Article 4: From Survive to Thrive …

I have always liked “wordplay.” This is everything from knowing and appreciating the origins of words, alliteration and rhyming, playing Scrabble, etc. This comes out in my writing because it makes it interesting to me and is a part of the challenge and joy that writing brings to me. My interest in this can be seen in one of the raison d’etre’s of my book regarding the word ‘wealth’ - when I discovered that it is derived from a word that meant ‘wellbeing,’ it moved me one more step down the path of discovering just what “being wealthy” was all about. The same process then evolved with another word that is getting a lot of use these days: thrive. This of course works out nicely with a word that contrasts with (and rhymes with) thrive: survive.

Damn … I’m having fun all over again.

Thriving is the ultimate attitude to adopt if you want to become wealthy. Here are some definitions of the word “thrive”:

- To grow vigorously: FLOURISH
- To gain in wealth or possessions: PROSPER (from the Latin prosperare meaning “to cause to succeed.”)
- To progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances, as in she thrives on challenges

I also believe that one of the crucial steps towards unlocking your purpose is learning to thrive rather than survive. Many people, as you know, are barely surviving; they will have a hard time seeing their life as wealthy, now or in the future. To experience and accelerate wealth, it’s important to get beyond focusing on lower-level needs and raise our sights towards growth and prosperity. In short, we must learn to thrive. This is the 4th Article of The Wealth Manifesto:

The journey to wealth will transform your life from Survive to Thrive.

Thriving is far better than merely surviving. Of course, thriving is pretty tough when you are having trouble surviving. Since it is often the case that money takes care of nearly any issue that has to do with the lower level, physiological needs associated with survival - food, shelter, security … even sex - I think money is important (within reason). This is why I make the connection between your Wealth Potential, your ability to be fulfilled as a person and the ability to generate income. It is going to be very difficult for you to fulfill the valuable role you have on this Earth if you are lacking in the physical needs common to all human beings. You are here for a much bigger reason than to live in scarcity.

The path from surviving in fear to thriving in love can be challenging but it is the path of least resistance that we all must ultimately find. You are moving towards wellness and grace and away from that which causes you pain. This will put you on the path to who you were meant to be. This means the path to wealth is not only consistent with finding your purpose, it is your purpose.

I’ll finish up today with a favorite quote (found of course in my book The Wealth Manifesto )

Love is the only wealth that man absolutely needs.
Love is the only wealth that God precisely is.

- Sri Chinmoy, Indian philosopher and guru