Having a Super Rich State of Mind

I have always been fascinated by Russell Simmons, the media mogul, because he is so outspoken about his practices of meditation, yoga, and being a vegan.
Forbes Magazine recently named Simmons one of "Hollywood's Most Influential Celebrities." USA Today dubbed him one of the "Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years," calling him a "hip-hop pioneer" for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, jewelry, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.    
How does he stay on the spiritual path being so vested in the world with all of his high profile, multi-media ventures, and parenting duties?  So many of us find it difficult dealing with just one job. So, I got an  interview with him for the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper and our Sporting the Right Attitude podcast.  (Hear it below)


Over the years Walter and I have heard many speakers on spirituality from world religions, including Buddism, Native American religion, Judaism,  Hinduism, Christianity,  and various metaphysical practices.  It's  what brings us joy.  But, we have never heard anyone so successful in business speak so openly on the practice of meditation.  
Simmons' shares a remarkable easy technique how to meditate in his new book,"Super Rich," his second  NY Times Bestseller.  Readers may find the title misleading.  It is not a manual on how to get money. Instead, it defines a higher state of abundance through consciousness.  Obviously, it works for him.  


Twenty-five years after he helped found the hip-hop movement and turn it into a huge money-making machine — and an "aspirational lifestyle" for a generation of young people worldwide — his Rush Communications includes three clothing lines, jewelry, fragrances, TV and movie production, a Broadway show, financial services (his own credit card), and philanthropy (he has 3 non-profits),
Simmons produced The Nutty Professor starring Eddie Murphy, the Def Comedy Jam series on HBO and other ventures. His net worth has been variously estimated at somewhere between, $325 million and $500 million.


However, the mogul says practicing the principles in the book, which he humbly says are not new to the world, may bring readers the residuals of good health, better relationships, and yes, financial success. "The ultimate state of being rich is to honestly be in a state of needing nothing," says Simmons.  " To need nothing is to be super rich."


Simmons doesn't claim to be enlightened, but wants people to know that the effects of meditation will enhance their work, relationships and general well being. 
"You want to live in moving meditation, a moving prayer," says Simmons. "When you come out of meditation, you take that quiet place with you.   When you do, you become so much more productive."  


Studies have shown that it is easier for meditators to live in the present moment.  "The anxiety people carry slows them down," says Simmons.  "Nothing happens, except in the present.  No laughter, no creativity.  No special talent. No execution of any idea will come to you.  Nothing happens when there is noise in the mind.  Settling the noise in the mind, should be the number one concern of anyone who desires happiness and success.  You must settle the mind to be successful and happy."


In addition to quieting the mind, Simmons says giving and being one with your Higher Self are vitally important.  "What we are moving toward, is a place of comfortable with the universe, or connected.  And the idea of being connected is the union with, as Yogi's say, a union with God.  So that's what we are moving toward.  I think the practice in the book, including meditation, bring you toward the space, where you can be a good servant, a good giver.  A selfless servant.  And the way that the service component works, is good givers, are great getters."


Click Here for the Sporting the Right Attitude Podcast with Russell Simmons

Buy "Super Rich"

That Doesn't Apply to Me

Have you ever been with someone, and you both see a sad situation, and the person you are with says the famous phrase, "There but for the grace of God goes I"? Or, maybe you have said that yourself when you see someone suffering.  

Whether you have said it, or someone you were with did, it, doesn't matter.  The fact is that phrase is fear-based.  

And, if there is fear present, you may find yourself worried about money, your job,  or walking faster past a homeless or a disabled person fearing you could "catch" what they have. 

Whether you believe in a Higher power or not, if you fear something, you attract it to you.    This is the law of attraction. 

Where did that phrase come from?  Not the Bible as some might expect.  It is widely attributed to John Bradford (1510-1555), an English evangelical preacher.  The word is, Bradford was imprisoned for  allegedly "trying to stir up a mob."  When he saw criminals, fellow inmates being led to the scaffold for punishment for their crimes, he uttered the phrase, "There but for the grace of God goes I." 

In 1955, Bradford  was not beheaded, but instead was burned at the stake alive.

Still want to use his phrase?  

How to Deal with Other's Misfortune.

So, how do you deal with the bad news you hear through others or the media?  Send them love and your good wishes.  Love is the greatest power in the universe, and since we are all connected, like prayers the energy of love connects to  them.  

Don't forget yourself either.    There is a small child inside of each of us who needs comforting, and assurance  when we hear negative news.  Tell yourself it's OK, and send yourself love. It also helps to practice feeling Divine Love surrounding and protecting you always.

Mindfulness

Tune into your feelings and thoughts.  Are you fearing that the misfortune you heard  could happen to you?  Awareness (Mindfulness) of thoughts and emotions helps distance you from them.  But, when they are unchecked these same thoughts and emotions, drive you to do and say destructive things.  Mainly, you beat up yourself or overindulge in drink, shopping and other habits.

Now you have prolonged the fear which became stronger, and you have the residual of substance abuse, or a huge credit card bill to deal with.  The underline fear is still there waiting to be handled.

So mindfully tune into your feelings, and thoughts.  Your awareness is the laser that dissolves and moves away fear.  Just by being aware that you are afraid, lessens the hold.

Use Positive Affirmations, or Scriptures.

You can also use a positive self-help phrase, other than Bradford's fear-based phrase, and most importantly, give yourself love.

When you hear of other's misfortunes, you don't really know exactly what happened in their lives to cause the situation, or what is truthfully going on behind their  problems.   

There have been many media interviews people who have lost jobs.  You may think, "That could happen to me too," and live in fear.  But, what you don't know is that person interviewed may have hated the job they lost.  They later went on, like many people do, to find a better job, or start a business making more money than they dreamed, not to mention being happier. 

So when you see a misfortune, drop your fears and try using this phrase: 

 "That Doesn't Apply to Me."

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Make a Commitment to Live in the Present



When we are feeling badly over what we didn't and could have done, we are living in the past. 

People ask, how can I live in the present moment when I'm so busy.  Easy.  Simply ask yourself, "How much is your inner peace worth to you?"

When you are busy and spinning around, that's exactly when you need to focus on whatever task is before you.  Doing one thing and thinking of another causes stress.  Stay focus on the present moment because in that present moment, all is well.  This sets up the law of attraction for the next moment to be OK too.