Daily Inspiration 12-22-10

"It is the heart that makes a man rich.

He is rich according to what he is,

not according to what he has."

-- Henry Ward Beecher

The movie, It's a Wonderful Life is a fine movie. It seems like I've seen it every year for most of my life, except I hadn't seen it in the last 8 years or so, and so thought I would view it again--you know--for old times sake.

The whole premise is that George, the main character gets in a financial jam and thinks he is worth more dead than alive. Desperation is a powerful emotion.

George went through his whole life doing the right thing even when he really wanted badly to do his own thing. Yet, he continually gave up doing his own thing in order to do the right thing at every opportunity and those opportunities were plenty. So, he lived the struggle of the poor helping the poor while watching the mean old grinch of a man, Mr. Potter, the richest man around and the meanest, nastiest one too, buy things up to profit more from the poor than before, if you know what I mean. It's a popular, but inaccurate theme that has been carried out throughout time: the rich being the mean, money-grubbing, poorer-making sleezeballs that any decent human would despise, while the poor, but genuinely good, hard-working, family-oriented townsfolk struggle to make a good life amid this lopsided and unfair system of the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer.

I used to belief in and agree with that scenario and it skewed my thinking when it comes to money and having plenty of it. Now, I have changed my thinking and see that part of the movie for what it is, yet still enjoying the more positive aspects of this show. For example:

• George is very, very good at being a leader, yet he doesn't seem to realize he is a leader. He is a great communicator and learned how to grow the town by building a large housing project. Of course, he realizes it in the end with the help of the guardian angel.
• George is a wonderful dreamer and he can certainly make excellent use of those dreams right where he is. This reminds me of the Acres of Diamonds story.
• George finds real, true, soul-mate love, even though it had to hit him over the head with a frying pan to get him to pull his head out and get a clue! And, he ends up with a perfect family and family life.
• This is a picture of small town life where people know each other and interact with each other and this is just as alive today as it ever was.
• Doing the right thing is right. Thinking of others needs is good.

What he finally learns is that happiness is not something outside, but inside. He also learns he is the richest man in town when he counts the most important thing: Love. And, last, he came through for others so often, others got a golden opportunity to come through for him. People are basically good at heart and if we give them the benefit of believing that, they will show it to be true.

It Is A Wonderful Life! Believe It And It's True!

Spread Some Joy Today--Get excited about your own value and your own personality and your own skills and talents and your boundless love. That will do it.