It is interesting how the mind works. There are days that I look around my home and feel like I should be living in a bigger, nicer home. I get this sense that I am falling behind because my peers own a mountain home or rental properties, have larger and modern homes, nicer cars etc. etc. I get in these moods where I feel that I am lacking, which isn’t surprising since we are constantly bombarded with marketing messages that our happiness depends upon buying the next latest and greatest gadget. Many of us are caught up in the “The Gospel of Consumption.”
Thankfully these moods don’t crop up too often and when they do I take some time to remind myself what being abundant means to me.
In my younger years, abundance definitely was about material possessions, acquiring bigger, better, newer things. Now as I approach my forties, abundance is more about freedom. Freedom is related to making good choices. When you make choices from a feeling of “lack” then you inevitably end up spending money on things that you think will give you long term satisfaction (the bigger home, nicer car, designer clothes) but in reality all it does is take away your freedom.
Abundance for me has become more about having the time to do what I choose and having financial margin provides me this gift. I can be home with my daughter, travel to new places, take time to explore new ventures, hang out with my neighbors, friends and family, go to yoga class, journal, think and just be. This pays back in dividends in terms of well-being, joy and happiness.
When the feeling of “lack” comes into my realm, I remember that my life is so far from lacking… it is truly overflowing with abundance. The abundance comes from having a healthy strong body, and peace of mind knowing that I am truly living an integrated life and making a difference in other people’s lives.
What does abundance mean to you? Do you feel abundant?
To your health,
Sharon
