Abundance

The concept of abundance has presented itself to me in a few ways over the last week and it has been puzzling me. Is abundance something a person should truly be striving for?

Abundance can be defined as a more than adequate quantity or supply. By that definition, there are many things that I would not want in abundance such as problems, bills, or dandelions. Even things that make me happy, probably would not do so in a great abundance. I could only take one of my husband, my house, or my facebook account. Could anyone imagine having to keep up with multiple facebook accounts?!? So why the push from so many directions to strive for abundance in ones life??

I propose that the real drive(at least for me) is for clarity and contentment. I think clarity is the key to the equation, because one must know what their goal is. What do you want out of life? This is ever evolving, but you must have an idea of what it looks like or how do you know what you are working towards and when you are there. Without clarity, one is in a constant state of acquistion or even hoarding without understanding. I struggle with how that brings anyone happiness. It feels to me like a chaotic free for all. I suggest that one should take their time and search for baby steps that are clear as they begin to move forward or they could really be moving backwards.

As your vision becomes clear, should one really strive for abundance? I propose there is a state of saturation called contentment that is before abundance with most things in life. There is a balance that can be achieved that allows us to find peace along the path and not constantly push ourselves for more and more and more. How tiring is that?? There are a number of areas that one would argue you can never have enough of such as friends, love, happiness. But if there is never enough you can not reach a state of abundance...more than an adequate supply. So those are disqualified. So we turn to the things that can have a boundary such as material belongings and money. Only you can define what is adequate or brings contentment for yourself. For me that point appears to be where I am no longer willing to make trade offs. Where I will not compromise my health or my relationships for an abundance of career success or wealth for example. Each person must find their own line.