The Container Of Wealth
The Water Container.
So often over the years I have said that money is really important to living a full life, and then qualified things by saying that many people can spoil their life by keep amassing money at the expense of enjoying their life.
Rich is a relevant perception, to who is asking the question. Someone with nothing will think that maybe a $1000 can be regarded as rich, and then someone else will feel that rich will mean having the most money.
I think that joining the game of trying to get the most is a sad state, and I have met and interviewed some seriously wealthy people, and most of them say that if given their time again, they would ease up and really start doing the things they want to do at a point that they now know is ample wealth.
Whatever way we look at money, a surplus of it is of absolutely no use to you, and if you cannot find it in you to give it towards helping others, then it becomes stagnant.
This is one of the hardest things to get clear when changing your mindset, because lots of people just think of a huge amount of money, and think that obtaining this will make you a different person and allow you to enjoy yourself and live a fulfilled life.
It could be worth then looking at the richest woman in the world as of today. Gina Reinhart the mining Baroness is worth almost $30 billion, and is embroiled in a family dispute over her money. One must then ask the question, has the extraordinary amount of money brought her happiness?
I don’t know any details of her personal life, but I am sure that this situation is taking up a lot of her time and she would rather be doing something else. So with all her money, because she is not in control of her time, she is having to do things that she would rather not be doing.
It is evident then that having very large amounts of money, brings with it some pressures, from many diverse areas. It would be safe then to say that far from solving problems, it can throw up a lot of other problems.
I have never actually had an analogy that could explain a surplus of money, but last night I suddenly thought of one that may work.
If we were given a container that filled with a certain liquid ( representing money )was enough to keep us in a lifestyle that we wanted for our whole life, what would you do when filling it?. You only get one visit to the tap.
Some people may start filling it and then get impatient and run off with the container only a quarter or half full, they will then either have to live frugally to make what they had last, or they could live very well for a given period and then suffer at other times.
Others will stand there and although it is a bit of a pain and quite strenuous to keep hold of the container, they will fill it to three quarters full, and say that will do. These people could divide the content of the container up over their life and be OK, not quite living the high life, but OK.
Then you will get the ones that go through the pain barrier and wait until the container is full, these people will have a fulfilled life and have enough to keep them living a very comfortable lifestyle with not too many problems.
A very unique group, will go through the pain barrier fill the container and then keep trying to get more liquid into the container, and every time they try and move away, they leave the tap running into the container to just make sure that there is no possible way they can get any more in.They are frightened to leave because they really do not believe that what is in the container will be enough. So they spend their lives all the time having enough, but scared to do anything just in case it is not.
At the end of their life they are still standing at the tap trying to get more in the container and suddenly they realise that they have actually not done a lot of the things that they wanted to do.
I think that knowing how much we need is such an important part of life, and removing the fear of lack is a major part of being able to relax. Having reached the ripe old age of 64 years young I can tell you that living well and creating money is much more fun when you are content and relaxed, and although the amount needed to live confortably is quite substantial, it is in no way prohibitive.
I get so many people who say that they would be prepared to sacrifice everything to have a huge amount of money, and now I can have a great mental picture of them standing at the tap with their container overflowing stuck in one position with no way to enjoy themselves.
I hope this little analogy helps you put into perspective what we need to get through life and also explains that to fill the container requires different disciplines. The more effort you are prepared to put in to filling the container the better your life will be.
I really hope that you are not one of those people who are afraid to leave the tap.
Go fill your container.
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Hello Croz.
Great story and a fantastic analogy. We are filling our container after a set back or two and progressively moving forward each and every day.
Keep up the good work.
Ta
Lee
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Croz, Once again, your words of wisdom give much insight and understanding from one that has obviously trod this path, I really do appreciate your post’s, thought’s and,guidance in this Amazing, changing, enviroment. Kind Regards, Peter.
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:46 pm
G,DAY CROZ, YEA SOME PEOPLE STRESS OVER ALL THE BELLS N WHISTLES MOST REQUIRE A FULL CONTAINER TO BE CONTENT, some are happy with a little in the container, BUT ACCESS TO THE SOURCE (TAP)or pipe FLOW when requird ,,,a mouthfull is enough when you know more is available!!! HAPPY WITHIN is the key FULL container or EMPTY!! ABUNDANCE & INFINITY THANKS MATE
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I like the concept of ‘container’. It well represent our demand!
I do know how big my container i want.
Thank for a precious analogy!
Best,
Lawan
June 2nd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Hello friend. I was with you right up until the part about the different types of people who fill their containers.
