The word greed has been on my mind a lot lately. I have been reading pieces on how there is a huge disparity between the rich and the poor. I have also seen news items about crimes committed because of greed. I’ve read about people wanting more than what they have and using any means necessary to acquire them.
There has been some debate about the disparity between rich and poor. Some argue that rich people have worked hard for what they have accomplished. That these people deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Others believe that there should be an awareness of how much is too much. That when it is to the point of excess there should be an effort to share that wealth with those who do not have it.
It is hard for me to figure out which side of the argument I’m on. I have never been abundant enough to the point of excess, nor have I ever been dirt poor. But that doesn’t mean that I do not wonder about these things. When does abundance get to the point of greed? Is wanting more is a good or bad thing?
In my mind, I would like to believe that we all would want our lives to be a little more than what we have now. For it to be something better. But no matter what status we achieve, we will always wonder if we can push it a little further. Achieve a little more. If one works hard for it, I don’t see anything wrong with having more than others. But I do have reservations when people get it through means that are less than desirable.
How much is too much? Sometimes I wonder why people who already have more than enough work even harder to achieve more. Or how people can get greedy to the point that they do it through not-so-ethical means. I think some people have a level of abundance that is more than enough for their entire lifetime. It makes me wonder when there are people of that level who act like it still isn’t enough.
I am not saying that people should stop at a certain point. People are not greedy if they want to keep doing what they do and achieving things that they can. I guess what I’m saying is that at some point there should be an awareness of things. Of knowing when what they have is already more than enough. There should be a way to ground ourselves. A way to try to find a balance between their abundance and sharing that wealth with others.
There are many of those who are abundant and have this level of awareness and balance. People who support charitable institutions and donate where they can to help others. I would like to think that this shows that they know the importance of not being too greedy with their wealth.
One of my favorite singers/rappers, SUGA of BTS, has even talked about greed in his music. He has openly wondered whether he was being too greedy given all that he has accomplished. He wondered if his drive is related to his passion for what he does and not just that desire for more. It is that level of self-awareness that I hope many of us would have, not just those who are rich or have achieved more.
At the end of the day, I think that choosing a side in the argument on greed is not the point. It’s more about finding a good balance. It’s about honoring our achievements and enjoying our abundance. It’s about enjoying the fruits of labor while using what we have to contribute to society at the same time. After all, sharing what you have with others and making a difference is the true measure of abundance.
I may not have a lot, but I believe I have enough. Even with what little I have, I believe in sharing what I can. This mindset not only puts things into perspective but also promotes good karma. Sharing what I can has brought even more abundance than I expected. I realized that sharing does not only benefit others, but it enriches my life too. As they say, when you do good to others, it comes back tenfold.
One day, I hope we can all have that balance and self-awareness in our lives. It would make a big difference in the world if we all had it.
No comments:
Post a Comment