So many people throw the catch phrase “financial independence” around that no one really knows what it means anymore. People seem to use the phrase for different reasons and in different settings, in line with their own emotionally-charged (and often misguided) views about money. One of the greatest universal principles I have learnt is that in every moment, we can always choose what to focus upon. Our conscious decision about what to focus on in every moment brings about our reality and future results. In fact, the moment we deliberately (or unknowingly) focus on something, it becomes the center of our world and immediately sets into motion a chain of events to come.
Most people set an intention for “financial independence” without really
knowing what it means. Because you have read the first half of this book, you should know by now to set yourown standards of financial independence, one that will allow you to feel the richness and wealth inside. The level of financial independence that is right for you is the one that allows you full creative self-expression with absolutely no restrictions.
I would like to share two views on financial independence and prosperity which I have since adopted as my own. I adopted these views because I have found them to be very resourceful and empowering to me. Most people will be questioning whether these definitions of financial independence are “right” or “wrong”. But that will be asking the wrong question and missing the point completely. The purpose of this whole book is not to tell you what is “right” or “wrong” about money, but rather to help you find a way to become comfortable about money. It is through this inner balance that more money will flow to you, and your purpose is to maintain this sense of inner balance throughout your whole life.
The first definition I have heard about financial independence which I consider to be truly empowering is by the late business philosopher and speaker Jim Rohn. Mr. Rohn famously defines financial independence as “the ability to live from the income of your own personal resources”. It is little wonder that Mr. Rohn was a multi-
millionaire and richly rewarded for his work, because he truly understood the role of money and its sacred purpose in life. Notice that Jim Rohn’s definition of financial independence has nothing to do with amassing a particular sum of money,
accumulating actual dollars, or achieving certain external yardsticks of wealth. Jim did not say, “Financial independence is when you have multiple streams of income”,
or that “financial independence is when you make six figures a year”. Jim Rohn truly understood that each individual’s preferences, desires and intentions surrounding money are different — and the one that works, is the one that is just right for you.
He has deliberately chosen a broad definition that fits in so nicely with what we are talking about in this book. First, he defines financial independence as an ability to live. What he is referring to is the ability to live a good life, as he has so famously spoken about over the years. But what constitutes the good life? To me, a good life is a life of fulfillment and full creative self-expression. It is a life where you have the freedom (both monetary and physical) to do things which make your heart sing. It is a life where you can devote yourself to helping and serving others, and enriching
yourself in the process. That is the ability to live.
The second part of his quote talks about living from the income of your own personal resources. Notice here how Jim has astutely side-stepped the entire issue of income or money. He does not dictate how much money you should make, but rather, gently suggests that whatever amount of money you make has to be just right for you. Give up any notions right now about any fixed income you should be making, or that you should be making X dollars a month every single month to be happy. I have heard excuses from people, ranging from “my income is not fixed” to “I should be making X dollars”, as reasons as to why they are not financially independent. That is
ridiculous! The only question you should be asking is whether your income allows you to live and express yourself fully. If you are able to do so, then why would it matter that it is not fixed? One can make a million dollars in the first few days of the year, and not have to work for the whole year, something that struck me so profoundly from the opening words of media entrepreneur’s Ted Turner’s autobiography. Ted is another guy that gets it.
The third part of the quote talks about “your own personal resources”. The full quote reads: Financial independence is the ability to live from the income of your own personal resources. How beautiful a definition is that! How empowering! It does not dictate that you have to be in a particular vocation, or that you have to do this and that in order to be financially independent. You don’t have to be working in a bank, or a trader on Wall Street. You can just as easily be an artist, a painter, or a writer, or anything in between! What is important is that you do so through your own personal resources. What skills and attributes do you have? What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? How can you be of service to the world? Focus on using your own personal resources to the fullest, and the money will flow to you. The first time I read Jim Rohn’s quote, I was struck by its profound simplicity. Fifteen words, that changed my view on this subject forever.
Anytime you feel discouraged, I encourage you to think about Jim Rohn’s definition of financial independence. If you would like a goal or intention to start with, this is a good place to start. You can start by affirming: I would like to develop the ability to live from the income of my own personal resources. Or “I have the ability to live from the income of my own personal resources.” Notice how this intention immediately makes you feel at ease and at one with the whole subject of money and finances. Instantly, you are not longer restricted to a particular job, or to a particular channel through which money flows to you. You are no longer required to conform to social expectations as to what is the best way to make money. A whole new world of possibilities opens up to you… because you now realize that there are just so many paths to financial independence and prosperity! The only path you should not be taking is someone else’s path!
The second empowering belief about money comes from the Indian spiritual tradition and it goes something like this: “True prosperity is the ability to manifest at will whatever you need, whenever you need it.” Notice how similar the essence of this quote is to Jim Rohn’s definition of financial independence. True prosperity lies not in having millions of dollars or a stash of money somewhere in the bank, but rather, in your ability to produce whatever you want easily, whenever you need it. Once again, I felt liberated when I heard this definition of prosperity, because up till that point in my life, I had equated prosperity with having more. I had associated prosperity with
having a certain amount of money, safely hoarded somewhere in the bank that I could draw upon when needed. Little did I know that my misguided earlier beliefs about money prevented money from flowing to me, because the very act of hoarding something (or needing to “hoard” something) implies lackful thinking.
Make up your mind today to live by a more empowering definition of financial independence, abundance and prosperity. Make up your mind this very moment to live by your own definitions of financial independence, and to stop being influenced by the standards and expectations of others. Just adopting this new stance alone will greatly increase your effectiveness as a manifestor of money, because you are no longer placing any physical limitations on how money can come to you. While you may previously have associated financial independence with possessing a certain sum of money, you now see financial independence as something that is much bigger than that.
Which feels better? Having one million dollars in the bank, or having the ability to produce whatever you want, whenever you want it? I can tell you today that the one million dollars will soon run out if you do not have a prosperity consciousness, and you will be back to square one with the same limited thinking. Therefore, the lesson here is very valuable indeed. We can never place our faith and trust on outer
circumstances and things. Placing your reliance on a stash of money somewhere or a job out there, no matter how significant the money may seem to be at the moment, will never match up to placing your reliance on your inner self. Outer circumstances may change, the money may come and go, but if you cultivate and maintain your feelings of inner richness beyond all outer appearances… that is something which can never be taken away from you. If you maintain your sense of inner richness and balance despite of outer circumstances, you’ll find money and all the resources you need in miraculous ways. This has been the gist of my teachings and I am living proof that it is possible, so are all my readers around the world who have traversed the same path as you. The path you have been on does not matter. What matters is the path which you are taking now. With God, all things are possible.