Losing money

Losing money by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

"Money dealings and our reactions in situations which involve money reveals a lot about who we are. The Talmud considers this one of the three basic ways that the character and personality of someone can be recognized. (Anger and how one reacts when under the influence of alcohol are the other two.)

It is a very high spiritual level to be able to maintain serenity in the face of a major financial loss. Right now what we are addressing is losing serenity over minor, inconsequential amounts.

Money is not a goal in and of itself. It is a means to an end. With money we purchase items that we feel will enhance our lives. One of the major reasons people want more money than they presently need is in order to have peace of mind.

But money itself cannot guarantee peace of mind. In fact, the more money someone has the more potential there is to find things to worry about. No matter how much money one possesses, it takes mastery over one's thoughts to be consistently serene.

At least when it comes to minor financial setbacks remember that losing serenity is a far greater loss. Just as you would take care not to repeat a ridiculous mistake that caused a loss of a dollar or two, so too, be careful not to repeat mistakes that cause you to lose serenity."