Too Attached to Our Livelihoods?

Wealth is very fleeting, yet for those who grew up poor getting out of poverty might be their only desires. They would obviously take actions towards that drive and we onlookers might judge their actions harshly. I have noticed that those who have experienced abundance are a lot more likely to appreciate the simpler things of life. It isn't totally unfounded to have millionaires suddenly desire less and less possessions. Obviously the same cannot be desired of someone whose experience has been survival.

I grew up in a comfortable house, although not rich. My parents really strived to ensure that we had all the basic things we needed and a few luxuries to ensure that our childhood was all the more memorable. I am grateful for the experience of having comfort yet not being comfortable as I appreciate it and certainly do not take it for granted. It isn't a bad thing to desire a comfortable life, or even one of wealth and opulence. It is however a problem when we build our entire structures around money alone.

I have spoken about the need to make contentment a fundamental philosophy that we adhere to. Our finances obviously play big roles in our lives and how we're perceived by society these days. Money no doubt plays an important role, and can be the sole solution in many cases. I have experienced just how much of a role money can play with health issues that have plagued some of my family members. No matter how simply we may try to live, or how much we want to ignore the power of money, certain scenarios bring it up right to our faces.

Apart from the fact that random events might occur and require money as the only solution, there is also the case of having to adapt and adjust from what we're used to. Imagine living on a $100k budget for years and suddenly being forced to make do with just $20k. The shock alone sends people down a spiral, then there's the ostracization that comes from our man made classist systems. Friends and acquaintances make take flight knowing we don't provide the same monetary value as we used to. Families will likely be the biggest hit as financial strain is one of the leading reasons for divorce and broken families.

Yet in all of these reasons, I think developing the ability to adjust and adapt to every financial circumstance is a gift that lifts some of the unnecessary burdens we place on ourselves financially. What's more, it helps us overcome the desperation that comes with not getting what we want or experiencing certain setbacks. Desperation can make us do some reprehensible things, and so can greed. Contentment makes us realize that each circumstance is part of a larger process and is only temporary. Contentment also doesn't mean satiation, as we are obligated to keep striving for more.