Does Your Good Fortune Make Things Happen for Others?
I just thought of something very ironic. How does being fortunate become uncomfortable? As I look around to see all the beautiful things I have in my life like my family, my friends, my day job (and this job, too), the type of lifestyle I am able to carry, it feels like my gratitude actually turns to guilt. I don’t like that feeling, having so much when there are so many who have so little. But then I have to step back and reflect and realize that holding that kind of guilt doesn’t actually change anything or help anyone.
When we work hard and try our best to be upstanding citizens, there shouldn’t be anything wrong with appreciating the things we gather along the way, right? When we celebrate major accomplishments or when we appreciate the many ways life has been good, that’s not something to be ashamed of. As I started learning and understanding how important awareness is, that’s when I learned that it doesn’t require me to apologize for the many blessings. It does, however, ask that you take notice of them.
I’m very guilty of asking myself questions like, “Why am I so fortunate?” when a more enlightened me should be asking, “What does my good fortune make possible for someone else?” Our blessings may be given to us specifically because the giver may have already realized that we have a special gift within us that allows us to help others. And it’s not always in the most obvious ways. Don’t get me wrong, writing a check to someone in financial need can alter someone’s position who is facing a financial hardship, but maybe it’s not that literal or maybe it’s not that pronounced. It could be that your blessings have put you in a position that can help others in other ways, connections to employment, insight to spiritual enlightenment, or as simple as providing someone directions on the street. I know that seems wildly different, but the moral is our blessings can come to us in forms that nurture growth in ways that we can’t even imagine.
Per usual, this is where I bring in mindfulness. Much of this means extraordinarily little if we fail to see what is already in our hands and our ability to share it compassionately with others. Rarely do I try to tell my readers what’s good and what’s bad, but sometimes in the shared experience of the world, it’s worth stepping out to tell you directly, enjoy what you have. And if you have more than you need or can share what you have, do it and do it with gratitude. So just to reiterate, don’t lose sleep trying to figure out why or what you have done to deserve your blessings, think of what you can do to pay it forward with others.
Stay mindful…
Rebirth
