What is 'True Wealth'?

Poverty is always a tragedy, unless it is the catalyst that propels us forward toward personal growth and positive change.

On the other side of that same coin, having access to or the possession of wealth, in and of itself, is not the most important thing to consider when forming a judgement about anything or anyone, and many fail to understand this notion.

While poverty and hardship can force us to grow by humbling us and taking away many other options, wealth is a separate thing, entirely.

Wealth allows for the individual to have access to more options and opportunity. thereby exacerbating the traits and the character of the individual that were present before they came into the wealth.

A generous person who becomes wealthy typically becomes more generous, but a degenerate (e.g., a morally corrupt individual) coming into wealth also experiences an enhanced nature of that character, but instead, to the detriment of themselves and others.

That being said, with everything, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

Therefore, here are a couple caveats to consider. One old proverb states, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."

Another is the reality, and the weight, of the following cliché, "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."

Instead, what we should be cautious of are as follows:

The love of money; the love of power; the obsession with control and undue influence; actions and/or intentions which are selfish, prideful, and/or greedy in nature,

Fortunately, all of these tend to be more evident in those on the extreme ends of the "wealth" spectrum.

"You never truly know a man until you have seen him rich, angry, or drunk." is another ancient saying suggesting this reality of human existence.

TLDR - Why does this all matter?

Our goal should be this: to become a person of good moral character, for by doing so, the inevitable outcome will be wealth and success.

However, it is vital to remember wealth is not always measured in monetary terms, and that is, in fact, a good thing.

Someone with vast knowledge, strong friendships and social relationships, respectable mentors, deep wisdom, and suffering humility, is someone with great wealth.

Not all individuals with access to a large sum of finances are "wealthy."

In fact, it's all too easy for someone rich in ego to also be poor in heart, leading to social isolation, confusion, hopelessness and depression when they know in their hearts, there is a void.

What they often lack is "wealth" of the heart.

Instead, we should choose humility, and self-sacrifice; find true joy in giving, and delayed gratification; give up our greedy and selfish desires, including our desire for revenge.

Forgiveness leads to healing, and healing leads to reconciliation.

When we learn how to heal broken relationships from our past, we are able to move past those things that hold us down, and no longer live with the burdens and fears of unaddressed conflict.

Everyone makes mistakes. No human is perfect. If we hold others to that expectation of perfection, then we will always feel as though we were cheated when we inevitably experience disappointment when others cannot live up to those standards.

Just as comparison kills character, expectations are the root of all disappointment. Some might say, "People only rise to the expectations others have for them," yet I would challenge that by saying with high hopes and low expectations, all instances of growth and improvement will be recognized, appreciated, and unexpected.

"Expect the worst, hope for the best." Or said another way, "Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst." Because doing so just might be exactly what someone needed to succeed.

If we can heal past relationships, keep new relationships from becoming broken at the start, and ensure we are offering the richness in our own hearts to all those who are poor in heart and mind, only then can the world become rich in heart, and lacking nothing.