There is probably not a more contentious subject in this country than money. For all debts, public and private, it is the topic of intense debate, rich or poor. Many of us have too little, we tend to resent those who have too much. Those of us with too much want more. The cycle is constant, and the equitable change of hands is less frequently than many would like. In the end, money as a resource draws the greatest emotions from people who don't truly understand the role it plays.

Those with little access to resources, in general, don't have access to the information that would give them a healthy mental attitude toward money. Their environment is defined by it's lack, which of course instills an inherent bias toward money as being something to be sought after, but respected.

The people who have abundant access to resources too often make the mistake of falling into greed and the desire to acquire more of what they have too much of. This attitude is hailed and coveted in our society, not frowned upon.

Avarice is the common denominator between these two schools of thought. If you pay attention to the mass media, too many of us are replete with it.

There are many who transcend the pervasive attitude. These people have a healthy attitude toward money. They tend to give it the respect that is necessary, but understand that it is the slave that is under their control. They don't have to overspend, nor use it to show the world that they have plenty of it. These individuals spend more time making sure they keep what they've acquired to that point, even possibly making more, and having plenty for later.

This is the balanced attitude more people should have. Money will enable you to go to college and earn a degree without paying loans back. With plenty of money and more time on your hands, you can perform more volunteer service for your community. You can afford to go on an extended vacation to exotic places with plenty of money, thereby extending your world view. With the feeling of access that money brings, your mind opens up in ways that are indescribable as exciting new ventures come to mind.

What money cannot do is make you a more virtuous person; you should be virtuous before you attain wealth. Intelligence, love, character, personal dignity, these things cannot be bought. These are virtues that absolutely must exsist before the individual ventures into creating lots of money. Without them, you run the risk of losing it as quickly as you gain it, or worse, being left with less than how much you came in with. Money can never bring humanity, you must bring humanity to the money.

So many of our biases must be conquered before we can learn this healthy attitude. We must question what we think, what we believe, and what we've been taught if we are to gain a healthy outlook on wealth (and just about everything else, frankly). The statistics indicate that people who are raised surrounded by general abundance are taught more about money and it's uses more often than those from a lower socio-economic background. Those of us from a lower-income environment must understand that we don't have to be defined by our lack of access, and that great wealth and a healthy attitude toward it can be acquired through putting our human qualities first. That is a fact.

I'm from a lower-income background. My mother lives in Minnesota with my little brother. My other little brother lives in Perth, Australia. I live in Atlanta. My mother lives with the attitude that she may never see all three of her boys in the same room for the rest of her life. This is due to a lack of funds to bring everyone together. It is early in my quest to make lots of money with my business, and I am well on my way to do so. I am motivated by the idea that one day soon, I will have the funds to bring my family together regularly. That is what money has the ability to do.