I was poor. I used to write down in little notebook every penny I spent. I would calculate if I could afford to buy myself a little treat every month after all the bills were paid.

Now I am rich.

A big change

That is not to say that my name is Bill Gates or John Paul Getty. There are millions of people in the world who are richer than me. And as I am never going to be Bill Gates then there will always be people richer than I am or ever will be.

So what has brought about this change. I am still in a salaried job. I still have a family to support. Yet I no longer feel poor. I feel rich.

This is obviously all in my head. Yes that’s right its in my head not in my bank account – but that’s not to say that my account is wildly overdraw. I am living within my means and don’t owe any more than I can afford.

Why?

So why this change of mind? Its not religious – “true riches in heaven” and all that. Though for some people there is truth in that. Here is the secret.

If you think you are rich you are – its as simple as that. After you have got over the childish ambition to be the richest person in the world or even super rich. And once you have accepted that there will always be people who are richer than you are – then you can be content with the riches that you have and see that there are many people perhaps millions in the world who have less than you do. Contentment comes from being happy with your life.

Still aspire

This is not to say you cannot aspire to more but if aspirations become the only driving force than this takes away happiness. Aspirations and ambitions are good things and hungry people succeed but if you are too driven you will never have enough time to stop and watch the sunrise. There are so many things that can be enjoyed for free. The beach, the mountains and the sunset are the same for everyone however much you have in your pocket book.

Happiness

And I have met some rich people who are not happy. Their wealth is their only protection from the rest of the world who they imagine are as greedy as they are. Everywhere they look they imagine people are trying to take it away from them. However much they acquire – if they keep thinking like this they will never get enough – they will never feel rich.

Look at yourself

When I got to fifty I looked hard at myself. Am I doing what I want to do with my life? Yes most of the time I reckoned I am. I’m sure that even Bill Gates has to do things that he doesn’t like sometimes. Have I got everything I want? I suppose I have. I have money in the bank and if I want something I can go and buy it. It is a nice feeling not to want to go and buy something just because it is possible for you to do. Just because I could buy a new car – I don’t have to. Once I realised this it was a tremendous liberation. I think I am rich. I am happy. I hope you are too.