| Happy and Hungry From the Heart | by Alan Cohen EditorÕs Note: Next month, Hampton Roads will release Alan CohenÕs new book, Mr. EveritÕs Secret: What I learned from the WorldÕs Richest Man. This fascinating prosperity parable chronicles the relationship between a young man who is trying to find himself, and a seasoned mentor who changes his life in more ways than he can imagine. We are proud to offer you a sneak preview. ÒI donÕt need any more money,Ó Mr. Everit shrugged his shoulders. ÒI have enough.Ó His statement jarred me; IÕd never heard anyone say they had enough money. Even the wealthiest people I know always need more. Some of the few millionaires IÕve met were bigger whiners than people on food stamps. It seems that people who think they donÕt have enough, never get it, and people who think they have enough, never miss it. ÒYouÕre really satisfied with what you have? DonÕt you want to get richer?Ó ÒIÕm already richÉ. In fact, IÕm the richest man in the world.Ó What? ÒOh, come on, now, Mr. Everit, I know you have a few bucks in the bank, but youÕre no Bill Gates or Oprah.Ó He smiled. ÒOf course IÕm no billionaire. If you define riches by money, IÕm just an average Joe. But if you consider the immense good in my life, I am loaded. I have a loving wifeÉa job that fulfills meÉfriends I can laugh withÉ sunrises that warm my soulÉgreat books that stimulate my imaginationÉmusic that inspires me. Sure, I have my challenges, but they help me get clearer about who I am and what I want. If I start to go into a funk, I remember how blessed I am, and things shift. And now youÕre here. What more could any man ask for?Ó He leaned back with his hands behind his head and flashed a grin so big I thought the buttons were going to pop off of his plaid shirt. ÒNo sir, Bill and Oprah donÕt have a thing over Bert Everit. When it comes to wealth, IÕm richer than a king.Ó We sat quietly for a long time. In the silence, I considered that I might have always had enough, but didnÕt know it. Maybe I was doing better than I thought. He read my mind again. ÒÔEnoughÕ is not a number or condition,Ó he explained. ÒItÕs an attitude. How you invest your money is important, but how you invest your attention is even more important. Focus on lack, and your whole world is lacking. Focus on enough, and suddenly itÕs all enough.Ó ÒSo everyone on the planet is living in his or her own reality, and we keep finding evidence to prove what we believe?Ó ÒCouldnÕt have said it better myself,Ó he echoed. ÒPerfection is not a condition to be attained; it is a way of seeing to be cultivatedÉ. Take your basic supermodel: People ooh and aah over her perfect body wherever she goes. But sheÕs never quite beautiful enough for herself. She is terrorized by the tiniest wrinkle, wart, or sag. She lives on one lettuce leaf a day and purges if she eats a cookie. Constant fear and anxiety. A self-critical mind in a perfect body translates to one hell of a life.Ó IÕd never thought of it like that before. I always envied gorgeous women or handsome men; I figured they had it made. ÒBut if everybody just accepted everything as it is, weÕd never get anywhere. ThereÕd be no striving for improvement. IsnÕt it important to stretch for more? To set goals beyond our current level of attainment?Ó ÒExactly! Just donÕt be disappointed if you never get everything done. On the day you die, you will have e-mail in your inbox.Ó Now there was a sobering thought. ÒThereÕs more fun in the going than the getting there,Ó he insisted. ÒYou will never wake up one day, wipe your hands clean, and declare, ÔThere, thatÕs it! IÕm done.Õ There will always be more that you want or have to do. Like the Lexus ad that asked, ÔWhy pursue perfection when you can drive it?Õ Lots of people are pursuing perfection; very few are driving it. You donÕt need a Lexus to drive perfection; you just need to decide to enjoy the ride.Ó ÒSo we donÕt need to die and go to heaven to be happy?Ó ÒHell, no!Ó he bellowed. ÒHeaven is not a place you end up. It is a feeling you cultivate where you are. Honestly, how long could you take lying on some cloud, listening to harp music? IÕd go buggy after half an hour!Ó I had to laugh; he was right. ÒSo the process of reaching for perfection is part of perfection?Ó ÒAbsolutely. We can enjoy what we have while striving for better. The two are not mutually exclusive. We can live Ôhappy and hungry.Õ Ó Happy and hungry. IÕd not thought of those two on the same playing field. A few people I know are happy. Most are hungry. This strange man was beginning to rock my whole notion of reality, and it seemed as if there was not a thing I could do about it. Alan Cohen is the author of many popular inspirational books, including the best-selling The Dragon DoesnÕt Live Here Anymore and the award-winning A Deep Breath of Life. Alan offers Living Prosperously, a home-study course in creating greater abundance, and the life-transforming Mastery Training in Maui. For information on these programs and a free catalog of AlanÕs books, tapes, and seminars, phone 800.568.3079, visit www.alancohen.com, e-mail info@alancohen.com, or write P.O. Box 835, Haiku, HI 96708. Copyright © 2004 Alan Cohen |
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May 2004 |
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