By: Shani K. Collins, Your Black World
Actor and author, Hill Harper, makes the connection between money, wealth, and health in his new book, The Wealth Cure: Putting Money in Its Place. Harper was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when filming Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls. At the time of his diagnosis, he was also writing the book on wealth and made a distinct connection between one’s finances and one’s wellbeing.
In an AOL “You’ve Got” session, Harper spoke about The Wealth Cure. He stated: “Money is one thing, but wealth, true wealth is entirely different.” He added, “we use money to justify all of our behavior, rather than use money as a tool to enhance our lives.”
Harper goes on to make the distinction between “smart money” and “dumb money.” He stated that “smart money is using money as a tool to make our lives better; whereas, dumb money is making unwise decisions with our finances such as using credit cards to pay for things we can’t afford.”
Equally important, Harper noted that smart money is “investing in your health, and taking care of yourself.” Harper’s component for true wealth includes money plus wellness. He added “happiness, love, wellbeing, and other things that occupy wellness define true wealth.”
Hill Harper is the New York Times bestselling author of Letters to a Young Brother, Letters to a Young Sister, and The Conversation.
Shani K. Collins is a doctoral student at the University of Alabama. You may visit her at www.shanicollins.com
