In today’s economy there is a lot of talk about a recession, downsizing, layoffs and people not being able to afford stuff due to job losses and outsourcing.

This all seems so silly to me.  The very concept of money is silly to me actually.  I once read a great quote that stated…..

“why are you making getting what you want a two-step process?”

What the author meant by this statement was, why are you working for money when you could work for the actual item you wanted re: bike, home, shoes….etc.

Than it dawned on me. The majority of people buy stuff not because they need it, but because they think they want it.  This wanting is influenced by a variety of variables including advertising.

Because people don’t truly know what they want, they figure that they want more money.  But the interesting thing is that, people don’t want money — after all, money is nothing more than a piece of paper with ink splattered all over it, it is basically worthless until we give it value by saying it has value.

What people do want, is what money can buy or can afford them. Maybe its the idea of freedom, a new home, that cool iPod or a night out on the town with friends. That is what people want. They want what money can buy.

Back to the question. Why do so many people make getting what they want a two-step process? Chasing after money instead of going after what they truly want?

I’d have to conclude that when it comes down to it….many people don’t truly know what they want. So they settle for thinking that it is money they want, but its is nothing more than a good old sleight of hand trick — they get money, and with the influence of advertising they spend it on things they thing they want… they go on feeling happy for a while, but because the items purchased are not what they truly wanted… the happiness ends quit abruptly and people are left feeling empty which in turn allows for the process to repeat itself … this time more easily.  When you feel empty or sad… it is much easier to advertise and convince you that a new widget can make you feel better, more confident, or more beautiful.