Attitude of Gratitude

Abundance has historically been measured in terms of materials. In this modern times, we too frequently measure it in terms of money and possessions. "He who dies with the most toys wins" mentality. The message is that the materialistic life style is of that abundant possessions. Conversely, the lack of material possessions is the breeding ground of poverty thinking.

A psychology of scarcity was created by marketing to make us buy goods we don't need. The ego looks to have these things to satisfy a perceived need. Most end up finding it all disappointing. Then the ego needs an ever growing stock pile to keep the one-upmanship with the Jones's.

We think in poverty when we get into "get rich quick" mindsets. We think that we are dependant on forcing or manipulating others to accumulate goods. We stay in jobs that stifle our creativity and relationships that are a ball-in-chain. This thinking breeds more mindset of lack and scarcity. In today's economy we see the "bottom line" defining our well being. This is re-enforced by the most abundant media in history: television, newspapers, tabloids, radio, snail mail, e-mail and blogs.

In the lack of financial accumulation, our ego thinks that lack of money is our problem. Therefore the solution is to get more money to buy bigger and better items that support that ego and quickly again deplete our financial assets. We ride the Ferris wheel of materialism and round and round we go.

When we measure a person's worth by the amount he stock piles we are given the message to see this abundant individual as happy. Suffice to say, money and possessions do not buy happiness. Real abundance is not about the things that end up in the growing land fills that threaten our existence. It is about living in a lack of struggle and the ultimate freedom to accept living in a creative flow.

Abundant living starts with planting seeds of gratitude. The first law of metaphysics states the what we think about we attract to us. So, if we think lack we get more lack. If we develop an attitude of gratitude we get more to be grateful about.

Some of the most abundant thinkers in history would not have measured up in today's materialistic thinking. But, their spirits still live as an example. One example is Horace who coined the term Capre Diem which means seize the day and warned us not to drink in the mindset of mediocrity. He wrote that riches are either to serve us or they enslave the possessor.

Our stock pile comes with a cost, and that price should not be our soul. The psychology of scarcity cost us our sense of well being. When we measure ourselves by the number of things we posses it robs us of joy and often costs us our heath and relationships. We must stop teaching our children that fair is equal and the same, and we can learn to address each others needs instead.

When we shift into an attitude of gratitude we gain the opportunity to celebrate the beauty of life. We begin to appreciate and create more harmony and we connect with others. With gratitude we begin to focus on our blessing and create more for which to be grateful.

When we live in the spirit of gratitude we a freed from the psychology of scarcity. Everyone benefits by helping others live more abundantly. We can share or recycle items to decrease landfills. By giving to others we feel more abundant and thus create an a more positive energy flow. We shift away from the competition model of greed to create an abundant spirit that ends the struggle of lack and desperation. We can truly live in one abundant spirit with others and our Mother Earth.

A Horce would say: Carpie Diem!