Does having money in the bank help to make you feel secure? Then, the question might be how much money do you need to feel secure? What is "enough" for you?
What if having enough of anything does not make you feel secure? What, then, does?
On the American dollar bill are the words: In God We Trust. What does that mean for the atheist or the Buddhist? Who can you trust in order to feel secure and safe?
It is harder these days to pull the wool over the eyes of the ordinary person. Information has become more available and transparent. I recall when Tony Blair, then prime minister, was standing in Parliament, saying there were riots happening in Hull, where at the time, oil refinery workers were on strike. Television cameras turned to Hull where nothing was going on.
The inclination now is to not trust our politicians, financial institutions, corporate leaders or almost anyone who assumes authority over us. It is actually no bad thing in some ways. Because rather than be led like sheep, we must learn to think for ourselves and to follow what is true for us, even if that means standing alone.
What does trust and truth have to do with our experience of wealth? I would say a great deal. You are the only one that determines how you experience wealth. Each one of us might have a slight variation on what is true for us. For you, it might be having a certain cushion of money in the bank. For another, working in a team with people whose company you enjoy. For yet another, your experiences of wealth may come through your close family relationships, celebrating occasions like birthdays or other special gatherings, or fulfilling a heartfelt vocation with your unique talents, gifts and skills.
For others, it is a knowing that something greater is present and available to help guide the affairs of us ordinary human beings. This something greater is benevolent, unreachable by our basic human senses, connects us and has a certain power that we are unable to replicate but can draw from.
I see it as an immense energy field of which I am a small part, to which I contribute and from which I receive. In a certain sense, I have an ultimate relationship with it because it goes beyond the field of the more tangible relationships I have. I experience this wealth of energy as all-embracing and benign. I trust it.
Practically speaking, how does this work? How can I trust something I cannot see or touch, but nevertheless sense? The key word is "trust". Trust in the process of life can be cultivated.
Keeping the agreements you make is one way to build trust, inner strength and a connection with that which is greater and good. Any agreement you make is first of all with yourself. If you cannot trust yourself, how can you trust anyone else? So, only make those agreements that you fully intend to keep. There is a power in keeping your word. Your relationships with others will be rewarded by it.
Renegotiate the agreements you cannot for some reason complete. You may make a commitment based on what is true for you at that time -- arranging a meeting, seeing friends for dinner, filing a report -- for example. Circumstances may change and you are no longer able to fulfill it as agreed. Communicate and let the other party know. Forgive yourself for any misunderstandings that may arise.
In our changing world, we know well that nothing seems to stay the same for long. Our ability to be flexible, and move with the changes, does not undermine our capacity to trust. We need to be able to move with what is true for us, so that we can stand firm on our truth. This is not against anyone else. It is for us. My experience has been that when I am true to myself, it is amazing how life seems to line up for me in ways I could not imagine or predict.
Dave Logan's research into tribal leadership shows a way in which organizations can both enhance productivity, while they serve employee well-being. I was impressed by an interview with Dave Logan I heard, introducing his new book, "Tribal Leadership." It has been shown that as people organize themselves in groups of three, their accountability, transparency and integrity -- the foundations for corporate governance -- are self-regulating. I see this as a culture of trusting.
Tribal Leadership:
Love yourself. Be true to yourself. Have compassion for yourself and others. You will find that your experiences of wealth will grow. The truth will set you free and give you the strength to challenge the falsehoods you may encounter. Your truth will enable you to live your life on a more solid footing, even while changes are going on around you.
Who are the leaders, past or present, who most inspire you with trust, hope and confidence?
For tips and hints on creating a wealthy life, go to "The Wealth Book -- Winning With Spirit"
Wishing you health, wealth and happiness -- in all of the many ways it can come to you!
Follow Anne Naylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Anne4Joy
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Eva M. Selhub, M.D.: Is It Possible to Trust?
Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD: A Peaceful Future: What Does It Take to Get There?
Perry Garfinkel: Four Noble Buddha Quotes
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All best wishes to you,
Anne
Nice to have you back. I agree that trust and truth are the key. For me, they serve as the very foundation of my personal ethos. When I get out of sorts, my go to questions are always "what is true for me in this moment?" and "what am I not trusting?" When I affirm my truth and trust it in the moment, all seems to realign in harmony with that which is present.
Much love to you,
Judith
Thank you for your welcome back. These days I am writing as moved to do so - and trusting that is what needs to be written!
What excellent questions you ask yourself! Thank you so much for adding to the discussion here.
I love what you say "When I affirm my truth and trust it in the moment, all seems to realign in harmony with that which is present." Perfect!
Much love to you,
Anne
The great thing about nature is she is available 24/7. Her teachings abound to those whose eyes and mind are open. Take a look outside your window or in the mirror, and there she is in all her beauty. Look down at the soil and the earthworms, without whom we would not exist. Look into the eyes of our fellow animals. Stroke the leaves of a plant.
