness. This is why billionaires trade in their yachts every year for a much bigger one, in the mistaken belief that now they have what they want — and they never do.

Understand the nature of what you pursue out of ego versus what is simply in the nature of your being, and you will save yourself a lifetime of chasing after things that cannot satisfy you or make you more whole or complete. People spend their time, their money — their lives — accumulating things that ultimately don't mean anything or have any ultimate value. Understand this well, and you will save a fortune and be able to live simply, contentedly, with peace and happiness.

Let go of the programming to get more, to have more, to do more. Let go of the endless chasing after illusions of happiness, let go of the ego and its endless desires, and you may find what you are looking for, here, now. And it doesn't cost you anything. It is within you already.

Don't be driven by external pressures and expectations — or have your future determined by forces from the past. Live each day, simply, with peace, love, wisdom, and goodness, and your future will largely take care of itself.

9. Knowing What Makes You Happy

The first thing to know about happiness, is that it is ultimately not about what happens to you. It is more about finding a place of deeper self-satisfaction, peace, love, and joy within you.

The second thing to know is: nothing you ever buy will give you true self-satisfaction or fulfillment in life. That simply cannot be bought, not with all the money in the world.

The third thing is: if you wish to know what it means to be happy, if you have lost sight of that in your busyness in the world-at-large, take a bit of time to sit and watch children playing outside. Look at what it takes for them to be happy. Remember that. And see if you can in any way relate to that, here, now, in your adult life. If not, you have a lot to do — within you — before you know what true happiness is; please review the first two things you need to know, often.

Are you happy? Many people are quite happy to never look at how unhappy they are, and mistake this for being truly happy. What are the things that cause you to be unhappy? Do you have problems that need to be resolved? Do you have some decisions to make? Are there things that need to be let go of, released, or no longer accepted by you in your life?

Often, in our society, people latch onto something which they seem to enjoy, and base their happiness upon it. It could be anything: watching professional wrestling or playing baseball, being a wine gourmet or a drug user, surfing or listening to pop music. Whatever you have adopted from your social programming, which you imagine will bring you long-term fulfillment, self-satisfaction, freedom, peace, or joy, is pretty much an illusion. We all find things that we enjoy in the world around us, but that does not mean the source of our happiness is outside of us. It is within us, always. Some things we do may, at best, remind us of that place within us, or bring us closer to it. Other things just displace us from that, within us, and replace true self-satisfaction and self-worth with things and experiences outside us — which always go away.

If what you imagine to be happiness flees from you, or disappears until your next experience, rush, or "fix," then it is clearly not true happiness. Keep looking — within you. It's there.

If your "source" of happiness is in the past, or expected to arrive somewhere in the future, it is illusory and not real. Happiness is not something that can be experienced in the future or the past — nostalgia is not happiness; expectation is not happiness. You can only be happy in the present moment. Is it there, now — right here, right now? If not, then you haven't really found it.

Unless you can find happiness, within you, you will not be able to find true inner peace, freedom, love, wisdom, or your highest good, either. They are all found in the same place, within you.

Freedom cannot be bought. It is a spiritual quality of beingness. It is what you are. It is who you are. It is not something you acquire. Knowing this — really knowing this — will save you a lifetime of looking for everything you truly need in all the wrong places, and spending your time, your life, your energy, and your money in ways that cannot ultimately make you happy. On the other hand, finding this place within you — this place of inner peace, wisdom, love, and joy — will help you to live from there, so that everything you do in your life unfolds a deeper experience of these qualities within you. That is true happiness, and it is free.

10. Financial Vision

It takes practice to develop true financial vision, to make decisions that work for you over time.

Some people lack financial vision entirely; others see everything in terms of money. Neither of these is true financial vision, or perspective.

Those who love money, or who are focused on money as the solution to all their problems, develop a very narrow way of perceiving the world. They may come to look at everything in terms of money: their career choices, their relationships, competitive sports, sex, gourmet eating, wine drinking, vacations, and so on. Everything is about what it costs, or the sense of self-worth they derive from how much they spend. Even those who spend freely, who do not much care what any particular thing costs, only how much they feel they want it or need to have it, suffer from limited financial vision or perspective.

First of all, the financial aspect is only one aspect of life; there are also physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual aspects of a person's life. People who are fixated on money often have a less than satisfactory experience in other areas of their lives. And, though they may imagine they have clear financial vision, they have little or no idea what place money really ought to have in their lives.

Another part of true financial vision requires an understanding of the nature of economic change, or cycles. It is only an illusion that things will keep getting better, when they are. There are periods of growth and prosperity, and there are inevitably periods of decline and loss. That is the nature of the economy, and the world in which we live.

You would be amazed at the number of people who have, over the years, had "all their eggs in one basket." They had their life savings, their retirement funds, or their investments, in one thing; and, something happened, and they lost everything. It isn't how much you have that gives you financial security, but rather how well your money and assets are protected — especially from economic changes and other changes in the world, which can wipe out your savings or investments.

