8 Pillars of Prosperity

Moral principles are the foundation of prosperity. As a house is built according to design principles seen in nature, we also obey universal laws. Nobody will build a building and go against geometrical measurements, for we know that such a structure will not be safe, endanger people’s lives, and will not withstand the brunt of nature when it comes.

We also live our lives guided by universal principles because when we go against these principles, we only cause harm to ourselves.

In this life, there are set foundations of law that guides mind and matter, our thoughts, and our actions. If we knowingly disregard or purposely contradict them, it will eventually lead us to calamity and loss. When we view the world around us as the cause of our pain and suffering, we went against our ethical principles.

Like a house when built on a foundation of the moral law, our character will stand firm. When we develop our moral character daily, they become the bricks to our house called life.

Human enterprise and business, to remain strong and stable, must observe these laws. For dependable and long-lasting prosperity, it must anchor itself in a strong foundation of moral principle.

In James Allen’s words, “Prosperity, like a house, is a roof over a man’s head, affording protection and comfort. A roof presupposes support, and support necessitates a foundation. Then, the roof of prosperity, is supported by the following eight pillars, which are cemented in a foundation of moral consistency.”

James Allen, in his book Eight Pillars of Prosperity, gave us the following eight pillars.

Eight Pillars of Prosperity

1. ENERGY

The moral virtue of energy is the opposing vice of laziness. The choice to exert and take action is all up to us. It is a primary force; without it, nothing can be achieved. Energy is life and power. Only the dead stop moving. And it only when we use this energy and take action do we attain power and freedom.

Energy must be carefully controlled and conserved and not only used toward good ends for it to be productive. It’s been said, “still waters run deep” and the great universal forces are silent. Where there is calm and quiet, there is tremendous power. A calm mind is indicating strength and an educated mind. He plans ahead, has alternative courses of action, focused and deliberate. He is skilled, confident making him successful and influential.

But energy does not stand by itself. There are qualities to energy for prosperity.

4 Qualities to Energy

• Promptitude – begets reliability. It is being alert, prompt, punctual, and reliable—the ability to be trusted to perform duty and do it with vigor.
• Vigilance – guards against negative and harmful elements that can affect our minds. Thoughtlessness is the lack of attention and has brought failure and anguish.
• Industry – diligence and hard work bring cheerfulness and plenty. Promote health and well-being.
• Earnestness – dedication to the task, always strive for excellence.

The First Pillar of Energy. He who has the energy and take action will have the might and relentless support in the business of his life.

2. ECONOMY

The economy is a universal principle and moral quality. It consists of finding the middle ground in the following seven things:

• Money – a symbol of exchange, represent purchasing power. Money management is critical to have financial wealth. It is knowing how to balance income and expenses and set aside money for savings and future capital. The spendthrift and the miser will never become wealthy. The thrifty and prudent spend wisely, save carefully, and expand their spheres as their finances allow. They will be on the way to riches.
• Food – represent life, vitality, physical and mental stability. We must be well nourished, but not overfed, a middle way to eat and drink to achieve physical and psychological fitness. If we starve our bodies, we will have frail bodies and weak mental energy conducive to failure than achievement. The glutton destroys himself by excess. Our bodies become a storehouse of poison that attract disease and negative thoughts.
• Clothing – Negligence and vanity are the two extremes. The bad dressed, unkempt appearance invites failure and loneliness. An over display in clothing and jewelry bears a vulgar and empty mind. Simplicity in dress is still the best. One that shows comfort, practicality, enhances bodily grace, reflecting good taste and refinement.
• Recreation – It is a necessity in life. Its objective is to relax both body and mind, increasing its power to do the work.
• Rest – Recuperation after work. Overindulgence or deprivation are both harmful. Rest so we can do more, and not pamper us in indolence. A balance between work and rest leads to health, happiness, and prosperity.
• Time – We all have the same number of time. So let us not misuse our precious minutes in worthless activities. People who spend their time in self-indulgence and the pursuit of pleasure may find themselves old and have accomplished nothing. Time wasted can not be restored. Time management is where our day is apportioned to work, leisure, meals, recreation. The real economy of time is filling in every working minute with purposeful thought and effective action.
• Energy – Having good habits conserve and put to good use our energy towards accomplishment.

4 Qualities of Economy

• Moderation – avoiding extremes and finding the middle ground
• Efficiency – skillful and wisdom
• Resourcefulness – fruitful thought
• Originality – resourcefulness perfected, genius

3. INTEGRITY

Integrity is the possession of sound moral and ethical principles. People behave based on their set of values. They do what they say, stand by their decision, take responsibility, are accountable. You can trust and can count on them. They do not compromise their ideals; they do cut corners, cheat, or lie.

