In the city of Arondale people thought that having a lot of money was the key to respect. The more money you had in the bank the more people looked up to you. Among all the people in Arondale Ethan Cole was at the top. He was thirty-eight years old but he already owned several businesses, big houses and more money than he could ever spend.

To people Ethan Cole seemed to have everything he could ever want.

What people did not know was that Ethan Cole had very little emotional strength.

Every morning Ethan Cole woke up in his apartment with a great view of the city.. The view did not make him happy. His days were filled with meetings. Making money but every night he felt empty inside.

One evening after making a deal worth a lot of money Ethan Cole sat alone in his office. He should have been celebrating,. Instead he just stared at the city lights.

His assistant, Maya Reed noticed that Ethan Cole was being very quiet.

"You should be happy " Maya Reed said. "Most people would love to have what you have."

Ethan Cole forced a smile on his face.

"I know " he said. ". It never feels like enough."

Maya Reed had worked with Ethan Cole for a time. She had seen him become very successful. She had also seen him become very lonely. Ethan Cole needed people to tell him he was doing a job. If someone criticized him it would bother him for a time. If one of his plans did not work out he would start to doubt himself.

A days later Ethan Cole went to visit his old friend Daniel Brooks. Daniel Brooks owned a bike repair shop. Compared to Ethan Cole Daniel Brooks did not have a lot of money.. He always seemed happy.

As they sat outside the shop drinking coffee Ethan Cole asked Daniel Brooks a question that had been on his mind.

"Daniel Brooks how do you stay so calm? Do you ever worry about money?"

Daniel Brooks laughed quietly.

" course I do sometimes " he said. ". My happiness is not based on how much money I have."

Ethan Cole looked confused.

"That is easy for you to say " he said.

"No " Daniel Brooks replied. "It is actually harder. I had to learn that when I did not have money. You never had to do that."

Those words stuck with Ethan Cole.

Weeks later Ethan Cole had a problem. One of his investments failed because of changes in the market. Even though he was still very rich he lost a lot of money.

For days he did not leave his house.

He did not answer his phone.

He did not go to meetings.

He even ignored Maya Reeds messages.

To Ethan Cole losing money felt like he had failed as a person.

Meanwhile Maya Reed called Dr. Sophia Hart, a therapist she knew. Maya Reed hoped that Dr. Sophia Hart could help Ethan Cole.

Ethan Cole did not want to. He agreed to meet Dr. Sophia Hart.

During their meeting Dr. Sophia Hart listened as Ethan Cole talked about his problems.

"I have spent my life making money " he said. ". When something goes wrong I feel like everything is falling apart."

Dr. Sophia Hart nodded her head.

"What happens when someone criticizes you?" she asked.

"It bothers me " he said.

"What about when a business fails?" she asked.

"I feel worthless " he said.

Dr. Sophia Hart leaned forward.

"Then your problem is not about money " she said. "Your problem is that you depend on what other people think of you."

What Dr. Sophia Hart said hit Ethan Cole hard.

For the time he realized that she might be right.

Months went by. Ethan Cole kept meeting with Dr. Sophia Hart. Slowly he started to understand himself.

He learned that being strong is different from having a lot of money.

He learned that being confident is different from being famous.

Importantly he learned that emotional strength is something you cannot buy.

One day Ethan Cole went to a community event organized by Grace Miller, a teacher. She was known for helping kids who did not have much.

Watching Grace Miller help her students even though she did not have a lot of resources amazed Ethan Cole.

After the event he asked her "How do you stay positive when things are tough?"

Grace Miller smiled.

"Because what I am doing is more important than my problems " she said.

Ethan Cole was amazed by how simple her answer was.

That night Ethan Cole thought about the people around him. Maya Reed worked hard. Was loyal. Daniel Brooks did not have a lot of money. He was happy. Dr. Sophia Hart had taught him about himself. Grace Miller did what she did because it was important to her.

Each of them had something that Ethan Cole did not have.

For a time Ethan Cole thought that being strong meant having a lot of money. Now he knew that true strength came from being in control of your emotions.

It did not happen overnight.

There were still times when criticism hurt Ethan Cole.

There were still days when he got frustrated when he lost money.

Slowly he stopped thinking that his worth was based on how much money he had.

He started spending time with his friends helping his community and focusing on becoming a better person.

Years later Ethan Cole was still one of the people in Arondale.. People noticed that he had changed.

He smiled often.

He listened often.

He worried often.

One day a young entrepreneur asked him for advice.

Ethan Cole looked out at the city. Said,

"Having a lot of money can make you comfortable.. If you are not strong emotionally you will never feel rich. True wealth starts when you can control your emotions and thoughts."

The young entrepreneur thought about what Ethan Cole said.

For the first time, in a long time Ethan Cole really meant what he was saying.

His money had made him powerful.

Being strong emotionally had finally made him free.

Thanks for reading this post!!!