Can affirmations really make you rich?

May 1, 2018

billionsHow much will we have left?” asked Bobby Axelrod’s wife on the Showtime series, Billions.

“300 mil,” he said.

She looked aghast.   “We can’t live on that!”

Later in the show a hedge fund manager who has fallen on “hard times” bemoans that he can’t afford to live on only $40 million.

That’s a world most of us can only watch on TV.

I still see so many on social media touting affirmations for wealth and prosperity. Even people I’m certain will never, ever achieve wealth.

Am I psychic?

Nope. I just know that affirmations are not meant to be used that way. They’re not magic words that draw wealth. Even though I’ve seen many, many posts that claim wealth affirmations keep money rolling in.

Not how it works.

The Divine isn’t waiting with a bag of money that it’ll drop when someone says “The Universe is dropping money on me.”

You can be born into wealth. And you can be lucky, like holders of stock that skyrockets. I know people in both those categories, even though neither describes me.

But most of the time, wealth is something achieved by strategic, hard work. By blood, sweat and tears. It’s not something the Universe hands us if we diligentl recite words. If only it were that easy.

Everyone wants to get rich. Or they think they do.

But it seems pretty obvious to me that wealth can bring with it a lot of bad stuff, especially for people who are not born into it. Not everyone can rise to the occasion, although almost everyone thinks they can.

When I see people affirming for great wealth it always seems, well, naive, and sometimes even unprincipled.

But mostly this: It seems like the wrong objective.

Affirming for “enough” seems more reasonable.

Maybe because I’ve never aspired to great wealth. I’ve always just wanted “enough.”

I don’t need a Bentley. Or a Learjet. I don’t need a villa on the Riviera. I don’t even need a Chanel bag. Actually, I don’t even like them. And I have never bought a $400 pair of shoes. Although if they were cute enough and super comfortable, I might. But those things do not ring my chimes.

I just need enough.

And that has meant different things at different times in my life.

My enough and yours might be different. But it seems to me that if we are going to make affirmations about money, it’s a lot smarter to affirm for “enough.”

M and I, we’re two kids from western NY state. We’ll never think that $300 million (or for that matter, $40 million) isn’t enough. Hell, we’d be lucky to have it.

Even if we began with billions, like Bobby Axelrod.

So do you watch the show? And what thoughts come up when you do?

 

19 comments on “Can affirmations really make you rich?
  1. Rachel says:

    Money is so important to us, isn’t it? Makes the world go round for most of us. AHrd to not become greedy isn’t it but I would always like more of it!

  2. Ashley says:

    I can’t stand shows like that. It makes me so frustrated seeing people with priorities so messed up that they can’t find a way to live on millions of dollars while so many worldwide don’t know where their next meal is coming from. I love affirmations and think they can do wonders for someone’s mental health but tv shows that glamorous lifestyles like that are such an issue for me.

  3. GiGi Eats says:

    I’ve never ever seen that show before but it definitely brings up some thought provoking conversations!

  4. Rachel says:

    I somehow always set up life to have just enough. I am not that driven by money or things.

  5. I haven’t seen the show, but will check it out after this. Thanks for the reco. 🙂

  6. Jessy says:

    I enjoyed reading this blog as I feel the same way. It often baffles me when some wish for wealth and desire to be rich. I believe we should be rich with our thoughts and actions.

  7. kumamonjeng says:

    I have not seen the show but I think money is important but we just need to have “enough” money to live. I seen some people who are already very rich but still working till late and neglect their family. We really need to know how much is “enough”.

  8. Monique says:

    I want to be stable and have “enough” to be comfortable and prepared in case of emergencies. I feel like crazy shows like that blow everything out of proportion, especially to young, malleable watchers! Thanks for this insight!

  9. It’s first time I hear about that show… however, most people dream about getting rich with little to no effort, while those who are rich, work smart and hard for their money… and they put their money to work smart and hard for them…

  10. For me, affirmations are used to change your consciousness, from the inside out. The question whether affirmations can really make you rich lies in the belief of the affirmer. Whether you inherently believe you can or cannot, you are right

  11. Noelle Lynne says:

    I always remind myself how I only work to travel and live, and that money is not my main motivation in any way. Really great words, thank you so much for sharing these thoughts.

  12. Esme Sy says:

    I don’t know which one has stronger characters and/or episodes, this or Suits. Can’t go wrong with either of them I suppose. You’re right about how the “bad stuff” can get into someone with regard to handling a lot of money. Getting to the point of “enough” is indeed the right way.

  13. Elizabeth O says:

    This isn’t a show I’ve seen but it sounds interesting indeed. I think most of us strive for a comfortable living, but I guess everyone really wants to have extra money too.

  14. Geraline Batarra says:

    I’ve never watched or heard it before, just now. Maybe every one of us has had differences when it comes to money matter. And I agree with you, others are born with that and others are not, sometimes affirmations come because they want more than they have.

  15. Lisa Rios says:

    I agree that gratitude is important. It is very sad to see people who are obsessed with getting rich quick, and they don’t see the blessings they already have. I’ve always been taught to see the beauty in my life and not to crave for more, but be thankful for the now.

  16. Holly says:

    You have such a great perspective. Love this. Thank you for the encouraging words….it really made me think.

  17. stephanie says:

    I am big into manifestation and I really think that if you put things out into the universe that you want you will be more inclined to achieve those things through mindfulness of your own actions. But there is work to it for sure!

  18. I’m a huge fan of affirmations because they just put me in a better mindset to get the monies!

  19. I have never seen the show! I honestly believe in living comfortable but money is not my number one priority family and living and enjoying life’s precious moments.Thanks for sharing this post 🙂

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