After referring to Gina and her problems, you mention people who push through the pain and fill their container (lots of money) and have a fulfilling life with not too many problems. This seems like a contradiction to me.
Then, at the end, you say that the more effort you are prepared to put into filling the container, the better your life will be. This is not necessarily true; just ask Gina.
Plus, only a fool would stand there with it overflowing, thinking they could use the excess which they are unable to hold onto. I don’t know, but that part just doesn’t work for me.
I think being satisfied with what you have has nothing at all to do with money. The satisfaction of being healthy and having friends and family and feeling like a success in your life is not tied to your wealth at all. This whole idea of the two being intertwined is false. They exist separately.
When people can understand that, they will have gained real wealth-knowledge/wisdom.
Some of the happiest people in the world are the poorest. That is not to say that all poor people are happy-far from it-but those who can exist happily with little know the true meaning of life.
These are, of course, only my opinions, but since you asked for my feedback, I felt free to be honest with you, because that is what you do with us.
Keep up the good ideas, though, since you are usually right on point!
Take care, Croz and know that you are appreciated.
Tammy
June 2nd, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Hi Croz,
Thanks for the analogy…I beleive that in many ways money is a bit like knowledge. Knowledge is only valuable in the sharing of it and money is only valuable in the spending of it or sharing of it. A mass of money held in reserve is nothing more than a paper collection and its value is relevant only to what it can “potentially” buy.
Just the same as knowledge is only valuable when you sshare it – if I was the only person in the world with knowledge and understanding of physics – then no-one else would understand the principles that I could expound upon in reference to it …to the average person it would be worthless except by the effect it had upon them due to circumstances beyond their control i.e. gravity. If I share my knowledge then more people can work on the use of physics, accounting, investing, self development etc, and therefore make it more valuable. $30 billion dollars in the bank (without being used ) is expensive packing! Likewise sharing of wealth enables it to be more productive and therefore more valuable.
June 2nd, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Hi Tammy. Thank you for your comments. If you read the article again and understand that the container will hold all you need. The analogy refers to people who are prepared to put in the effort to get what they want. Some people give up and have to cut their coat according to the cloth. Others put in more effort and get more return. The point of the container overflowing is reference to people who have enough to live well, but just carry on accumulating money, and they sacrifice their lives to amass money and forget to live. Re your comments about a fool allowing the container to overflow, that is precisely the point of the article, why would you keep amassing money when you already had enough. I thought the overflowing container depicted that very well. Once again thank you for your comments.
June 2nd, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I do like the idea of a container – especially one that is open at the top rather than sealed. Have you come across the “Loving and Caring Cup”? People who have had bad experiences tend to keep it sealed (you can demo this with clingfilm) in case what they have is taken away……
Bright Blessings,
David Hignett
June 2nd, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Hi I agree with and love they way you have explained money. Money is a wonderful thing if you have a container overflowing. If it is half full or only three quarter full that would not be enough. I would want far more than I could spend in this life time as my main wish would be to share my wealth to many deserving others. The saying goes, i would rather be rich and miserable rather than poor and miserable. With the wealth, I would never be unhappy, as I would do as I pleased and share with whomever i wanted. I agree love comes from within, but money certainly makes life a lot easier.
June 2nd, 2012 at 5:56 pm
greetings lord croz,i trust you and lady croz are in good spirits?.i have to say,yet another incitful piece,a very interesting analogy regarding the container.i saw a programme about self made people here in the uk,the common thread always seemed to be,irrespective of how much personal weath,and possesions they had amassed,they didn’t feel they had made it,and interestingly,that it could all be lost tomorrow!!!.one particular quite famous scotsman springs to mind,in his 60s,worth around £300million pounds,he says he just loves doing deals,i can’t help but think,good luck to him,but when is enough,enough? .
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:15 pm
Hi croz,
As for myself when the thing’s manifest for me all I need is to live comfortable and help others as much as I can without putting myself in danger, I have walked the high road at one time in my life and almost killed my self with over indulgence and also i have slept on the street at one time in my life so I know what both are like just give me enough to be happy my cup doesn’t need to run over.
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:16 pm
An article which gives a lot of food for thought. Whilst some people say “money is the root of all evil” the ‘evil’ is really our attitude to money.
June 2nd, 2012 at 7:48 pm
I think the container is a good analogy. A phrase I heard that I like is to have enough money to not worry about money. That’s different for everyone. I think, sadly, that I’ve only filled my container half-full and am just making it work. Maybe I need to go back to the tap.
Thanks for a thought provoking article.
