Innocently Speaking.com

It is pretty hard to tell what brings happiness; poverty and wealth have both failed
-Kin Hubbard 1868-1930

Let me set your minds at peace from the onset. There is absolutely nothing wrong with material possessions. If for any reason you despise possessions and you are here with me hoping to get reinforcement for that point of view, then I am afraid I am going to disappoint you.

                                                                                                                                                                      Image courtesy Emdot

We very definitely need possessions to be able to function in the world. If you have no money, no house, no means whatsoever and you are doing nothing to get out of that situation I will tell you that you are nothing but a destitute. Never mind that you have the goodwill of a group of friends or congregation or whatever that look after you. You are a glorified beggar and certainly a burden if these people were kind enough to tell you the truth.

Also if you despise possessions for no discernible reason or perhaps in reaction to past failures or frustrations and have arrived at the comfortable conclusion that it is better not to work too hard or maintain healthy aspirations then you badly need a shrink (not a guru please).

But if you have a good job or business and you are able to meet your NEEDS and know it within you that you are happy the way you are but you still feel you ought to do more then please DO this: DO NOT CHANGE A THING.

One of the greatest tragedies of modern existence is the grab-as-you-can philosophy that has now transformed into a movement driven by the army of American self help propagators and prosperity preachers who have now spread their tentacles the world over so that there is hardly a nation today (including very poor ones where some of these prescriptions can never work) that you will not find these people, extolling the virtues of mammon, and causing so much disenchantment and confusion, because having distorted the normal course of the human race there can be no other results.

You may end up amassing more but it always happens at an opportunity cost; because you can never get everything you WANT no matter the techniques you employ. Human existence could have been worthless if it were so. Life is so much more than the race to ACQUIRE that it is now being made to become.

There is no greater calamity than lavish desires
There is no greater guilt than discontentment
And there is no greater disaster than greed.
- Lao-tsu (604BC-531BC)

Does it not make you wonder, how with every extra dollar (or whatever your currency is) you make your wants increase?Do you not find it curious that after you have set a financial target for yourself you reach it and suddenly it is no longer enough, because if you can afford the Ferrari you can as well aim for a yacht?

And when you achieve this it is now a gulf stream you want, you get it and all that is left for you to be happy are properties in exotic locations across the globe, getaways you can retire to from time to time to escape the pressures of regular society.

This also happens but still there is a void within? If you dare to worry the gurus are quick to assure you it is healthy. In fact you should aim for more. What you feel presently is redundancy. A mind busy making money should not succumb to the trap.

Perhaps you need fresh challenges to rekindle the spirit. How about walking on fire or jumping out of airplanes? Good idea and off you go. And guess what? The void still remains.

Perhaps you are the “average” person with a job you have no problems with or a thriving business that gives you time to pursue nobler objectives, like raising your kids or community service or even spiritual growth.

Then someday you come by one of these damning literature or listen to a “coach” who tells you you deserve “more” out of life. You are successfully brainwashed and all of a sudden your great five figure annual income is no longer good enough; settling for that when there is so much more money to be made out there is being “average”.

You become an early riser, you exercise everyday, carry paper chips in your pocket with various affirmations you must do well to consult every now and then so that you become what you have written down.

You smile at everybody like an idiot because a genial disposition is a great part of this new walk, because you have to have a good spirit. You even experiment with a new diet regime to demonstrate your strength and discipline.

Your family and friends now see less of you because you have to be careful about your associations so that you are not influenced by the less ambitious.

You are now a DETERMINED and FOCUSED fellow.

Perhaps your income rises to the six or seven figure bracket. And now what?

Those who face that which is actually before them, unburdened by the past, undistracted by the future, these are those who live, who make the best use of their lives; these are those who have found the secret of contentment.
- Albert Goodier

You only need to look closely to see the folly in the unbalanced pursuit of wealth all around you.

Stories of tragic millionaires abound, stories of people who were great souls until they decided to be “rich”.

I do not know if Mother Teresa would have had the kind of acclaim she still has had she owned the world. And I bet if you look around you you will find a family or two who with their “meagre” income are able to attain a standard of living worthy to be proud of.

If you belong to this category I urge you not to be ashamed of your contentment. The world would have been a better place if people asked themselves simple questions like who really am I?

The answer to this question would put all the self help gurus and commercial preachers out of business because we will not need them anymore. A life that is not centred on contribution is a crooked race. And you know what? We all are not supposed to contribute money! We have even seen enough of miserable philanthropists to know this.

Before you begin the revolutionary lifestyle that will bring you all the wealth you crave please stop and ask yourself, what do I need the world for?

