The Dalai Lama and Money

I betcha the Dalai Lama has a pretty good “money consciousness” (MC).

I’ve been listening to an audio book in the car by the DL (that’s what I sometimes call him, cuz we’re down… ) (How To See Yourself, if you’re wondering) and when he mentioned money he got me to thinking.

Thinking about how I think about money, the consequences of my thinking and how close (or far away) my thinking on money is to the DL’s.

It was quickly apparent that, to put it charitably, my MC was quite different than the DL’s. And not in a good way.

To be perfectly frank, my MC is rather crap. I think and repeat (and thus, reinforce) non-constructive thoughts about money.

I sometimes think that money will make me into a jerk, or at least  get in the way of me being a nicer person (I can kinda be an a-hole sometimes, at least in my thinking… ).

I think that money will become something of an obsession and that it will make me less-spriritual as a result.

And, the real gem: money will change me – in ways I can’t anticipate, and maybe can’t manage well. (That one is the true “crazy-maker,” because everything changes us and fearing change because it will change you, despite that the fact that the nature of things is to change, is to create an illusion that keeps you stuck (despite the reality that change marches on in your life, with or without your input)).

Okay, so I’ve shared. You still with me?

I want to get to the useful bit; the insight I had.

Acknowledging and embracing our MC is very, very important. Not because, like you no doubt have heard, that having a clear and attractive MC will allow money into your life, but for the opposite reason.

If your MC sucks you will keep money out.

You see your brain and mind are very good at keeping the things you (truly) don’t want, or don’t think you deserve, from you. You won’t notice opportunities. You won’t take the actions necessary to move towards greater wealth.

Never mind whether your thoughts and “consciousness” can attract money like a magnet or some such, know that your mind will keep money away from you – like an immune system would – if your beliefs and values regarding money suck.

Simply put you behave according to your beliefs and values (whether all aspects of those things serve you or not… ), and if you believe money to be bad, or complicating, or stressful, or un-holy, or… whatever, your mind/brain will protect you from “it.”

So, I’m not saying you can necessarily (and “magically”) attract money, but you sure can keep it at some distance.

Does this make any sense?

Deep-down, do you believe you deserve to be compensated at a higher level?

Granted, the universe rewards you in direct – and exacting – proportion to the value you create, so you might need to put more out into the World, but do you feel that you could be doing more? That what you’re capable of contributing is out-of-sync with your inherent capabilities… ?

I bet you feel/know you could be earning more, but you stop yourself (and likely unconsciously… ).

What to do? Find out what the world wants, where ‘that’ intersects with your skills and talents and offer that (effectively).

The money will come…

Similar Posts

  • Do You Get On?

    The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them. – George Bernard Shaw I’m sure I’ve blogged on this quote before, but it’s worth repeating. Ask yourself about your “circumstances:” Are they what you want?…

  • One of the Beauties of Life

    It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely* try to help another without helping himself. – Emerson Everything is sticky, whether you’re generous or stingy, helpful and conniving, thoughtful or selfish, . . .  everything rubs off on you. Be very careful what you rub up against – whether it’s…

  • Why Planning Works (Always)

    Anything worth doing is worth planning (at least once). Lest I lose a potential reader who may think “Why plan small tasks? They’re small… ” let me say that even small tasks can benefit from a careful – albeit quick – planning session. Maybe there’s a better way of doing things, or maybe new resources are available…

  • What Actual Humility Is

    Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. – C.S. Lewis So many people (or at least the ones with enough self-awareness) get this wrong. They think, consciously or otherwise, that they need to make themselves smaller, or lesser, to be “humble.” It’s a mistake of thinking. You’re amazing. You have…

  • Paying the Price

    “The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” – Henry David Thoreau I love this quote because it reminds us that there is no such thing as something-for-nothing. Whether it be money, time or character, we trade something precious for every result we create in our lives. When we embrace…