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This week on Facebook, a cousin described playfully how rich she wanted to become. It made me smile – and it evoked some fun responses. Then came the comment from her sister who gently reminded her, as only big sisters can, that “it is family that is important.”

It reminded me of the quote by Max Gehringer, “Do not educate your child to be rich, educate him to be happy.”

Did you catch that? One can either be rich OR happy. Money or meaning. Not both. 

When presented as an “either/or” dilemma like this – money OR meaning – who wouldn’t choose meaning. Isn’t meaning more noble than money?  It’s certainly what we are taught.

Have you found yourself in that place?  Feeling the need to choose between a life of sustenance and a life of meaning? Making a living or making a difference?  Most of us have. And it’s that very struggle which creates the inner conflict and deep dissatisfaction.

How many times have you heard yourself (or someone else) say “If I didn’t need this job, I would quit and do what I really love to do.“ 

It’s a story I know well.

I was raised with the notion that you were either Warren Buffet or Mother Teresa.  Gandhi or Trump. Wall Street or the Peace Corps. Not that it was specifically expressed as such, but the society and culture I grew up in intimated that a choice was necessary. 

This dichotomy created serious internal conflict for me because I am a person with
a strong desire to create a life of contribution and meaning.  In other words, no money for me! 

Now the only comfort I can soothe myself with is the knowledge that “money can’t buy me happiness.”  Great.   

And so here we stumble across the BIGGEST LIE of our generation.  Namely that one must choose between money or meaning … because you can’t have both.

 Can you??

 The Answer is YES!

The either/or dilemma (money or meaning) is in fact a false dilemma.  Both are possible – AND can in fact co-exist in perfect harmony. 

Here’s what I have come to learn: 

• It is noble to make money, when what you offer creates significant value for others. 
• It is not only possible, but desirable, to create a life of meaning while making money.
• In fact, you cannot have a life of measurable contribution without money. 

Why?  Because of what money is.

So then, what is money?

Money is paper and ink. It is simply a mechanism for the exchange of value. In that light, money is a measure of the degree of impact a person is having in the world. In other words, it is a yardstick of the value we are creating for others. The implication being, the bigger the paycheck, the more measurable value we are contributing.

When examined in this way, one can begin to see money as neutral – a meaningless mechanism. It has no meaning except that which we give it. And therefore cannot possess the inherently derogatory properties so often associated with it (evil, filthy, dirty rich comes to mind).   

While it’s true that it won’t buy you happiness, what money will do is give you options. And the means to contribute on a larger scale. That’s important, because..

Money builds churches.

Money feeds the poor.

Money houses the homeless.

Money funds movements.

Money builds communities.

My objective is that you experience abundance in every way that matters: spiritually, emotionally and financially.  I want you to “feel good” on every level.  Because…

No matter how much good that you send out into the world, you are not going to “feel good” if you are struggling financially.

You are not going to “feel good” if you are always worrying about your bills.

You are not going to “feel good” if you have nothing to give.

My Philosophy: Be more. Do more. Have more. Give more.  

In network marketing, not only can we make a difference by being the positive influence in a negative world… not only do we have products  that enrich lives, but we have the ability to positively influence the financial situation of every single person that we come into contact with.

What a ”feel good” idea!

The Bottom Line

Money and Meaning can coexist in harmony….IF…

You don’t chase the money. Money isn’t the goal here. The goal is adding value. Remember, money is just the measure of the value you have created for someone. 

Align your values, energy, and higher intention for the purpose of contributing value. 

Lead with your intention.  Lead with the desire to make a meaningful contribution. Share your value with the world, and do so honorably.  When you do that… the money will flow to you. 

Your Turn

I bet you have some thoughts on this topic! I want to hear them.

Success coach and speaker Deb Stewart teaches people how to build a mindset of success and indestructible self-belief, so that they can create the success they deserve. Learn more about Deb here http://debandjohn.net/about-us/
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