Whether you think we are living in the best of times or the worst, they certainly are interesting times.

I assure you that I am very much part of the 99% being represented in Zuccotti Park, and now all around the world. I stand with the Occupy Wall Street movement in so far as it is protesting greed and corruption, which is a misuse of power in the area of money; but it’s important to remember that money itself did not cause the problem.     

Fighting to bring justice to those who have gotten away with crime and to help those who are suffering because of it is one thing; hating all people who have money, even those that earned it with integrity and hard work does not make sense.  It doesn’t even make sense to hate the system that allowed it to happen; it’s people that abused and twisted the system to their advantage.    

I love money.  It took me a long time to understand and be comfortable saying that because of all the connotations, including the school of thought that espouses “money is evil” and “rich people are bad”.  But I know I have my priorities straight and I’ve come to see money as something I strive to have a healthy and balanced relationship with; therefore if I want to have more of it, I have to love and respect it so it can treat me right.  If I hated money, why would money come into my life?   

I also know that money isn’t the end, it’s simply the means, and I’ve only ever given it a supporting role status in life, never the be-all, end-all of my existence. (Just ask my friends and family who have witnessed my journey these past ten years…!) Money is an energy and just like any other type of energy, it’s how you use it that counts.  I am still learning, but because of the choices I have made and the extremes I have experienced, I have come to a Zen place with it at least for now.

The necessity of money in our lives is a reality that is not going away anytime soon, if ever, and changing the ways in which we exchange goods and services or govern ourselves won’t make much of a difference if people themselves don’t change.

As I say in all my seminars, at the end of the day you need to define what prosperity means for you in all aspects of life.  You must know that you are not your bank account and your self-worth and happiness are not determined by your salary or your stuff. 

Wondering how you can get from being a have-not to a having a life that is affluent in mind, body and spirit?  Give me a buzz and I’ll help you go from rags to riches, pauper to prince(ss), creating an earthly experience filled with purpose and meaning that surpasses all the Great Expectations you could ever have!

P.S. For related thoughts on this topic, check out these posts:  Money Makes the World Go Round, Changing of the Guard; Work It 

P.P.S. Last week I was featured last week in a column in the Huffington Post, check it out here!