Okay I know what I said about dating and love for the not so smart in my post 8 STRATEGIES FOR THE STUPID TO BE SUCCESSFUL; but you’ll agree with me that people are just so stubborn that no matter how much you try to make them see reason they simply wouldn’t .

There is always something lying to them that they are not as stupid as they really are, and so they go ahead and behave dangerously and many times, get hurt.

But because we love them and wish them whatever happiness they can get I thought we might just give a few tips to minimise the damage they are most likely going to be doing themselves, dating.

                                                                                image courtesy kutching

1. Look exactly like you

You don’t need a makeover or anything like that except you are courting disaster. First impression should only mean sustainable impression to you. You are definitely going to be found out for what you really are sooner than later so just show up like the real you and hope for the best.

2. Do not go playing hard to get

For those of you still a little delusional who would want to relieve scenes from their favourite soap operas I will say you should save it. Many things can come out of this one date and you want to grab everything good that presents itself. If he or she shows genuine (well I don’t know how you will know that) interest in you, go for it.

3. Better always say your mind

Make sure you pour out your soul to your date. If you intend for this to be your last bus stop, say so while you have the opportunity. You never can tell what impression your date leaves with. Even The smart people will tell you that even when they are at their best they still find out that a first date never guarantees a second.

4. Check your body language

We know you cannot hide your intent for too long and I don’t even recommend it, but for heaven sakes whatever you are going to display keep it verbal. If your hormones are on an all time high going in for this date I will suggest you postpone it because we cannot trust you not to make moves that can be costly. Chances are that your date will not find you out soon enough and we will rather you are not perceived to be what you are not. So sit straight and keep your hands down.

5. Avoid talking about yourself

We just want to see how we can postpone the evil day the much we can. If you go blabbing about yourself you will reveal enough to spoil whatever little chance you had of getting somewhere with this date. Instead, talk about your dreams, your fantasies, you future together, but never directly about YOU.

6. Be shy

There is something cool about shyness which is perfect for you. Your date will believe you are just innocent and even naive whereas you are so stupid that he or she will be scaling the fence if they had an idea.

7. Say yes to “coffee”

This should be your moment. You get to his or her door and the invitation comes out. Get in there and await your moment. Your date makes a move and you go in for the kill. Remember, nothing guarantees a tomorrow for the two of you and a nicely brewed “coffee” might just give you a helping hand.

If only we will admit it, for the majority of people, belief in God stems from a need to have someone share our burden. It is an understandable need because life can be such a hectic enterprise that one considers help from somewhere to get by a very crucial need.

Look at all you really have to do:

Find food, shelter, clothing, love, children; then money, power, fame and to top it all, there is the devil to keep at bay.

It is simply staggering to think of having to be responsible for all these particularly when you did not ask to be born. And so as the message of faith comes forth that there is someone up there who is willing to take some or all of these on your behalf, humanity with no hesitation at all begins to fall over themselves to “cast their burden”.

But you have come to realise that sometimes, despite all your entreaties, He just wouldn’t do some of the things you want Him to do. Quite unfortunate because it takes a lot of energy and even money to believe these days and it really hurts when He wouldn’t do like you are assured he will do.

I have a solution to the problem.

You see, if you want money, go and work.

If you want protection from the devil, stay out of his way.

If you want power, work even harder for more money and then join politics.

If you want fame, go to Hollywood.

If you want children, go and have sex.

Believe me, do these and you will see how easy it is to get God to do your bidding.

We spent all the time praying when we know deep down within us what it is we need to do.

Have you ever spared a thought for those people who don’t even believe in prayer and yet get all that they want?

We have been given all it is we need to get all that we want and it baffles me to see people, on working days, crowding in churches and places like that seeking help from above when help is everywhere.

Do you know what a miracle is to me?

It is seeing money materialise from my labour. Seeing another human being materialise following a couple of minutes of raw fun I’ve had. What else do you want Him to do for you?

Okay I mentioned keeping the devil the devil at bay. That too is easy. If you don’t want to be tempted, stay at home. If you don’t want to have AIDS, think well before you undress.

If you fall victim of what you cannot control tough luck. In many other ways you are luckier than others. A trouble free life does not exist so live with it.

The laws of God are so clear that it is nothing but indolence that has put humanity where he is today. Gurus and pastors are feeding fat from people’s inability to recognise the simple working of things.

While you kneel praying some unbeliever somewhere working very hard is amassing all the money you are asking for, and God is there officiating.

God moves only when you do. Where would His justice be if it were any different? If prayer, like you know it is what it really takes for God to act what would happen to all His other creation not as fortunate as you to have the awareness?

Real prayer is giving thanks. An opportunity to live is good enough a gift. If He was to do everything for us He would not give us brains and free will.

So get up and go do some work and see how easy it is to move God.