I had a couple of conversations with dear friends that led to this post.  This is just one illustration that the power our language holds in shaping our lives and who we are.  Once again, this is my own understanding.

Jackson tells Luke that what he truly wants is money.

Luke knows Jackson, and he does not believe this to be true.  Why do you want money? he asks.

Jackson tells Luke that he wants to be able to support himself and his eventual family.  He wants to be able to put them through school and to take them on family vacations ever so often.  He wants to have this security, freedom, and flexibility.

Luke tells Jackson then, that Jackson does not want money, what he truly wants is to support a wonderful family.

Jackson says, Well yes, but I need money for that.  Of course you do, replies Luke.

Jackson is confused.  So then I want money.

So, you get money, and then what? Asks Luke.

Then I can support my future family!

So then say that is what you wish to do!

Jackson is very confused and a little annoyed with Luke at this point.  How can he be so caught up over such an insignificant difference?

***

This difference is not so insignificant as it seems.  Some people are not like Jackson.  I have not met one of these people yet but this person truly believes that money is what they really want; money is their End (as opposed to Jackson who uses it as a means to his True End).  These are the people that are in the headlines in the biggest of corporate scandals but also the people whose names we will never know that truly pull the strings. It is plain to see that virtually all of the suffering in our world is caused by greed or by desiring money or profit.  When the goal is money, morals and principles seem to get thrown out of the window.

So now let’s look at Jackson.  Jackson states he wants money.  We know that what he truly wants is to support a wonderful family, but what he states is that he wants money.  Just like disrespect towards woman (which I’ve spoken of before), there IS something systematic in this language and there is a reason that many are speaking like this (so this must be kept in mind!).

In Jackson’s life there will be many, many situations in which he will have a choice to make when it comes to money.  Maybe he sees someone drop their wallet.  Maybe someone miscalculates what they owe and has given themselves an unfair deal with him.  Maybe Jackson becomes a manager of a company.  In this type of position it becomes much easier to alter things in one’s personal favor for monetary gain.  Jackson is a good man, but if Jackson is always telling others and (more importantly) himself, that what he truly desires is money then Jackson is much more likely to sacrifice morals in order to achieve financial gain (as we see many people have and do).  If a woman walking down the street were to drop her purse, Jackson would know that there would be an opportunity to get money, and he would be likely to take the purse as money is what he truly desires.

Now, let’s say that Jackson states that his desire is to support a wonderful family.  When in these situations he is much more likely to refrain from doing things that not only jeopardize his ability to support his family, but also the ability of others to support their families.  Not only this, the institution of family is one that values love and trust.  One who values love and trust is more likely to act in ways that promote love and trust.

This doesn’t only relate to specific choices or actions, but to creating a life.  Simply by changing a few words, Jackson will act in very different ways that will create very different lives.  If he is not careful, he could end up in a situation or a life that is not in line with who he truly is and he will be very unhappy.

This also doesn’t only relate to this specific situation of stating one’s desire for money.  Our language has very real power.  If we are not speaking our own truths, then it is very easy to create a reality that is out of harmony with who we really are.