Are you rich? Or do you just have money?

I am writing this week’s column from New Delhi, India. Such a beautiful city, full of contrasts and contradictions; luxury and poverty, chaos and calm, manic yet serene.I can’t help but be moved by it all. It got me thinking about wealth. We often make the mistake of thinking that money and wealth are one and the same. I feel I understand it so much clearer now, money is simply the currency that is required as an exchange for goods or services, while wealth technically is an abundance of money or material possessions. But in my view, wealth is far beyond stacks of cash or material possessions.If someone were to ask me if I was extremely wealthy the answer would be ‘yes’. I base my wealth on the number of blessings in my life that are impossible to measure or purchase with money. I believe wealth is in optimum health (which can’t be bought), in lasting loving relationships (which can’t be stored in the bank), and a natural sense of immense gratitude for the world we live in (which can’t be measured in riyals or dirhams). I am a wealthy woman. I am blessed beyond measure in more ways than I can count.I believe when God looks at us and listens to our prayers, the only thing he sees is our heart and how pure it is, not our bank statement or stock portfolio. In God’s eyes, each human is invaluable, and each one as precious and rare as the other. The love God has for humanity is far beyond our comprehension. He values us as much as every star and each planet that he created. He values us all, in richness or in poverty.To be valued by God, creator of the universe speaks volumes, it means we are enough; no matter how much we have or own. So, when we are tempted to look at our own lives and how much money we have or lack, it’s a good idea to look far beyond those numbers and understand the true wealth of our characters and how much we have been blessed with.I find people’s attitude towards money very interesting; I know some people consider money an evil thing. I don’t believe that to be true. Money is great, I love money, it allows a certain amount of freedom and it allows one to travel, it’s why I can be sitting here in New Delhi as I write this column. Money allows one to perform acts of charity, so wealth can be shared and distributed. I also know a lot of people have a ‘lack mind set’ when it comes to money, they believe what they have is not enough. My reply is always the same “Lack produces more lack”. If you don’t think you have enough, that’s what you will get more of. Where there is appreciation, there is always duplication.As I grow in age, or should I say spiritual age, I have become concerned with different things. When I was younger it was all about my outer life. What can I get; “I need my stuff, I gotta have my stuff.” As I ascend in age and spirituality, I have become more focused on my inner life and what I can give.Let me know your thoughts on wealth and money. You can DM me on instagram * The author is a consultant and coach. Instagram handle: @miss_shefa,  Website: missshefa.com