All of us go for recognition. Everyone wants to be noticed. We all want attention. We compete. The reason being mainly to gain monetary gains as money gives you all that we want. In the end everyone wants to be happy. Being happy is the logical purpose of living.

Yogis demonstrate their ritual that to be happy you have to be free from want. The birds wander around the land during the day and retreat to their nest full and satisfied at night. They will not worry what to gather tomorrow. They all behave by instincts or impulse. They are free from unwanted anxiety.

We are not. We have to plan. We are always conscious about our surroundings or society. We are expecting something tomorrow. We cannot be running around naked as there are other clothed people living together with us. The others are also conscious breed. In the movie “Cast Away”, a Fed Ex executive had to transform himself physically and emotionally just to survive on a deserted island.

How we enhance ourselves physically and emotionally will finally add to the way we want to go. If you’re in Rome be like the Romans in appearance and behaviour. If you think it is a cultural shock it does not add anything to our lives. If you draw a line and decide to stay on the other side it is detrimental for living. You have to follow the same culture as the majority. Their voice is louder.

That was the old fashioned way to survive. But in today’s world there are evidences that life can be enriched in an instant if you have one key factor. Think broader.

Money is what money does

Raama Prema were neighbours. Raama was a poor farmer. Prema was a landlord.

Raama used to be very relaxed and happy. He never bothered to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He had deep sound sleeps. Although he had no money he was peaceful.

Prema used to be very tense always. He was very keen to close the doors and windows of his house at night. He could not sleep well. He was always bothered that someone might break open his safes and steal away his money. He envied the peaceful Raama.

One day, Prema call Raama and gave him a boxful of cash saying, “Look my dear friend. I am blessed with plenty of wealth. I find you in poverty. So, take this cash and live in prosperity.”

Raama was overwhelmingly happy. He was joyful throughout the day. Night came. Raama went to bed as usual. But, to-day, he could not sleep. He went and closed the doors andwindows. He still could not sleep. He began to keep on looking at the box of cash. The whole night he was disturbed.

As soon as day broke, Raama took the box of cash to Prema. He gave away the box to Prema saying, “Dear Friend, I am poor. But, your money took away peace from me. Please bear with me and take back your money.”

In the study of economics, we need to consider the philosophical contribution of money. Apart from getting the mirage of happiness, the darker side of money is ignored. So do not keep money in your till!

Credit versus Cash

Consumers are confident and use credit to stretch their monthly expenses and live on borrowed affluence. Banks are taking this opportunity to make ready credit available. There is nothing wrong with this. As long we can furnish the monthly expenses.

The culture of cash over credit had evolved into a system of cash and credit living. Not everyone can purchase a house without some credit facility. We do not have that amount of cash. So we borrow from banks or some financial company. We settle the principal and interest by monthly amortised payment. Cash and credit complements in our lives. Both are necessary for living. Read here on how to manage your credit cards.

Cash or credit, both will only give a stint of happiness and peace. How can you draw in continuous happiness and peace?

Creativity

From Stone Age to this information technology, every invention is based on creativity. And those people who have discovered something useful have had become enormously wealthy and successful.

Creative people are highly sought after. It is not being productive but being able to see things differently. If you take an idea as a commodity then it can be exchanged with money.

The way we work has also changed. 20 years ago the working staff had to be punctual when reporting to work. But now everyone is contactable via hand phone. Punctuality had become obsolete as contact-ability has taken over. With the help of internet, we can now write out a purchase order with our suppliers with a click of our mouse. The space occupied by mail boxes is rented out for better use.

Money is a means to an end. It fetches goods and services. You must not aim or be anxious about saving money. You have to go for creativity. A group of workers can be better motivated by buying them a cup of coffee rather than spending hours reprimanding them for their poor performance. An evening in Paris is a creative way to spend time with your staff rather than the boring convention in the boardroom. The loss is your profit.

15 to 20 years ago a digital video disc player is purchased for over a thousand dollars. But now you can buy a player for over 10 dollars. We are 100 times richer today in that sense. China has created something cheaper than the traditional suppliers of these goods. The quality is acceptable. We need to be different. Our ideas have to be fresh.

Traditional thinking says to be rich, you have to earn more or your wage should increase. You then save it to get an incremental wealth in your bank. They say go and find money and money finds more money.

Our groceries have become cheaper. Third world countries had realised the importance of peace and trade. School children have the opportunity to see real life Cambodia as travelling there has become safe and cheaper.

We have to look out for creativity as we go through the process of a globalised world. The key factor to join in this fun fair lies in expending your cash to the needy countries by way of investment and trade. In the study of cells and in nature, we see the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’. The gradient is there for a mix and re mix resulting in creativity. Having a rich nation and many poorer nations are in fact a blessing in disguise. As poorer nations go through the process of development richer nations also gain through cheaper goods and services and international trade.

The next time anyone ask you for money, give it to him if you excess money in your bank. Your money is just a bridge from means to an end. The key to success is not having so much money but lies in creativity- in giving you’re creating someone’s spending ability. Creativity has the true hidden value.