Need y'all's help again; What is True Wealth?

[early morning]

Isn’t it better that we have the overall feeling that we have some control over our lives? I think it is. I see people who drift in life, or who bounce from tragedy to tragedy because their view of their lives is life just happens to them, they don’t have agency over what happens to them. That is a ridiculous way to live and almost guarantees that bad things will happen.

Of course we have some control over our lives! I really wasn't trying to say we don't. Just that focusing on security at the expense of living said life can lead to feeling short-changed, or regret that security was the be-all when it's not a given. I have a friend who's struggling with this, which I guess is where my response originated. She feels she did all the "right stuff" and is being short-changed in return, and it's making her crazy and pretty miserable. I think there is some security in NOT expecting to be "secure". More Eastern philosophic, less emphasis on a need for control and more acceptance of being present in the life we do have. It's a balance, as are most things.

[iris lilies]

Of course we have some control over our lives! I really wasn't trying to say we don't. Just that focusing on security at the expense of living said life can lead to feeling short-changed, or regret that security was the be-all when it's not a given. I have a friend who's struggling with this, which I guess is where my response originated. She feels she did all the "right stuff" and is being short-changed in return, and it's making her crazy and pretty miserable. I think there is some security in NOT expecting to be "secure". More Eastern philosophic, less emphasis on a need for control and more acceptance of being present in the life we do have. It's a balance, as are most things.

yes, exactly. Its a balance, agreed.

[catherine]

Awesome discussion. early, your post made me think about mystic Bernadette Roberts' quote. While she's a Catholic mystic, this quote definitely rings Eastern: "Until we go beyond our notions regarding the true nature of life, we will never realize how totally secure we really are, and how all the fighting for individual survival and self-security is a waste of energy."

Obviously, this is not really a "practical security" point of view, but does align with what early morning says about security of NOT expecting life to be secure. Thanks for these great, diverse points of view.

:

[catherine]

I did expand my answer above.

Yes, I saw that. Thank you all who responded.. I'm actually using your quotes, which of course will be anonymous. Doubly anonymous.. because I'm only using user name initials! But the variety of responses are great.