Virtue in Wealth: the Consciousness of Prosperity and Abundance

Once there was a sensible lady who used to tell her kids with bedside stories. Unlike the usual fairytales, her stories were from her ordinary life lived extraordinarily, starting as a  scrawny kid who knew only the simplicity of a small remote barrio high up in the southern mountains of Cebu, consequently become a respected and accomplished entrepreneur with flourishing business enterprise. What is special about her? She practically lives in her dreams.

She fondly remembered her childhood when children of her age would go home from school, they trekked the 7 kilometers distance or if lucky, they hitched a ride from the single jeepney that traveled the route. The children were squeezed between the adults and the livestock or farm produced cargoes. It was rather a bumpy, crowded, dusty, uphill ride; they have to endure for more than an hour, while the front seat, beside the driver, his daughter seated comfortably. Not one can seat beside her, although the seat was good enough for three.  Looking upfront, the ‘bida’ daydreamed, that one day she will be able to feel the luxury of seating front seat. One small wish from a sweating child… Today, she owns four vehicles, she just choose which one she wants to use for the day -- and chauffer driven too!

School is another story. Private schools were unheard of and most children were enrolled in public school, a run-down, dingy three room affair. Only two teachers to teach all grade levels and next to none school supplies. One book has to be shared by 7-8 students, the students take turns reading the book. She related that one of her classmates would not let others touch the book. As the ‘owner’ read the book, others would mimic, “ang  manyika kong pula…” One day, the district supervisor came to visit. Suddenly there was a call for a random reading exercise.  She was called to read and the district supervisor asked her to read the word marked by the ruler. She was silent. The district supervisor was surprised and asked if she learned anything from the class. She did, however they have to start from the first page. The district supervisor relented; she was able to ‘read’, in fact, she memorized the whole book! She silently prayed to have her own copy of the reading book.  These days she has her daughter’s room fitted with a library filled with books.

After she received her college diploma, she went to countless of companies to apply but not one was interested to employ her. Near desperation, she prayed for any company to accept her, even if not related to her course. Years later, her own company had employed at one time almost 150 workers, not only which, most of her clients were the industrial companies that did not accept her previously!

Nowadays, people tend to live life in terms of the materialistic philosophy; people tend to judge others for what they possess both in terms of money and power.  Wherein people are encouraged to compete for and consume the world’s limited resources. With little consideration to self development, discouragesone to live according to their desires, feelings and instincts. People who long for the natural human tendencies to love, care and kindness are sometimes shunned and abused; it is not there place to exist.  Thus, a common notion --- to possess material wealth is akin to greed, avarice and sin, itself.
 
In contrary, Bo Sanhchez,  in his book “Simplify and Create Abundance” he placed emphasizes on God being so generous that He gives out Manna to those who is deserving, all of us.  He is generous to His children that He provides all the wealth needed to live an abundant life. Waiting for the miracle to drop at the doorstep is one thing but working to multiply the miracle is even better.  It needs certain state of affairs to gain virtue in wealth.

What had you been thinking regarding your financial status? “I’m earning less than what I deserve…” “We are poor, we don’t have enough money.” “ I can’t make it, my business will fail..” And what these become of you--- you stuck in poverty, indeed.  What you think is who you are.  In psychology, this referred to as self-fulfilling prophecy, a person thoughts can directly or indirectly causes itself to become true.  Do you know that the human mind is the most intricate machinery ever created? And do you know that anything one can imagine of, anything one can believe in can also be accomplished?
 
Mark Fisher, author, in his book “The Millionaire’s Secret”, pointed out that one of real problems hindering one from achieving the goals is fear. It stops one from optimizing the extra oomph of surging confidence. One must possess faith, not just any faith, but rather the real faith of believing in one’s own capacity to succeed.  One needs to believe in oneself, not a gram of frustrations allows the unhinging of the pursuit of wealth.

Love your work and wealth will follow, is another adage popularized by Marsha Sinetar, in her book “Do What You Love The Money Will Follow”,  for one to succeed it is noble to  know of one’s strengths and weaknesses as well as one’s passion and talents. Be creative. Be innovative. Move. Act. Create. Invent.  In this way, one will able to harness his abilities and competencies in acquiring wealth. If one lacks the necessary knowledge, then be diligent to learn about the trade or profession.  Develop the zest to work is another step to abundance.  
 

On a personal note, that lady mentioned earlier is my fair share of Manna, it is under her tutelage that I became who I am today. As a witness and beneficiary of her triumphs and success, I still continue to embody these  virtues of wealth in increasing the consciousness of prosperity and abundance day by day.  She shared one last piece of advice before we part ways, I was about to give her a gift. But she declined and only said, “To remember those who became God’s instruments in spreading His Manna and thank them is enough. It will be more splendid you yourself became the ‘Manna’ for others, it pays to pay forward…” That day, I’m perplexed by what she had said. Not until I begin to relate her story to others that I realized. She simply means, Be generous to Share your wealth.