June 3rd, 2012 at 1:02 am
Hi Croz
I would take a long hose pipe to attach to the tap on my one visit. I can then fill the container with enough for any purpose that I choose to require the liquid for using the hose pipe.:)
Keeping the analogies simple though is important to getting the message across. The unfortunate thing about having only one visit to the tap is that circumstances change, in fact everything changes as nothing stands still. Even my attaching a hose pipe would not guarantee that I had a continuous supply as someone could detach my hose pipe even if I left a note saying please re attach this hose when you have finished filling your container.
The point about having enough money for ones life is well demonstrated using the hour glass representing our life time. If we cover the top half of the glass we are unable to see our future time we have left. We know how much we have already had but we can only use the time that we have right NOW! represented by the waist of the hour glass.
So we can therefore only guess as to how much money we will need. If we act as cool dudes we know we reached where we are successfully and therefore we can reach the goal of our desire too. The money that we require will turn up when it is required as long as we have made the decision first.
Money though is not the paper and ink…it represents money but is not money. Money is energy like everything else is energy so when we make our decision to do something we get the energy to do it. When people see/understand the foregoing statement they will take their focus off the money and in the process achieve what they desire in life, which is not money but their life style and what goes with it.
A note about Barry’s quote of what some people say…those people have miss quoted the original which states the LOVE of money etc which of course is their attitude to it.
Great thought folks and thanks Croz for asking
June 3rd, 2012 at 9:22 am
Croz, just being connected to Source/Universe/God and having an attitude of gratitude is the foundation of being rich. Along with that comes the desire to move forward in increase. Bu increase, I mean helping others, as well as your self to grow and move forward on the Earth path we walk.
June 4th, 2012 at 3:14 am
Hi Croz,
Thank you for sharing your analogy. I read this last night, and I am still pondering it. Of course, my first thought prior to reading was this often misquoted and misunderstood saying; “The LOVE of money is the root of all evil.” The saying isn’t MONEY is the root of all evil, but the LOVE of money. This is quite a distinction. While acknowledging that money has a purpose in our lives and having a healthy respect for it, we also understand that we have a responsibility to manage our finances well, yet not prioritize money and the pursuit of wealth above everything else in our life.
June 5th, 2012 at 12:26 am
It was Mae West I think, who said “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Believe me, rich is better.” Likewise, I’ve known the difference between twenty dollar bills being just paper that comes out of ATM machines, and a single twenty meaning I’ll have enough to eat for the rest of the week. I’m tired of being poor, but also know that my happiness will not be affected with or without it, it’s something I have to come to on my own, although I do think there is some sort of connection of my unhappiness contributing to keeping me poor. My particular take on the analogy is a scenario not mentioned, namely that regardless of the amount I fill the container with, my fear is that I will somehow spill it empty, which is where I am at present. I’m working on ways of changing the beliefs I have around money, which I think center on how unhappy my Dad ended up after having sacrificed everything that was important to him in the pursuit of it- a point I have heard you make many times, Croz. I think I decided a long time ago that if that is what money gets you, then I want no part of it. Trouble is, I want no part of not having any, either! To answer your question, enough for me is to never have to stop and consider if I have enough when it comes time to do what I want, when I want. I live pretty modestly, and even with a ton of money I would continue to do so relatively speaking, but I also want way more than what I need for myself, to be able to help my family and friends when they need it, and also for charitable causes. Oh, and I would like to be able to travel when I want- either by car or by private jet, to avoid the sham at the airport.
June 8th, 2012 at 1:03 am
I’ve yet to meet in person the man, woman (and whatever’s in between) or child that has a lock on undying happiness; all struggle — and that’s good! Unless we involve ourselves ‘passionately’ in Life as we’re told Jesus did at Gethsemeny (sp?), we will not perform ‘due diligence’ in using/keeping/sharing that which comes to us. We’re ‘fat cats’ no matter what side of the tracks we live on, we need to remember the BILLIONS of people starving every minute of their lives — and few of us deserve any more than any others in our midst.
I know nothing about wisely adding to my bankroll — never had much excess yet was only twice without bills due at month’s end when I had no means of earning more.
We have what we need and give to the charities we consider prudent enough to spend well without waste.
I’m 75 and believe I’ll still be around when my four grandkids have their families firmly started — then I can retire more fully, only making educational toys for those interested in broadening their knowledge about geometry. I create wooden 12-sided geometric figures out of pentagons, and 32-sided combos of hexagons and pentagons … and am considering working out the necessary details for something with octagons. All this to keep Alzheimer’s at a dead run away from me.
That’s all I’ve got to contribute these days.
February 8th, 2013 at 11:58 pm
gan izin kopi artikelnya boleh?…thanks