Depending on which version you look at, I have been investigating the top ten richest people in the World.
The reason for this is because I recently became interested in Joe Vitale, then recognised a huge shift in my attitude towards him and given that I don’t know him personally, this perplexed me somewhat.
I seem to be taking a radical stand against a guy who is writing books designed to help me. Well, I decided to stop blaming Joe and take a look inside and see what was going on over here with ME.
What was prompting this self sabotage?
At its simplest level, I discovered that I HATE rich people. I also think rich people are STUPID and MEAN.
So on some level, given that his focus is on money and marketing and he seems to have a lot of both, it can be said that I hate Joe Vitale and think he is stupid.
I have been looking for reasons to dislike Joe and to find fault with his material.
How do I unravel this?
When I look at my personal goals (deep down at my reasons for doing things) I need to be loved and for people to tell me that I am clever.
My partner could do no better than to kiss me gently on the cheek and say “I love you Mark, you are a genius”.
Logically keeping it really simple, my belief system will extend to what others think of me. If I make money, people will hate me and think I am stupid and mean!
So what is my subconscious super computer creating for me? Or should I say what is it NOT creating for me and PROTECTING me from?
Well starting with Joe Vitale it is making sure it finds evidence that his program doesn’t work and that the principles are stupid, as well as scanning his books for reasons to dislike him and think he is mean. After all these “free gifts” are just marketing ploys to get me to buy his stuff aren’t they.
I wonder how many other people have similar blocks. In reality, Joe’s methods clearly work, you only have to look at people who have had success with his system to see that. Perhaps the people who don’t have success have issues like mine?
On the subject of generosity, one very good friend with a reasonable amount of money displays huge gestures of generosity towards others. He even provided one mutual acquaintance with a house. It must have been frustrating, almost impossible for this person to give anything to me because my belief system blocked him, all the way to debtors court.
I work extremely hard and simply give away my work. I rarely chase opportunities, or follow up on collecting my royalties. I think I can see why!
So I decided to see if my belief system about rich people is true and looked on the Forbes rich list to find out what sort of people have lots of money and what they do with it.
Strangely there is no immediate evidence there for my belief system. Here is a synopsis of the first few I looked at:
Bill Gates worth $56b is giving his money, time and talents to tackling diseases in Africa, boosting America’s lackluster high school graduation rate and helping women abroad start small businesses. I would do that. And Bill clearly isn’t stupid or mean and I have no reason to hate him.
Warren Buffet worth $52b has given $31b to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also supports other charities and lives a fairly reserved life style.
Carlos Slim Helu worth $49b has donated close to $4b to education and health projects, and to revitalization of downtown Mexico City’s historical district.
Ingvar Kamprad $33b, the IKEA boss, furnishes his home with IKEA products and wrote a letter of apology to all of his Jewish employees with regard to a mistake he made earlier in his life. I found that very inspiring.
Some of the others I found on the Sunday Times Rich List had lives surrounded by controversy and I am sure that if I want to dig up dirt on these people, I’ll find it.
However what would be more useful to my growth as a sentient being on this planet?
And how is this hatred of people with money ever going to help me become a philanthropist.
My awareness of this situation gives me the choice to change it.
It will be interesting to see what happens next!
