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What is prosperity?
To me, prosperity means living in balance with the riches of the universe and giving what I can to help others live their lives. It also means enjoying in a non-possessive way the riches which come my way. I once lived in a monastery and had a vow of poverty. This did not mean I lived my life in squalor. It meant that I did not own anything. Material things including the clothes on my back were set aside for my use but I did not own them. Yet I did not feel poor and everything I needed was provided for me.
I once thought prosperity meant having plenty of money
I have known a variety of people who had much more money than I could even dream of but they were not prosperous. Instead, their money had the goal of increasing their wealth. They clung to their money, and were unaware of the gifts nature has in store, or the simple pleasures of helping other people live their lives to the fullest.
How did I come to understand prosperity?
I used to think that prosperity was a contract with God in which I was promised a share in the wealth of the universe in exchange for my sharing what I had with others. Almost like a barter system. It was like God had a store and if I behaved correctly, I could go there and pick out what I wanted.
How do I see it now?
I have since learned that prosperity is not a contract in the sense that I will not receive any given amount of money by God. I thought of the Bible passage about the lilies of the field and the birds of the air. Even plants find soil in which to grow by their seeds following the wind.
What have I learned through this awareness?
I have come to understand that my role is to work hard, be organized and plan for the future. Yet worrying about the future does not get me anywhere. There are constructive things I can do about the future but worrying about it is not one of them. If I do my part God will be there for me when my need arises.
How can we get to that point?
With an open mind, each of us will be able to see what is necessary to do and what is in the best interest of ourselves and that of others. Worry only serves to distract us from what it is possible to do. Staying at peace with ourselves, with the universe, and with God keeps us focused on what is possible.
Takeaway
I started this article suggesting that staying in balance is the key to prosperity. Buying everything we can or pining over things we can’t afford keeps us off balance. Prosperity means being grateful for all the good things coming our way on a daily basis. You might want to try something I have found useful. I started keeping a daily diary many years ago. Each entry began with a list of five things for which I was grateful that day. I still do this every day. This has helped me stay focused on the prosperity which surrounds me.