4 Elements of Integrity

• Honesty
• Fearlessness
• Purposefulness
• Invincibility

4. SYSTEM

It is the principle of order where everything is in its place, no confusion. When there is no system, there is no attention to detail resulting in no or slow growth. Having a system simplifies the complex. It makes it difficult, easy. Having a system in place makes individuals work together and guide their actions. A business with a system renders its machinery workable, enabling it to run like a well-oiled machine even with the business owners’ absence.

A systematic person can accomplish so much in a short amount of time. His observance of the law of order makes him achieve his goals faster and easy, with no friction or loss of time. People who frown at discipline, whose minds are unbridled and rebellious and irresponsible and reckless in their thinking, habits, and operation of their affairs, cannot be successful and profitable. Their lives are filled with worries, struggles, challenges, and trivial aggravations, all of which will cease to exist when you have an order coming from your system.

4 Ingredients in a System

• Readiness
• Accuracy
• Utility
• Comprehensiveness

5. SYMPATHY

Sympathy is the unwavering self-forgetful character, profound, silent, inexpressible tenderness. Sympathetic people are firm, quiet, unassuming, and self-restrained. Lack of empathy comes in egotism; compassion comes in love. Egotism is involved in ignorance; love is allied to knowledge.

“Sympathy is oneness with others in their striving and sufferings so that the man of sympathy is a composite being: he is, as it were, several men, and he views a thing from many different sides, and not form one side only, and that his own particular side. He sees with the other men’s eyes, hears with their ears, thinks with their minds, and feels with their hearts. He is able to understand men who are vastly different from himself; their lives are revealed to him, and he is united to them in the spirit of goodwill.” — Allen James

4 Qualities of the Great Virtue of Sympathy

• Kindness
• Generosity
• Gentleness
• Insight

6. SINCERITY

“A man of profound sincerity is a great force, and there is no force – not even the highest intellectual force – that can compare with it. Men are powerful in influence according to the soundness and perfection of their sincerity. Morality and sincerity are so closely bound up together, that where sincerity is lacking, morality, as a power, is also lacking, for insincerity undermines all the other virtues so that they crumble away and become of no account.” – James Allen.

A man cannot build a successful career on pretenses and appearances. There is no solid ground in insincerity, no substance, no reality, nothing to stand on, no material in which to build.

4 Traits of a Sincere Man

• Simplicity
• Attractiveness
• Penetration
• Power

7. IMPARTIALITY

To obtain impartiality, we must remove egotism, which stops us from seeing things from another perspective. When we hold on to prejudice, friends are sacrificed, joys are missed, happiness is destroyed, and future prospects are ruined. An impartial man studies, reflect, and contemplates, searches for the truth. Looks for facts and confirmation to show him the truth, no preconceived ideas.

When we conclude without any basis of fact or knowledge, we fail to reconsider, so learning is never gained. That is prejudice. It holds a man to darkness and ignorance, prevents the development of our minds to its highest potential. It shuts us from being with the best minds and keeps us trapped in the dark and lonely cage of our egotism.

4 Elements of Impartiality

• Justice
• Patience
• Calmness
• Wisdom

8. SELF-RELIANCE

Self-Reliance is thinking independently, embracing our individuality, and with courage striving towards our own goals. It is self-sufficiency in thought and action. It means we can make decisions and resolve problems ourselves as we grow and learn to live by ourselves. We have self-acceptance, self-confidence, we do not need to rely on others. We have our own direction.

4 Qualities of Self-Reliance

• Decision
• Steadfastness
• Dignity
• Independence

In The End

For a business to thrive and stay successful, its owners must practice and adhere to these eight pillars of prosperity.

Only a few people can live by all the eight principles, but for those who do and strive, they are the leaders, teachers that support our society, and the pioneers of this world.

“The boundary lines of a man’s morality mark the limit of his success. So true is this that to know a man’s moral status would be to know — to gauge his ultimate success or failure mathematically.” – James Allen

He goes on to say that where moral principles are ignored or defied, ultimate failure and defeat are inevitable in the nature of things as cause and effect. As a stone is thrown upwards to return to earth, so every deed, good and bad, returns upon him that sent it forth. Every immoral or immoral act deters the end at which it aims, and every such succeeding act puts it further and further away from being realized. But, every moral act is another solid brick in the temple of prosperity, another round of strength and sculptured beauty in the pillars which support it.”

Source

Allen, James. Eight Pillars of Prosperity