Perspective and wealth

When looking at the world around us, we can see it in a number of different ways. A classic example is the glass that is half-full or half-empty, depending upon your perspective.

Which perspective is more useful? It depends upon the requirements of the situation. When we speak of the water that is there, we can then see how that water can be used. By focusing on what is not there, we are in no way able to make use of what is actually present. Even if we were to talk about how much space is left in the glass, then that is also talking about what is present: the volume of space that can be utilized. Perspective is the most important aspect of this question.

By looking at the utility of the object in question, we find uses for it. By focusing on what is not there, we tend towards frustration with it.

In life, as we find the usefulness in our situation, we tend towards greater joy. As we see more futility, however, we tend towards more frustration.

As a wise friend of mine once said, “We are only truly wealthy when we recognize our choices. True wealth is recognition of choice.”

If we look at the choices we have when buying a car, we realize that our choices are quite limited if we only have, say, $100. When we have $1000, our choices are still quite limited, but we have more choices than when we only have $100. If we raise our available money to $10,000, then we can buy many more cars on the market. If we have $100,000 then we can buy most any car on the market. But if we realize that we do not need a car, given our particular circumstances, then all the other choices become secondary. We can see ourselves in light of the wealth of which Jesus spoke, when He talked of the lilies of the field. In the words of the Buddha, “Contentment is the greatest wealth”.

(Fighting for Peace, Part 2 - coming soon)