The Million $ Myth

For years I have heard so many people say to me, “Once I have a million dollars, everything will be okay” or some variation of that statement. In fact, I used to be one of those people as well.  About 10 years ago, I was fortunate to let go of that belief when I realized that my life was evaporating right under my nose as I was being consumed by this need for a million dollars.

This is what our mind can do to us — create amazing imaginary situations which we believe as the truth and act accordingly.  Our mind is a powerful thinking machine.  It has the ability to fabricate incredible realities for us to worry about.  We tend to react to imaginary scenarios with the same level of energy and commitment as we do in real-life situations. This can drain us of our life energy.

Last year, while we were on vacation, the resort we were staying at had a Book Club.  This was the first time I had noticed a book club gathering and the book they were going to discuss was The Secret. So I signed up and walked across to the library.

Interestingly, I was the only one who showed up and the woman who was hosting the club and I had a great conversation.  After we discussed The Secret and the Law of Attraction for a while, I shared my work about Thinking and Knowing.  She quickly asked a very interesting question, “Krishna, where does Belief fit?”  I was stumped.  I had never been asked that question before.

Upon reflecting for a few moments, after all I had the time since there was no one else there, the answer came to me.  Belief lies between Thinking and Knowing.  I told her that Belief is what is true for you, but you most likely have no evidence or proof, one way or another.  She was very comfortable with my answer and I have used it since.

Unfortunately, in our Million $ Myth scenario, even though you may truly believe ‘Once I have the million dollars, everything will be fine’ situation, I have rarely found it to stay true when the person arrives at that point.  My explanation for this is as follows.  As we make more money, our lifestyle tends to change — we drive better cars, our homes grow larger, we take fancier vacations and so on — the amount we spend seems to increase.  So the Million $ that we worked so hard and managed to save does not look sufficient anymore.

So you get a little concerned and talk to a financial adviser or go to a retirement specialist and get their counsel.  They map out your current lifestyle and project it for inflation, etc. etc. and come up with the new number.  It’s now $4.5 million and you are off to the races.  With your sights clearly focused on the new target, you gather all your resources and chase the new goal with zest.

Just once caveat.  This quote captures it best and I shared it a few weeks ago in my post Upgrading Treadmills! The Exercise of Life.

“The most dangerous risk of all — the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later.”
— Randy Komisar

Friends, life is short, please take time to cherish the things and the ones you love and not get caught up in the chase for the bright shiny object in the horizon.  It just could be a mirage.

To find a  simple way to become aware of the source of your desires and fears, please visit my web site at www.krishnapendyala.com or my book Beyond the PIG and the APE: Realizing SUCCESS and true HAPPINESS.

For harmony in your life and our world,

Krishna

Up Next: Pay It Forward!