True financial vision demands a vision of the past, a realistic view of the present, and a wary eye on the future. There are such things as stock market crashes; there are pension funds disappearing; there are real estate busts, with massive foreclosures; there are massive layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, and exporting of jobs. All of these things have happened already, and they will happen again. Are you aware of how these things might affect you, and your financial well-being? Have you taken any steps to prepare?

Perhaps you may realize that your financial well-being depends upon your awareness of the world around you. Awareness allows understanding, perspective, insight, choice, and control of your wealth. It is the key to your financial future.

Your awareness can be limited, blocked, or distorted by anything that caters to ego, emotion, addictive behavior (large or small), impulsiveness, sensory gratification, the influence of alcohol or other drugs, prior conditioning and programming, stress, and the overwhelming amount of information presented in the various media. True awareness is a much simpler state of mind, and state of being.

You need information, and you need to understand trends in the economy and what is happening to your money and investments. But, what you need even more, is the ability to stand back from all of that, quietly see what you know within you, and make choices that are most aligned with what is right, good, and true for you.

In other words, vision is not only external or outwardly-directed, it is inwardly-directed. Awareness is not only a perception of the outer world, but clarity of perception of your inner world and your own thoughts, feelings, needs, and inner guidance. This is how you find your way, by looking within you as much as you are looking outside you. Do not neglect either. Refuse to see what is happening outside you, and you won't even make it crossing the street; refuse to listen to what you feel and know within you, and you won't wind up where you want.

11. Planning for Life

What is meant by a "life plan" is not so much a set career plan or financial plan, but rather an ongoing self-appraisal of where your life is headed and what you are truly accomplishing, in the present moment. This is not just focusing on the present with a sort of nearsightedness, to the exclusion of any long-term perspective. Rather, the required balance is having true awareness and choice in the present moment together with a more long-term vision for the consequences of your choices. So, even if your long-term plans were not to come to fruition, you would have maintained integrity with your self and made the best choices at each step.

Do you have goals? These are the basic criteria for setting progressive goals:

Your goals must flow from your true purpose; that is, you need to be well aware of the underlying purposes which you wish to fulfill before you just "set goals."
Your goals and objectives must be realistic. You may need to abandon old goals which no longer serve you; be sure your choices are in touch with reality.
Instead of being driven by goals, consider what is most right, good, and true in the present. Choose what you know to be right now, rather than merely hoping everything will "work out" later.
Refer to your inner self, and conscience, not the expectations of others.

Basically, the idea is not to be too "goal-directed" or driven by future expectations; but rather to be aware, remain flexible, and know that the best choice "now" — being fully responsive in the present moment — is also the best choice for "later."

In every thing you desire, meditate deeply why you want it, what purpose it will serve, whether it will free you or trap you, whether it will make you more or less, and what makes it right, good, or true. Let your true, inner conscience be your guide. As George Washington put it, "Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience."

There is a price to pay for every thing you want in this life, everything of the outer, material world. The cost is often in terms of some diminishing of inner spiritual value. Be aware of what it is costing you to pursue what you desire, in terms of time, energy, life. As the song goes, "There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold, and she's buying a stairway to Heaven." Of course, it just isn't possible to put together any number of material steps or possessions as a way to be spiritually in "heaven." What you build from worldly programming, conditioning, and materialism is not necessarily a spiritually true path to where you might want to be.

What if you could have whatever you wanted in life? Would you, like most people want all the money, sex, power, social position, material possessions, and worldly ambitions you could think of? Are these things necessarily "good"? Does it matter what is ultimately "good" or are you only concerned with having what you want, satisfying your desires, gratifying your ego-emotional nature? Most people try to get whatever they can — that is their plan in life, never questioning what is right, good, or true, but just mindlessly pursuing the goal of getting what they want. But, just because most people would do that, or you might if you were heavily programmed and conditioned by your society, does that make it right, good, or true? Once again, you need to find and refer to your inner conscience to answer these questions.

We each make choices at every moment of our lives. But we seldom realize the deeper meaning of free will. Most people, most of the time, do not make many conscious choices in the present moment. Instead, the present moment is merely an extrapolation of the past. We may think, "whatever I chose in the past is good enough; I don't need to change it." We lapse into a state of unconsciousness, not really consciously thinking this thought, but relying instead upon habit, past programming, conformity, and conditioning to determine our choices for us in the present moment — and the future. So, though we may have free will in the present moment, most people are slaves to the past. And, when they do happen to "choose" in the present moment, they rarely if ever depart from what others think, believe, or expect of them.

Think about it. Is your future looking like your past? What is your life plan? What if every choice you've ever made mattered? What if, cumulatively, their consequences added up to your destiny or fate? What do you wish to (or imagine you can) take with you from this life?

What is your vision of the future?

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