When You Can't Find Wealth in Your Bank Account; Find Wealth In Your Heart

Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you. - Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde's quote gracefully plucks the strings of the wealth instrument I am inviting you to practice. This wealth instrument is your heart. I am taking the liberty to say that there isn't one person who hasn't been directly impacted by the state of our current economy. However, as you begin to practice experiencing wealth within your heart, you learn that true wealth is not a direct reflection of the economy, amount of money in the bank, job, size of one's home, or car. True wealth is the experience of looking in the mirror and knowing that you are a worthy person who deserves joy, love, and abundance regardless of how much money or valuables you possess. Many people are in fear of possible foreclosure, job loss, and the disintegration of their retirement accounts. Career, retirement and our homes are significant parts of our lives and these are dire, valid concerns. However, in support of vaporizing some of this fear I am encouraging a reorientation to what is truly important.

I had a mother who lived a classic welfare to work story. When a failed marriage left her without sufficient financial resources she did whatever it took to create a life close to the one she wanted for herself and her children. With the warrior spirit that we know mothers can possess she found the humility to go on welfare while she developed the skills to get back to work and keep our home. There were times when we had to ration food, wear no-name clothing, accept welfare Christmas presents, and wear 2nd hand clothing. Regardless, my mother found a way to instill the pride that she knew my brothers and I deserved. Also, even in the most stressful moments, real love was always present. It was after her death I realized that my experience of unconditional love comes from her. THIS is REAL wealth.

IF you take away all of the things that you own and all of the money you owe or even all of the money you have: you are still left with the very source of your existence, and this is...YOU. I challenge you to make a paradigm shift to the IDEA that BEING is more valuable than HAVING. Although you may no longer HAVE the disposable income you've had in the past, you still have the power to BE truly wealthy.

Here are some tips to help you experience wealth regardless of how much money you have:

1)Keep a true wealth journal
Keep an ongoing journal of the things that make you feel wealthy beyond money and possessions. My true wealth journal includes friendships, health, what I experience when I am in nature, having a positive impact on my clients. Include in this list the things that support you in experiencing joy and well being. Is it truly money that is important or is it that we have bought into the concept that money is the only thing that provides joy and well being? Perhaps your greatest joy would come from more quality time with your children than that extra five hours at the office.

2) Be Grateful
I have not tested many "get rich quick" schemes, but one that I do know works is the experience and expression of gratitude. I was hiking in the Hollywood Hills the other day. It was January and the sun was shining, the breeze was warm, my heart was beating fast from my intentionally brisk walk, I had a view of the ocean, the valley, and downtown Los Angeles. I was taken by the moment. With that came the experience of real gratitude and I felt rich. Every night before I go to sleep I acknowledge at least five things from my day for which I am grateful, and again I feel rich. I encourage the same for you.

3) Filter your media
Be critical about how you let the media program your daily life. Refrain from getting mired in all negativity delivered by the media. It only supports you in keeping your attention on negative energy, which simply breeds more experiences of what you don't want.

4) Practice the law of attraction
Defined simply, The Law of Attraction states, "like attracts like, you get what you think about, and you get what you put your energy and focus on whether wanted or unwanted." Therefore, it is critical to do what it takes to experience being wealthy regardless of how much money you have in the bank. Practice being a magnet to all of the things you desire to be and to have.

I am not suggesting you renounce all material desires. Being compensated fairly and abundantly for service to humanity is absolutely appropriate. I am simply suggesting that as a society we begin to reorient ourselves to what is truly important and what it means to be wealthy. When we open our hearts to experience real wealth we can become more peaceful, loving, and fulfilled. In becoming more loving we also realize that true wealth does not come from having to compete with one another. Rather, we can move away from being an ego-centric, individually focused society and begin to support one another through the significant global transitions we are undergoing.
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To participate in Jason's visioning circle: "Power Circle 2009", e-mail info@jmannino.com. Learn more about Jason and A.C.T.ion Centered Transformation at http://www.jmannino.com.