Suze Orman Money Matters

For many people, this means sizing up how well their investments did, how much their home equity shot up, and how big of a bonus they're going to get. While all these are important, the truth is that money isn't a magic pill that will suddenly transform an unhappy life into a blessed one.

It can be easy to blame any problems we have on a lack of money, but the truth is that there are plenty of people who have lots of money -- and lots of problems. Even though their own unhappiness proves otherwise, they continue to believe that money is the answer to their problems. So they push themselves to make even more. But as soon as they reach their new financial goal, they find they're still unhappy. The solution? Make more money.

If that sounds even a bit familiar, keep reading.

I know firsthand the value and joys of money. I respect all that it allows us to have and do. But I also know that too many people make having money and the pursuit of more money the central goal of life. Their moods swing with the value of their 401(k)s. They worry if their cars make the grade as they check out the other cars in the school pick-up line. And their only thought when it comes to God and money is "God, I wish I had some more."

When money is the most important thing in your life, you're not only judging yourself by the size of your bank account, but you're also judging everyone else by the same standard. Are you really only as good as your net worth? What about your neighbors, friends, and family? Do you feel you're more important than them just because you make more money? Or do you feel you're not as important because you make less?

As far as I'm concerned, the greatest blessing is to understand that true wealth resides in your humanity -- not your bottom line. True wealth is when you are confident in who you are and how you relate to others. True wealth is when your hands are open not just to receive, but to give as well -- not just at holiday time or in the event of a disaster or for the tax deduction. I'm talking about giving your time, your heart, your compassion, on a daily basis. Why is it that we tend to always ask for blessings, but don't understand we have the ability to give them as well? When we commit to a life of kindness and support, toward ourselves and others, we'll be on a path that is truly filled with blessings.

To be able to reap the true rewards gathered along that path we have to remove judgment from our lives -- stop judging ourselves and others based on bank accounts, material possessions, politics, religion, race, or sexual preference. There is nothing blessed in making others feel "less than."

Blessings in life truly come when you make others shine by the brightness of your own thoughts, words, and actions. Then and only then will you be truly wealthy.