Are you rich and don’t realise it?

And why aren’t you even richer?

I think the challenge in rich western societies is that many people take what they have for granted.

The biggest cause for poverty, feeling poor and unhappiness is a lack of gratitude for what we have.

Sir John Templeton a billionaire investor, often referred to as the Warren Buffett of last century, made his fortune buying penny stocks during the depression. When interviewed he said:

“What is the one secret you can share with others who want to be wealthier?”

Everyone was waiting for the stock tip to hopefully pick the next big winner.

Instead his reply was:

“People should wake up every morning of their lives and focus on 5 things they are grateful for”.

He said “gratitude is true wealth. You can have all the money in the world but if you lose your gratitude and perspective on life- you will lose your wealth.

“You can have little or no money and focus on what you do have with gratitude and you are truly wealthy”

In fact ever since I heard that many years ago, I’ve started my days focusing on what I have to be grateful for.

I believe that is the main reason I have a happy life- one that I’m passionate about and enjoy and thus have a tremendous abundant flow into my life- simply because I’m grateful for all the things I have and don’t lose perspective of where I come from.

When looking at broader challenges that western societies including Australia face, I see it’s a lack of gratitude and lack of perspective. It creates high levels of unhappiness such as the poor man syndrome which is less apparent in third world countries where people are statistically happier, yet have less material wealth.

What do I mean by poor man syndrome?

Simple…

It’s the biggest reason why majority of Australians don’t feel rich.

It’s when a person thinks they are poor despite living in a rich country and actually being rich.

I mean how many Australians think they are poor?

Yet the poorest Australian is one of the richest people on the planet.

In fact, the poorest Australian today would be richer than the majority of Australians 50 or 100 years ago.

Not to mention nobody in Australia has a monopoly on becoming wealthy. Plus anyone in this country can do quite well with the correct mindset, strategy guidance coaching and massive action and work ethic. Over the last 14 years I have proven that and so have thousands of others including many of whom I have mentored.

Jamie McIntyre, are you suggesting that if Australians simply recognised the wealth and opportunities they already have, they would not only feel richer and happier but would actually become richer and happier?

Absolutely!

It’s because you can’t manifest what you don’t have , so if “you think poor, you feel poor and you will be poor’.

Think gratitude and abundance; feel gratitude and abundance and you will attract more gratitude and abundance.

How can that be?

It’s the simple Law of Attraction; however, it must be backed up with the Law of Action.

This is why I’m a passionate advocate for financial and emotional intelligence.

I’ve taught this principle for 14 years and have hundred thousands of people who are living far richer and happier lives as a result of these teachings.

Yet there are still so many Australians in this country wasting the precious gift of life and the incredible opportunities this country offers whilst feeling sorry for themselves and whinging about being poor, and worse, feeling envy towards those who are richer.

How we live our lives is our choice. And that choice starts every morning when you wake up.

Did you focus on 5 things you were grateful for this morning?

Your family perhaps? Your health? The fact that you are breathing? Your freedom? The fact that you may have a job or career?

That you have friends? You have food and shelter? You can read, write and speak English?

You live in a country without violence and relative safety. There is a number of things you can be grateful for every day.

Wouldn’t now be a good time to start being grateful on a daily basis?

But Jamie you don’t understand my situation…It’s alright for you to be grateful every morning since you are rich…

Trust me; I very well understand most people’s financial situation. I was once poor, broke and even worse, actually deluded that I was poor. I was angry, frustrated and ungrateful for my life around 18 years ago.

And if I didn’t change my thinking and let go of the delusion, I would still be feeling poor and manifesting a lack of things in my life.

Yet I had the courage to accept the truth and make a change. A simple change- one of gratitude even for the problems in my life.

Even for the setbacks. Even for the injustices. Even for things that were wrong and unfair.

I decided to no longer be a victim of life but make my life the best it can be.

But Jamie not everyone can be rich…

My answer to that is nonsense! I can prove that wrong and I do so every day of my life

But not everyone has access to the education you got from successful people to learn from?

Nonsense!

I have committed to ensure that every single Australian of any age gets access to a valuable financial education for free.

There is no excuse.

It’s time many Australians stopped whinging and envying those with money and had a go. Not being able to afford it is not an excuse because it’s free.

But Jamie, you were just lucky…

My response again: Nonsense!

Yes I had some luck, but so can everyone else. Luck favours the brave. Luck was not and is not the determining factor in success.

There are no excuses and nothing preventing anyone in this country from living a better life- Other than any excuses they may wish to invent and be deluded with.

Life is a choice. I challenge Australians to make the choice of living a life with gratitude. You’ll be surprised at just how much happier and richer you will become.

Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. www.jamiemcintyre.com

Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. http://www.jamiemcintyre.com

Author Bio: Jamie McIntyre is the founder of the 21st Century Group of companies and CEO of 21st Century Education. He is also bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, investor, sought after success coach, internationally renowned speaker and world-leading educator. www.jamiemcintyre.com

Category: Advice
Keywords: 21st Century Education, 21st Century Financial Education Summit, Australia, grateful, Successful