The Money Obsession - A Disaster of Catastrophic Proportions

I remember early in my career as a lawyer Ithe value of nothing and more essentially those
thought I had found the thing which made peopletrying to instill in us what they perceive as values
tick. MONEY! It was really one of those Ah Haare in fact only implanting their own prejudices,
moments but not in the way that we think of itbeliefs, ideas, projected desires and unfulfilled
these days.dreams upon us at ages so impressionable we
I did not think money was of much importance atbarely stand a chance.
all although everyone else thought so, butIn short our inner values and worth seem to be
nevertheless I had been diverted to law from asomehow linked to our perception of the value of
concert pianist vocation because I just was notthings around us, if that makes sense.
quite good enough; a disappointing time indeed.However once we have developed even the
It was just that money in any generation seemsslightest bit of awareness, introspection, inner
to be one of the key drivers and the problemgravity, insight or call it what you will, the same
with that is that everything and everyone "outattraction that once drew us out can draw us
there," is telling us what we need or so they think.inwards to our core or centre.
Those specialising in consumerism, whatThe world of advertising and glossy magazines will
consumers will spend money on and how they willnever go away as new means are always found
spend their money have learnt that if supply isto fuel the hunger of our unconscious. We can still
created with enough attraction and pull, thebe more circumspect about our choices, take a
demand will follow. This is contrary to the oldfew breaths and feel what will satisfy our
saying that if there is enough demand supply willdeepest longings.
follow.Will these things be new laptops, iPads,
We might all think we are above such an obviousComputers, cars, clothes or luxury holidays? I
game and maybe as we get older we are.doubt it and having said that I will also say it
However, as a rule most are not and many of ustakes a very intelligent person to learn from the
have fallen trap to the emotional spend or themistakes of others. Most of us are so slow we
impulse buying which is the same thing as anneed to learn the painful lessons from the
emotional fix.mistakes we make and I am also right in there.
The reasons are simple enough in that we haveThe trappings of society are not bad in
not understood at a deep enough level our innerthemselves as we must go through the different
worth and our worth itself seems to stem initiallystages of consciousness. Possibly we need to
at least from something about which we think wetake a few steps back once in awhile and see
can "calculate" or do. We have confused intrinsicthat the simplest things in life are those precious
worth with extrinsic values.moments that fulfill us the most.
We have been taught the price of everything and