"If you realize that you're the problem, then you can change yourself, learn something, and grow wiser. Most people want everyone else in the world to change but themselves. Let me tell you, it's easier to change yourself than everyone else." (37)
This is something I learned early in my adulthood. I came across this quote by Viktor Frankl, "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." I was so moved by Frankl's words that I took them literally, and I slowly learned to take responsibility for my own actions in every circumstance. Slowly, because every time I found myself within unfortunate circumstances, it wasn't, nor still is easy to remember to take this responsibility upon myself. Our natural inclination is to blame. Blame mom, blame dad, blame teacher, blame government, blame, blame, blame. And while these who receive the bulk of our blaming may in fact be guilty of some slight or some atrocity, with proper boundaries and better or even the best understanding of self, there is so much that can be prevented, and of whatever cannot be prevented, revolutionary resolution may be achieved, because taking responsibility in every situation, ultimately requires to let those emotions flow through and then out, BEFORE action is had.
"You see, true learning takes energy, passion, and a burning desire. Anger is a big part of that formula, for passion is anger and love combined. When it comes to money, most people want to play it safe and feel secure. So passion does not direct them. Fear does."(40)
That's definitely one thing about me- I'm full of passion, and I believe this is reflected in my writing. And just a reminder, these revelations are nuggets of truth I've learned on my own prior to reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
"That's the price of studying to learn a profession or trade, and then working for money. Most people become a slave to money- and then get angry at their boss."(41)
He's not saying not to do these things, just for the record. He's saying people learn with the end result being to work for money. And it's true. Not true for me. I truly love to learn and find ways to apply what I learn to as many areas of my life that I can creatively work out. And while I do enjoy the money I earn, I hate to see the numbers go down in my account or the cash dwindle in my wallet. I'm notorious for keeping my money for as long as I possibly can. When I receive personal or pay checks, I've waited several weeks to cash/deposit them, sometimes the weeks spilling into months! And I've made several people angry for this habit. And while Robert is definitely not saying to hold on to numbers, because that is essentially what I'm doing, my point is that I've looked at money very differently than others. And while my way is really not any better, it is different, and this I believe, has helped me to welcome his nuggets of truth and begin to apply them to my own knowledge base. BUT my keeping money was/is still based on fear. Fear can help fuel the passion or it can paralyze you from moving. So not cashing my checks for a month because I don't want to see the numbers dwindle, is a fear based action or inaction- however you want to look at that.
AND, this is something I've discussed extensively with my kids over the years. Here's another quote, and this one along with Frankl's quote are words I've said many times over to my kids:
Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all. From now on you'll be traveling the road between who you think you are and who you can be. The key is to allow yourself to make the journey- Ambrose Redmoon/Meg Cabot.
So bottom line is that fear is a necessary component that calls to action passion and courage. And I got it, or at least I thought I did. I've earnestly tried to live these two quotes out, but my newest set of trials is challenging me on a whole other level.
Word. Challenged accepted.
Works Cited
Kiyosaki, Robert. Rich Dad Poor Dad. Plata Publishing, LLC, 2017.
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