Happiness, Health, Wisdom and Wealth ^™

Fear and Greed

You've probably heard it said that money is the root of all evil. Wrong. Fear and greed are the true root of all evil. They are also a major inhibitor of happiness, health, wisdom and wealth. They are the primary disruptors of world peace. We spend the majority of our personal and societal resources hindering, combating and repairing the damage they cause.

Greed and fear are two sides of the same coin. They embody our desire to get as much as we can and to keep everything we have regardless of the cost to others or to society. What distinguishes greed and fear from legitimate activity? Emotionally driven activity that disregards the well being of self, surroundings or society. Put another way it is valuing ones emotional urges beyond all else; allowing those urges to dictate behavior. Greed is not just about money or possessions. It includes power, sex, respect, indeed anything that people desire. Greed is the desire to acquire. The insatiable need for more, better, and different. Well, what's wrong with trying to acquire things and keep them? Nothing. Running a business to make a profit is a great; running a sweatshop is greed run amok.

Fear is the desire to prevent the loss of what we already have. Like greed it is not merely about money or possessions but anything we value including power, respect and physical well-being. The driving urge to never lose anything, to always have all that we have now. What's wrong with trying to stay safe? Nothing. Installing smoke detectors is terrific; covering up crime in the workplace and endangering the public for fear of being fired is cowardice in the extreme.

There have been saints and monks and prophets who seem to have been able to eliminate these feelings from their being. For most us of however the will be with throughout our lives. That doesn't mean we are their prisoner. The brave feel the fear but choose to push it aside. The generous feel the greed but choose to ignore it. If you have no fear; courage has no meaning. If you have no greed; philanthropy has no meaning. If you reflect on this a moment you'll see the truth of it. Is it brave to do something that doesn't frighten you? Is it generous to give up something you don't want? Of course not. Courage and generosity only exist in the presence of fear and greed. And what's great is; they are like muscles. They respond to training. The more you use them the more they develop.