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Recently I posted this on my facebook page, “Happiness is a state of mind…not a balance in a checking account, the square footage of a house or a title at a job!” I have to tell you I was rather shocked at some of the comments I got. So I decided to delve into the topic a bit further.

Our economy is the worst it has ever been in my lifetime! People are losing their jobs, their homes and worst of all their self worth! This is not about rich vs poor. This is about surviving one of the most difficult times our country has ever gone through. There is a money mindset epidemic that is destroying us! We have been conditioned in our society to believe that our value as a human is directly connected to money. We believe that a person who lives in a million dollar home, holds a prestigious job title and drives an expensive car is considered to be more successful than someone who lives in a regular size house, drives a 5 year old car and has a job that pays minimum wage. We have been conditioned to believe that we need all of this “stuff” to make us happy. In fact, we spend so much time trying to keep all of our “stuff” that we don’t even have the time to enjoy it! How insane is that?

YES, I truly believe that money can not buy happiness. Yes, it makes being depressed easier but if you only define yourself by your “stuff” then you need to do some deep soul searching! As I stated on facebook, I am not talking about living without the basic necessities of life (food, clothing and shelter). I am talking about needing to eat out in the finest restaurants all of the time, wearing only top designer fashions and living in the biggest house on the block. I am talking about people who are staying at jobs they hate and that are physically making them sick cause they have bills to pay. I am talking about people who stay in horrible abusive relationships because they think that offers them financial security. I have said this a million times and I will say it  again….I know a lot of very wealthy people who are completely miserable. They will tell you, all of their money did NOT buy them happiness. I recently had someone who had become a millionaire in his mid 20’s tell me that he would give all the money back in a minute if it meant he could find true inner happiness!!!!!!!!!! He actually told me he was jealous of me because I am  living my dream, doing what I love to do and making a difference in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, I was shocked myself!

Why is this so important? Because we have entered a time where people are literally committing suicide after losing their home or their job! I am sure  the family members of those people would give up all of their “stuff”in a second just to have their loved one back! What kind of society have we become when losing a home or a job is worth killing yourself over? We need to wake up! We need to realize a house is 4 walls, a job is just a paycheck and a car is just transportation! Life is not a Monopoly game where the one with the most money at the end wins. Life is about the relationships we have with the people around us. Life is about the wonderful experience we share with others. Life is about making memories with those we cherish.

Years ago while I was going through my divorce I was volunteering at a nursing home. That experience not only helped me to prioritize my life but it helped me to get through a very tough time. I remember talking to men and women who were well into their 90’s and hearing all of their wonderful stories. I would spend hours listening to them talk about their children and grandchildren (the things they did with them) and the many people who touched their lives. It hit me one day that the one thing I never…NEVER….heard any of them talk about was how much money they made, or how big their house was, or what kind of car they drove. As many of them were preparing to exit this life they realized what true success was and that their happiness came from the many people who made such a difference in their lives.

I have lost everything in my life more than once. Crazy as it sounds I am thankful for those experiences for several reasons. First, it made me realize what was truly important. Secondly, it made me much more willing to take risks cause after all what did I have to lose (but that is for another article). Some  of you know the current struggles I have been facing. In fact many of you have asked how I get out of bed in the morning. The answer is very simple. I choose to take my power back and be in control of my own happiness. I have realized that true happiness comes from within. I have let go of trying to control the things I can not change. I have put my focus onto the things in life that bring me the greatest pleasure. And while I can tell you that I am going through one of the most stressful times ever in my life…..or what should be one of the most stressful time in my life, I am happier than I have ever been!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not writing this article to beat up people who are wealthy or to insult people who are not. I am not saying that having money is bad. I am writing this article for all the people I meet on a daily basis who are feeling like complete failures because they are losing the things they used to have (house, job, car). I am writing to tell you that regardless of what you have been conditioned to believe you are an amazingly wonderful and valuable human being and the world would not be the same without you! I am writing to tell you that no matter how bad things may seem or how unfair life may get, there are ALWAYS people around you who love and cherish you! They do not love you for your “stuff”, they love you for YOU! I am writing to tell you to get out of the money mindset and take back your power!

Remember…. “stuff” is replaceable, YOU are not!