Overflowing Life

Gareth Howell January 28th, 2008

What is true wealth? I’ll start my answer to this question by pointing out that there are two common misconceptions about wealth.

The first goes something like this, ‘If I just had enough money, then I would finally be able to …’.  You then fill in the blank with whatever you think will make you happy. Whether it is a new car, a vacation to Europe, or just being able to pay the bills. The problem is, as soon as you achieve your goal you realize that it’s not quite all you wanted. So you get on the treadmill and start running – always striving for that little bit more. The sad truth is that even when you ‘arrive’ you realize that all the luxuries you can buy don’t make you happy.

The second misconception is, ‘As long as I have family and friends I don’t need anything else’. This line of reasoning appeals to us by assuaging our guilty materialistic feelings. We are so desperate to believe that there is more to life than money that we devalue it and latch on to relationships as the moral high ground of the human existence. There is a problem with this. Statistics show that the number one cause of divorce is financial disagreements. Trouble with money causes severe strain for couples and families, sometimes even wrecking the most precious relationships we have.

So if it’s not money, and it’s not relationships – just what is true wealth?

If you’re waiting for an easy answer you’re going to be disappointed. Wealth is a combination of many factors. It’s not about ‘maxing out’ any one attribute of wealth, but achieving harmonious balance between all of them.

In my next post I will discuss the attributes of a truly wealthy life.  Until then,

Live the life you desire

• Money and Finances
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Gareth Howell January 27th, 2008

One of the greatest blessings of the human existence is the innovation and creativity we can apply in our striving for a better life.  Over thousands of years we’ve progressed from the short lived and treacherous existence as hunter gathers to the longest, healthiest, most secure and most comfortable living we’ve ever known.  We’ve fought wars, invented sciences and inspired nations to improve upon the lot we were given at birth.

Yet through all the years of progress, have our lives really improved?
Most of us can now expect to live for 80 years, but is this existence more meaningful or more joyous than the short sojourn’s our ancestor’s had on this earth?

I believe without question that today we have more opportunity to impact to live a life of purpose than ever before in the history of mankind. Yet it saddens me that many let the opportunity slip through their fingers. They discount the wonderful blessings of our Creator, they take for granted the improvements won by the generation before and fade out into the dim memory of those who go on after them.

The good news is that no matter where you are today, now can be the moment you choose to become who you were meant to be.  To live a life full of joy, passion and purpose.

Join us on this journey…

• Passion and Purpose
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