Redefining the Meaning of Wealth

Japanese Waterfall

There’s a lot going on in the world right now. All around us things are changing and if not careful we can fall into a mindset of doom and gloom. Although change has been going on since the beginning of time it does seem to be accelerating rather quickly right now. Not a single person knows exactly what’s going to happen but we do know that something new is on the horizon. There’s not a damned thing any of us can do about change because the world is always in a constant state of transition. It’s just the nature of being human and living on planet Earth.

Worldwide unemployment continues to escalate and countless people are falling into extreme poverty. People in more developed countries with higher standards of living are worried about keeping their jobs. The U.S. where I live is quickly becoming a nation of people“just thankful to have a job” even if they are making a pittance and working practically every waking hour. Gratitude is important but so is not being exploited. Meanwhile our precious natural resources are viewed as nothing more than commodities to be manipulated and traded all in the name of excessive profit and satisfying Wall Street expectations. Nothing is sacred anymore.

Governments are being called out for their wrongdoings and their dirty little secrets that in some cases go decades back are being exposed. Next on the docket are the multi-national corporations and big banks that have chased profit at any cost in order to pad the pockets of a select few. The world’s power structures are beginning to shake and their foundations are rather precarious. The world is becoming more transparent and it’s difficult to hide if you are out of integrity because someone will find you out and call you on it.

Yes, it’s rather gratifying to finally see those who have abused their power exposed. But before we get all excited and start pointing fingers, what about us? Have we looked in the mirror lately? Are we out of integrity? Do greed and fear monopolize our thoughts as well? As Gandhi so eloquently stated, “be the change you want to see.” Are we doing this? Are we becoming the change we know that is so badly needed?

At times it all seems so overwhelming and it feels as if there is nothing we can do to help make the world be a better place. But keep in mind that out of chaos comes creativity and this may be the perfect time after all. Going inward is the only place to start. Doing so gives us stability and balance. It’s easier to advocate for the kind of change that benefits us all when our own minds are full of peace and love. Once we’ve grounded ourselves and gotten our own house in order then we can start working on the outside.

The pursuit of material goods has left most of us empty and unsatisfied. The advertisers’ hype did not live up to their claims and now we are searching for more meaning. We are discovering that working for causes that benefit everyone and not just ourselves gives us more fulfillment than we ever could have imagined. It feels right to question war, poverty, and other injustices. It feels good to starting thinking as “we” and not “I”.

We now know that we cannot sit around and wait for those in the power seats to initiate positive change. Why would they? They are asleep and their consciousness is stagnated.  They need the prodding of the masses to remind them that wealth accumulating only in the hands of a few benefits no one in the long run. It’s the average person who is going to drive the real change in this world. We are all inter-connected and in this together and it’s up to us to drive this point home to those who need to hear it most.

Change is definitely coming and this is an exciting time to be alive but the task before us is a bit scary as well. Will we succeed? Can the world become a better place for everyone? Who knows! But I do know that unless we try, we will never know. I once read that Second City Improv in Chicago encouraged their students to “follow the fear”. We all must follow the fear and we will probably find out it’s not so bad after all. We might even be rewarded greatly!