The Midas Touch

There is a fascinating story from Greek mythology about King Midas.  You have probably heard of him through the expression, “The Midas Touch.”

Midas was a King who prayed to the Greek gods for the gift of success.  He wanted to become the richest man in the world.

Midas succeeded — sort of.  He did indeed became the weathiest of people;  whatever he touched literally turned into gold.

Now one would predict that Midas would die of old age, amidst great opulence and privilege. But the opposite happened.

Since everything he touched turned into gold that included his food.  If he picked up a  fork to eat a steak, the fork would turn into gold.  If a servant fed him potatoes, the potatoes would turn into gold.

To his horror, Midas realized that the gift he craved had turned into a curse.  He died of starvation.

The legend has a deep meaning, especially for those living in countries awash with money.  We can crave money and seek possessions.  But at what cost?

Having success can make a person feel more confident and secure  However, the richest people I know are also some of the most anxious and insecure; they are always worrying that someone will rip them off. 

It may be helpful for you (and all of us) to take a look at your relationship to money.  For most people, it is quite complicated.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:  Do you feel that you never have enough money?   Do you envy people with more money? Have you ever had any conflict with others around money?

Do things get in the way of your connection to others?  Are you working so much that you don’t get enough time with loved ones?

There’s nothing wrong with money in and of itself.  It can lead to a comfortable life and providing well for your family.   What’s important, I think, is a balance.

When money and things become the center of our lives, they can cause more harm than good.  “Possessions” can possess us and even cause harm.

As it did for King Midas.