Unless you are part of the 4% to 6% of the population that is financially independent, this message could be for you. One of the most talked about -- and sometimes controversial -- facts of life, is money. Some of you might ask what money has to do with Living on Purpose? My experience is that it has way more to do with the fulfillment of people's purpose than we acknowledge.

Let's get personal.

? If -- right at this very minute -- you were given all the money you ever would need, desire, or want for the rest of your life, would you make different choices?

? Imagine you never have to worry or be concerned about your financial needs ever again in your life! Does that change your emotional energy?

I contend that financial independence has nothing at all to do with money and everything to do with giving you emotional freedom. The idea that the rich are always thinking about money is really not true; it is those with limited resources who are constantly thinking about money -- the lack of it! Many individuals become completely consumed, emotionally burdened, and paralyzed by their fiscal reality. They wonder how they can afford the basics like car repairs, the children's field trip, rent, and even food.

Opportunities to attend university, risk quitting the current job for a better one, travel to foreign countries, invest, or give to great causes are reduced or even completely omitted from their lives. Why? They lack money.

Think about it. Would you contribute more, be more, offer more, if all your financial needs were taken care of for the rest of your life? Many of you reading this e-zine or individuals you know, have made life decisions that had nothing to do with "Living on Purpose"; the decisions were made based on the condition of your/their financial resources.

The challenges about wealth and money lie in our mindset.

Did you know you have no more or less financial success than you think you deserve or believe you are worthy to receive? Before you get defensive about this statement, I can personally attest to this truth.

Before I became a millionaire, I needed to believe I was worthy and able to achieve that status. But my past was fraught with a mindset of poverty. Growing up in a poverty mindset family and community, I heard things like -- money is evil; money is not important; the rich are greedy; money does not bring you happiness; selling is not right; you can't have both financial success and relationship success; the rich get richer at the cost of others.

In later years, I found that these statements were fabrications mostly perpetuated by poverty-mindset individuals to justify their position of misery. I still get emotional about this because it cost me years of fiscal despair. Yet, I know I went through that experience to have credibility with you on the subject and to encourage others: you do not have to stay stuck!

I understand what it's like to be two heartbeats away from bankruptcy, to borrow money from one credit card to pay the other, and to wonder if I would ever get out from under my burden of debt. The great news is that you or others are one decision away from changing your financial condition -- or certainly improving it.

In response to some the statements above, here is what I know to be true.

1. Money is not evil.

In fact, it is neither positive or negative. It is the person who is interacting with the money that makes it positive or negative.

2. Money is important.

If you said your significant other or family members were not important, how long would they stay around you? It's no different for money. Money will simply respond to the beliefs you have about it. If money is not important to you, don't be surprised when you don't have any money. After all it's not important -- right?

3. The rich are not greedy.

Money does not make individuals greedy; they were that way before they obtained wealth. The person's character was in place prior to acquiring wealth. I have known many individuals who are greedy but who don't happen to have any money. Most wealthy individuals are generous. Investing their wealth into worthy causes is one of the things they enjoy most.

4. Money does not hinder happiness.

If this isn't true, why is the subject of money (lack and management of) in the top three reasons why people have stress in their relationships? Money in itself does not bring happiness, but neither does poverty. Which would you prefer?

To truly understand financial independence, we need a definition. Financial independence is where your passive and residual income (income you don't have to go out and earn on a daily basis) is equal to or greater than your monthly expenses. You get to decide what lifestyle is best for you. Whether it is the lifestyle of Mother Teresa or Donald Trump, it is nobody else's business but yours -- as long as you are living and fulfilling your purpose.

If you have compromised or justified decisions based on your financial condition, it is time to update your mindset and start moving toward fulfilling your life's purpose without the lack of money -- or an abundance thereof -- as a hindrance.

A new level of Emotional Freedom does occur when financial independence is achieved. The first step to achieving wealth is having a mindset of wealth instead of poverty consciousness. We have put together a short survey in the action steps to help you identify your current financial independence mindset. Once you are progressing toward this wealth attitude, you will need the strategies and knowledge for financial independence that you will find in Part Two -- coming in the next issue.

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This Week's Action Steps

To help you establish your current wealth mindset, please complete the following assessment. I encourage you to be completely honest and real -- this approach will serve you best. After establishing your current condition, you can then address your new financial independence mindset.

This statement best describes my beliefs.

On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = Not At All; 10 = Completely), respond to these statements.

_____ 1. Getting wealthy takes too much work and struggle.

_____2. Money is not really important to me.

_____3. To be wealthy means to take advantage of others.

_____4. I'm not very good in the area of finances and money.

_____5. Most rich people are greedy and dishonest.

_____6. If I am successful, it means less for others.

_____7. I wish I didn't have to deal with money.

_____8. I hate selling.

_____9. Money causes a lot of problems.

_____10. I don't like taking risks.

_____11. Success is mostly a matter of luck.

_____12. Money is the root of evil.

_____13. It is not realistic for me to be wealthy.

_____14. You can't get rich doing what you love.

_____15. You can't make a positive difference and strive to be wealthy at the same time.

_______ Total

The lower your score, the better. If you are completely satisfied with your financial condition, wonderful. If not, it is up to you to reframe your wealth mindset.

Until next time keep "Living on Purpose,"

Ken Keis