Fiancial Freedom

In the growing economic crisis, invalids whose fixed income has diminished, retirees who have lost their life savings, and the desperately poor may actually see food and shelter and healthcare rise hopelessly out of reach. These people may indeed need charitable/governmental assistance to survive.

The rest of us, however, may be overestimating the extent to which the economy can destroy the pleasure and satisfaction we take in living. Deluged by media images that celebrate lives of excessive consumption—a recent McDonald’s billboard ad promotes a sweet hot drink with the line “Get Rich Quick”—we are prey to the pernicious notion that money is the root of happiness. Day by day we grow more and more worried about recession or depression because we think wealth is the only measure of our worth. Trapped in a gulf between expectation and reality, we’ve lost perspective on the real freedoms that make this country great, and are torturing ourselves in the process.

We may need sound financial advice to weather the storm, but we mustn’t lose sight of the more important work we all need to do inside. Volunteering for the homeless, or doing a web-based exploration of Third World suffering can help us gain perspective about how much we have, and have to be thankful for, even in a down economic cycle. Taking our eyes off the DJIA and putting them to work counting the blessings of health, family, religious and political freedom, and entrepreneurial opportunity is the first step to acquiring both immunity to the vicissitudes of the financial system, and an understanding of our bounty.

The rhythms and cycles of nature are truer, deeper, longer lasting, more all-encompassing, and more powerful than the ones human beings make for themselves. Exploring these cycles through spiritual study, meditation and mind/body practice we can halt our downward emotional spiral and learn to see world market shakeups and shakeouts as normal and expected, albeit superficial features of our world.

Do what you can to financially protect yourself and those you love by adjusting your strategy and planning for the longest possible horizon that fits your circumstances. Once you’ve done that, turn your attention inward to a deeper exploration of your needs. Treat your cravings, fears, impulses and desires with a suspicion born of the fact that most of these are learned. Recognize that you probably already have more than enough to enjoy life. If people around the world who have far, far less than we do can act with courtesy and compassion and find joy in life, we can do the same and more. Go out and spread the word. Help your community. Help the elderly, indigent and infirm. Reassure nervous friends and lift up the worriers around you with words of perspective and encouragement. You’ll feel better for it. In fact, you’ll feel downright, well. . .rich.