In a culture that prizes acquisition, it is difficult to be satisfied with enough. The cycle of expected and pressured acquisition thwarts our ability to be grateful for what we have. The push to acquire more and more not only challenges our ability to save for the future, but also impacts our ability to help the neighbor. If I spend my money making sure I have the latest thing now, I am less likely to help out someone nearby or far away.
A sense of gratitude helps me to be aware of the abundance in my life. If I work on being thankful for what I have and seeing it as more than enough, I am more likely to resist the siren song of commercialism. Thus, I will have more assets of all kinds for my future and to help those around me. An attitude of gratitude helps us prepare for the time ahead.
This message is excerpted from “A Future Shaped by Gratitude” by Julia Seymour in the November 2020 Gather magazine.
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