My Attitude on Money
My Attitude on Money -
What is my attitude toward money:
My attitude toward money is an attitude of gratitude. I grew up with very little money and learned at a very young age to work hard and cherish what I had. I started to provide for my family at a young age and was forced to learn the value of hard work. I have a fear of debt as I watched my parents lose our home and vehicles multiple times during my childhood. I have learned to save for a rainy day. I also learned that money is not always guaranteed. It doesn't just show up - it has to be earned and it has to be cherished. If we do not take care of what we have been given, we will lose it. I do not purchase anything on credit. If I cannot pay cash (other than my house), I do not purchase it.
I do agree that money brings security and peace. That security and peace is so important and I know not everyone has been blessed with and it kills me. Unfortunately poverty is real and poverty is devastating. The lack of money causes stress and anxiety as we all have bills to pay. My money should be used to provide for my family and to help rescue others. The same security and peace my Father in Heaven has blessed me with, should be attainable for anyone willing to work.
Sadly. I believe money can lead people to forgetting about others. I do not appreciate when others look down upon those who have less. In my opinion, we are all a lay-off away from being broke. Money should not bring us to selfishness but should be used to rescue others. Money is often a measuring tool of people's success, which I find truly sad. A true measure of success should be not how much money we make, but what we do with what we have.
Heavenly Father has blessed me with every penny that I have been given and all that I own is his. I am so grateful for the blessings and security he has given to me and my family. He has trusted that I will in turn bless others with what he has given me. I share what has been given to me. I read this week that what we do with our money shows the kind of person we are. I actually agree wholeheartedly with that idea. My favorite part of this week's lesson was reading how President Monson flew home from East Germany in his house slippers because he had given away not only his second suit and his extra shirts but the very shoes from off his feet. That is the kind of person I aspire to be like.
How can your view of money affect the way you live:
It is my opinion that our view of money affects every aspect of the way we live. How we view money is demonstrated in how we use our money. If we use money for personal gain only or as a way to be "better" than others then we are forgetting where our successes came from and the purpose we have been blessed. Those who look at money as a competition to be better than others or to see who can own the most often never finds that true happiness. Those who see money as a way to help others, however, in my opinion, are the ones who find true happiness.
Our view of money dictates the lifestyle we choose to live. Money itself does not bring happiness. Using money to better the lives of others brings happiness. "Money can make good men better, but on the other hand, it can make bad men worse." If we see money as power, we will be looking down upon others and we will lose the love in our heart. If we see money as an escape from poverty and a way to bless others, we will be a better person. We must live modestly and help others who are less fortunate. Money often reveals the kind of person we are.
What rules are recommended for Prospering:
In my opinion, gratitude should be the first rule recommended for prospering. I know without a shadow of doubt that everything that I have been given is from the Lord. I am worth nothing without Him. I am forever grateful for what He has blessed my family with and recognize that only through Him have we been able to provide for our children. No matter what our income is, we must be grateful for what we have been given.
Following gratitude is love - the love of helping others. Jesus loved the impoverished and the disadvantaged in an extraordinary way and set a perfect example for us to follow. He has issued a call for us to join Him in lifting burdens from his people and do so with a loving heart. We have been asked to look after the poor and the needy and to love those around us.
President Thomas S. Monson shared the formula success - First, fill your mind with truth. Second, fill your life with service and third, fill your heart with love. I have no doubt in my mind that as we search the holy world of God looking for direction and guidance, He will lead us into prosperity. I also know that as we are in the service of of our fellow beings, we are in service of our God and again, we will be prosperous. Finally, as we fill our hearts with love, we will look at wealth as only an opportunity to help others rather than a competition to have more.
What's a Business For -
Why are virtue and integrity so vital to the economy:
Virtue and integrity are vital to the economy because only through virtue and integrity can a business be trusted. The economy relies on honest and loyal businesses and satisfied customers. "Markets rely on rules and laws, but those rules and laws in turn depend on truth and trust." The market will crash if people cannot trust businesses as they will find other places to put their money. Trust is something earned and so hard to gain back if lost. Finding a business who cares more about the customers and less about themselves is becoming less and less available. Unfortunately most business owners only care about personal gain. As customers feel their happiness is not important, they will not trust anymore and our economy will fall. The amount of fraud going around anymore has everyone on their toes. If we do not take care of our customers and make them feel valued, we will lose the trust of our customers and we will find that the business model is crashing. If not corrected, we will be relying on the government for wealth.
Virtue and Integrity are Christ-like attributes that should be demonstrated on every level. Christ left us the perfect example of how to love and care for every person. He put us in front of himself and taught us that we must be honest and fair and care for everyone. The Savior was never interested in personal gain, but rather to rescue us. If our business owners will foster even a little of Christ's vision, our economy would be stable and together we could end poverty.
According to Charles Handy, what is the "real justification" for the existence of business:
According to Charles Handy, the "real justification" for the existence of business is making a profit so that the business can do something more or better. "If only they could do something better or more useful than anyone else, they would profit, and profit would be the means to that larger end." A good business is a community with a purpose, and a community is not soothing to be "owned."
What are the two solutions proposed for Handy that I agree with and why?
Handy proposed that, "we should, as charitable organizations do, measure success in terms of outcomes for others and well as for ourselves." I couldn't agree more. Success should never be measured on personal gain only. We live in a very greedy and competitive world where so many are looked down upon because of their financial status. Success should, however, be measured on our ability and desire to help others. At the end of the day, we are asked to give unto others as the Savior did. We are asked to follow His example and his example was love and service.
Handy also proposed that dividends be paid to those who contribute their skills as well as to those who have contributed their money. It is my opinion, that contribution is contribution. While others can give financially, some may only be able to offer their time, talents and hard work.
Insight:
Comments
Post a Comment