Who ever thought that this, of all things, would be so integral to a more fulfilling life?
I speak of gratitude -- making the most of what one has rather than yearning for the best and most of everything.
And gratitude boils down to perspective, one's way of seeing the world.
Some people see an old plate and others see the very thing that holds the nutritious food they're blessed to have.
Some people see a rickety car and someone else sees the very thing that keeps them from having to take to the bus or walk long distances, sometimes into sketchy neighborhoods.
Some people see a cramped apartment they can't wait to flee from while others see a roof over their heads -- a home where they can spend time and create memories with family.
Here are just a few of the ways society prevents us from experiencing true happiness:
- By telling us to buy the next best and biggest thing, even if we're happy with the one we have -- whether it's a phone, car, or house
- By persuading us to pack our lives with more stuff -- more junk, more noise -- rather than to simplify
- By pushing us to keep up with the Joneses, even if it means going into debt and living beyond our means
I'm not knocking one's striving to improve themselves while being grateful for what they have -- the two aren't mutually exclusive.
And there's no harm in treating ourselves to a nice pair of shoes or expensive dinner on occasion. We do, after all, work hard and put up with a lot of crap at the office.
But if we don't stop to smell the roses and appreciate what's already in our possession, we'll simply continue living in the future rather than in the present, fueled by the urge to continue acquiring possessions we may not even need.
Instead, let's aim to appreciate the little things that may be taken for granted. The hot cup of coffee on a cold winterday. The air-conditioning on a scorching summer afternoon. Biting into an apple after not having eaten all day.
It isn't until later than many people realize it's the little things in life that are really the big things.
Many disadvantaged people would love to be in our shoes. Rather than focus on those who have more than us, we should remember those who have less, and lend a helping hand whenever possible.
Most people would agree that helping those in need is far more gratifying than buying ourselves material things.
And even if you're strapped for cash, you can still help people in other ways -- by babysitting their kid, helping them move to their new home, and so forth.
Are you going to be in your deathbed wishing you had made more money? Or will you be concerned about whether you did enough in your life to help others and contribute to the world?
Money and material objects are not unimportant, but if your life revolves solely around them, it's time to reassess your priorities.
Take a moment each day to take stock of all your blessings. Start a gratitude journal if you like. Aim to tell friends and family how much they mean to you. And when the urge to buy things you may not need resurfaces, redirect those thoughts toward whatever (and whoever) you hold dear.
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