The LESSons of ‘MORE \ MORE - The Yatzer MORE

The LESSons of ‘MORE \ MORE

            While the ‘yatzer tov’ and the ‘yatzer hara’ are respectively literally defined to be the so called  ‘good inclination’ and the ‘evil inclination,’ the implication of the ‘yatzer hara’ is according to others:

·         ‘away from the will of God, and or

·         the instinctual inclination which would dilute the deliberate evil demonic force (though these forces in excess can lead to evil (Genesis Rabbah 9:7

·         when controlled by the yatzer tov, can lead to socially desirable results.

            A derivative of the yatzer hara, for purposes of the ensuing hypothesis is ‘The Yatzer MORE ’ – the force, the inclination towards ‘MORE MORE MORE.’ Per as ‘The Yatzer MORE: there is never enough compounded by the fear of less, less, less as manifested & materialized by the rationalizations of never ending ‘if onlys’ (indicating the self unfulfilling prophecy in one’s ‘lacking & lacktose intolerance.’)

            Further MORE, the Yatzer MORE cannot be cured – only managed (a very very low probability – not even 1%) by the Yatzer Tov. Recognition Shaddai is Enough  and understanding & even verbalizing ‘what is ENOUGH ’ is just lip service as  the Yatzer MORE, a derivative of the Yatzer Hara,  is reinforced genetically and by society (be it communism, socialism, capitalism).

The Yatzer MORE pervades – it’s just a matter of who gets what in splitting up the pie – whether earned, a matter of theft however masked (restitution, entitlement ((rationalized as fairness, social justice, income inequality, and generally being offended)), crony crapitalism or Dachaa vacations houses for the Politburo.)

            And yet, the ever increasing level of anxiety & rotation thereof, cultivated & promoted by the Yatzer MORE, is unnecessary and irrational (again with the understanding the Yatzer MORE cannot be cured only managed.)

            After 20 years of practice, 2 editions of ENOUGH , subsequently another 5+++ years of blogging on ENOUGH (healingfinancialanxiety.blogspot.com) and taking calls another 20 years from former clients and friends (though out of practice) who say they believe and understand ‘ENOUGH’ (The Yatzer Enough??) without question, without question the Yatzer More still dominates them. In comparison, the Yatzer MORE  is the perennial playoff New England Patriots and the Yatzer Enough is Washington Generals basketball team (2)

            Instead of asking the question when one stock, in one mutual fund, which is merely one holding in one objective’s portfolio, is down, do I still have ‘ENOUGH ’ nor remembering this mutual fund for years way over performed the needed rate of return for the objective (often 2 years or more of rate of return desired in 1 year), forgetting the fit of this fund within the context of the objective, there is ever increasing anxiety in the conversation highlighted by ‘but, but, but’ focusing on ‘less’ (the derivative of the Yatzer MORE  drive)..

(Of course, forgotten is the one stock within one of the funds that skyrocketed – because that was already pocketed, and what was pocketed should never be ‘lessened’.When this was pointed out to several, the response was, ‘yes, I know. I know you are correct. I understand ENOUGH’ and 30 seconds later for 15+ minutes right back  to MORE  and less.)

            ‘Noteworthy:” the Yatzer Hara’s note of MORE drowns out the music of ENOUGH  – while the anxiety laden focal point becomes the ‘missing tile’ (2) or the Iranian Persian Flaw (2) (except for Obama, Hillary & Kerry) rather than the objective.

            Why?

I have come to the conclusion after these 40 years of writing, consulting, doing workshops, preaching ENOUGH the comparative hurriCAINe of The Yatzer MORE  has won hands “down.” The Yatzer MORE dominates, overrides, and governs (it’s just in hibernation once in a while). Yes, this Yatzer MORE behavior is an inbred inclination. The Yatzer MORE inclination fosters the belief and action that there is  never enough while advancing the faith, trust, and yes idolatry in intangible and tangible assets disregarding the adaptability, the resourcefulness, and the ‘empirical figuring it out’ of the individuals themselves in themselves who assembled, gathered, reshuffled, and or combined the assets. At the same time implicitly The Yatzer MORE  discountd & or dilutes acknowledgment of Hashem (Shaddai- Enough) who created the assets to be assembled, gathered, reshuffled, and or combined.

I figured it out
I figured it out
With a pencil and a pad I figured it out!

Lyrics from the Pajama Game song 7 ½ cents

We undervalue our ability to ‘figure it out’ – our adaptability and resourcefulness. On corporate balance sheets, assets and liabilities are calculated to determine ‘net worth’ (yes, net ‘worthiness’ of all words). On these corporate balance sheets, there is typically an asset titled ‘goodwill.’ Goodwill arises when a company acquires another entire business. The amount of goodwill is the cost to purchase the business minus the fair market value of the tangible assets and the intangible assets that can be identified, and the liabilities obtained in the purchase. Essentially ‘goodwill’ represents the going concern value – dare one say - the energy that assembled, gathered, accumulated, combined and or reshuffled both the assets above and beyond the mere financial value of the intangible or tangible assets.

Yet, a value for one’s personal "goodwill" that assembled, accumulated, reshuffled, etc the assets representing the ability to ‘figure it out,’ (our adaptability and resourcefulness’ our going concern value) is not reflected nor calculated for our ‘net worth – net worthiness.’

(The Yatzer MORE is obviously in charge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles – ironically otherwise known by the acronym GAAP. A coincidence?)

As a result, we undervalue our wealth (adaptability and resourcefulness – the ability to figure it out)- worshipping the idol of net financial assets (net worth)  that could be devalued tomorrow.

Therefore, The Yatzer MORE ’s personal financial anxiety reigns – buy Xanex.

And so much for acknowledging the Creator.

           

            And yet, this is irrational – per the following exercises.

In remembering one’s difficult periods life, answer and fill in chronologically the following:

Difficulty                       How resolved                 How stronger for it

1.-

2.-

3.-

4.-

5.-

Did you not endure these periods? Did you not come back from them? Did these periods, in fact, make you, in some respects,  even stronger? Did the descent (difficulty) lead to ascent?

Did money really get you through these periods or did your own adaptability and resourcefulness – ability to figure it out?

And, in the future, should, for example, a devaluation occur, will it not be your adaptability and resourcefulness that will allow you to secure the "currency of the realm" to accommodate to the situation?

We confuse money (the current currency) with our wealth - our resourcefulness and adaptability to figure it out.

Furthermore, even when confronted with this empirical reality, there is always another but:

·         I’m older now

·         That was then, this is now

·         I don’t have the energy

·         It’s a different world

·         China’s impact

·         The demographics have changed

·         Average middle class income is down

·         Jim Cramer says

·         That was then; this is now

·         The economy is artificial with the Federal Reserves low interest rates

·         Social security is a ponzi scheme

·         And the golden oldie that never gets old, ‘you don’t understand…I have to make more to have enough which I can’t tell you what enough is’

·         etc

            And so, we believe in money – the current currency (which can be devalued) – MORE & less than our own resourcefulness and adaptability (that assembled, gathered, accumulated and combined Hashem’s created assets) that we ‘figured it out’ - than ourselves - let alone Hashem- Shaddai (Enough).

1.- The Missing Tile Syndrome – focuses on what we don’t have (what’s missing) rather than what we have

The Persian Flaw - The Persians believed only God was perfect so carpet makers would intentionally place flaws or mistakes in the carpet.

2.- The Washington Generals were an American exhibition basketball team, best known for their spectacular losing streak in exhibition games against the Harlem Globetrotters. (i.e. The Harlem Globetrotters 2000+++ wins against the Washington Generals 1 win.)