I love the latest iPad. As a tech junkie, the new iPad3 retina display, 4G LTE connectivity, and 5MP camera have me itching to pull out the credit card.
But truth be told, I don’t need it.
My four year old laptop gets the job done just fine.
Our consumer oriented society is always plugging the next best thing, the next “gotta-have” item. Automobile commercials seductively suggest that our current car isn’t good enough. Reality television shows like the Housewives series continually portray a lifestyle we all “should aspire to.” Everywhere we turn, we’re told that we need more.
But this constant “quest for more” has left many of us in the poorhouse, struggling with mounting credit card bills and woefully underfunded retirement accounts.
When exactly will we be satisfied?
How do we break the addiction of “wanting more?”
It could be as simple as appreciating what we already have. Learn to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Far too often we concentrate on what we don’t have instead of expressing gratitude for the blessings we’ve already received.
Try this. Every evening before you go to bed take a few minutes to reflect on the blessings in your life. Each night write down five things you are thankful for in an abundance journal.
Perhaps they are material possessions, your nourishing relationships, or the simple moments that brought you joy that day. No matter how big or small, take the time to acknowledge the abundance in your life. It will do wonders for your soul.
And in the process you’ll make yourself more immune from the constant urge to buy while creating the freedom to build a secure financial future.
Your turn. Do regularly take the time to appreciate all that you have?
Once we understand the true nature of wealth we can start making our money work for us instead of against us.
Personal finance is about more than math. It's about behavior. Change your behavior and you change your financial situation.
When we spend money we're really exchanging time spent on the job (our life energy) for a product. Understanding this leads to better buying decisions.
Put your finances back on track with Michelle Singletary's twenty-one-day financial fast.
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I’m thankful for this post! Thank you so much for this excellent reminder! I heard that you can actually train your brain to be more grateful by practicing counting your blessings. the pathways between neurons actually become stronger and more easily accessed, and being thankful will come more naturally. It’s so hard to stand up to a culture that always tells you that you don’t have enough and your stuff is so yesterday, but we need to stand strong and focus on what we do have if we want to find true happiness.
I totally agree. The more you practice being grateful the easier it becomes and the more resistant you become to our consumption oriented society.
That’s really interesting, the part about neuronal pathways becoming stronger the more we practice being grateful.