Here are a few recent lessons from her:
If you build a city below sea level in a hurricane area, it will be wiped out.
Earthquakes and floods may occur anywhere at any time of any magnitude. Living in a structure near oceans/rivers is a crapshoot.
If you do not eat the foods you were evolved to eat, and you do not respect the environment, you will become sick. If you keep it up you will become extinct.
Nature gives us all the answers on how to live, and we, in arrogance and ignorance, ignore her and substitute our own surrogates.
Roy Mankovitz, Director
Montecito Wellness
A research organization
Thank you so much for your perceptions about Nature. We are never far from those lessons, as you point out.
I appreciate your contribution.
Anne
Your article was, for me, summed up in the paragraph about trusting yourself first, and how doing so engenders trust in others. I would add that it engenders trust from others who will “sense” it in you.
You asked, “How can I trust something I cannot see or touch, but nevertheless sense?” Your answer was the essence of living well: “… to build trust, inner strength and a connection with that which is greater and good.”
The connection you have with your “self” is at the core of your character and integrity. I had not thought of it in precisely this way, but the bond of trust between two, relies on the catalyst of trust within each one.
The video was enlightening and insightful; your message was impacting and enduring. If only within each child’s experience and development, the seeds of truth and self-trust would be planted and nurtured, as you said, the “relationships with others will be rewarded by it.” The unseen, yet sensed part of trust and truth is the spirit of our existence, the currency of our wealth of energy, the attraction of processes that cultivate our character… our self
With gratitude!
Lawson
Hey, you have a great Sunday, see you in Cara`s.....Gypsy
Thank you my friend, yet to me, the pleasure is all mine, but then again that is sort of what you were talking about: the ebb and flow of relationships does rest on the fulcrum of respect. You are right that friendship requires both components; respect sans trust can reflect at least some form of admiration, but trust without respect is unlikely. I think the reason for this is that respect "can" be impersonal and exist from afar, but trust cannot, because from afar, it is faith more than trust. Faith is believing without need for reason. Trust is believing without fear of harm. In relationships, the lack of fear of harm is the critical component. If that fear becomes a reality; trust crumples, and its rebuilding requires a Sisyphean effort and a lot of faith, not to mention the need find again some element of respect. OK, I’m done babbling… :)
Lawson
Interesting what you say about the "catalyst of trust", as though trust has its own energy field. I suppose the seeds of trust and truth must first be planted and nurtured by the parents who demonstrate it. Fortunately, there are many avenues through which children learn if not from their parents.
As always, with appreciation to you,
Anne
Of course you are right that there are alternate learning possibilities... thank goodness! As you said, that is fortunate, but what is unfortunate is the necessity of alternatives to right parental wrongs established through poor example or ignorance, because I fear at times the alternatives are inadequate or absent in too many children's lives.
As for trust having its own energy field: absolutely! For me, the energy of trust colors the intimacy of relationships in a way no other element can. When you envelope yourself with trust, then extend it to another, and accept it from another... that's real super-glue!
Lawson
So true.
It's not magic at all. It's work. But it's the single one and only kind of work that NEVER sucks - just to borrow a phrase from the clip, which is awesome.
"It's not magic at all, It's work."
Well said! Too often, too much is now a reflection of gift without effort and reward without cause. It is not just the tribes in stage 1 and 2 that adopt the life sucks mantra: just listen the marketing of products to a public told not to trust their life process, but to trust the product to "fix" things for them. The message is "you are inferior and need us to fix you"... where is the self trust and the trust in your life's process?
The message for me was Anne's comment about the centric nature of trusting yourself, focusing on building from the inside out, rather than the opposite, and trusting the process... like you said, that's work that never sucks!
Lawson
Always very good to see you here! Yes, I agree it is work but it is also fun. Lessons can be learned, new growth cultivated, in ways that are light of touch.
Happiness and joy to you,
Anne
last week i had surgery for breast cancer. every single person on the twenty odd team that worked with me were professional, compassionate and humorous. their attitude helped to create my sense of well-being.
this week i took four boxes of chocolates to my check-up. the medium one went to my surgeon. the doctor kind of danced down the hall telling his nurses 'this is for me!' then he set the box on the counter and invited all to share.
i went to the hospital and gave the biggest box to the nursing station. they had made me a birthday card and i wrote my note of thanks on that. there were smiles and ooh's and aah's all round.
small boxes went to nuclear medicine and ultra-sound. i got hugs and kisses and smiles.
i believe every person, including me, were a little richer (and fatter?) that day. so thanks, anne, for helping me remember where my true and lasting wealth resides.
Fanned and fav'd. What a beautiful comment - thank you!
Your true and lasting wealth will surely be remembered by many others too. I love your spirit of generosity.
Blessings to you for your happy healing and good health.
Anne