In a climate of greed and fear, we are at risk of falling victim to the evident disconnect between outward prosperity and inner happiness.  Fueled by uncertainty, greed and fear breed a defensiveness in us, compelling us to protect our resources and making it difficult for us to share with those who are less fortunate. While this has moral and social implications, on a personal level, this "resistant energy" has become a habit and can become problematic for us in achieving the very goals we have set out to achieve for ourselves.  And, despite our ability to achieve and earn, we can fall short of a state of satisfaction and ease we expect. In any society, particularly one afraid of scarcity, this state of affairs creates an environment of deprivation for all.

An affliction all too common, many patients come through my doors with a predisposed unease--a condition of distrust...and not just the trust of an iffy friend or a new romantic partner, but trust for themselves and faith in the fact that there are enough resources to sustain them.  This, in turn, is the root of a number of other health problems-both physical and emotional-and must be addressed.

When such a person comes to see me, I often ask them if they feel secure.  Nine times out of ten, they express the feeling of a relentless chase; chasing a lead and grappling with the doubt of what they've earned being sufficient in the not-so-distant future.  I then ask them the rhetorical question about happiness, and if that is also a goal, to which they always reply yes.  Next, I ask them to reflect, "How can we possibly be happy or ever feel secure if we are always looking over our shoulders; always in pursuit of the next dollar; always putting our hopes into something we know will one day vanish?"

The tragic irony of our pursuit of money is it will always fail to provide us with a sense of complete fulfillment. We gorge  on material wealth to fill the void in our lives. Today, it seems we spend half of our lives chasing the modern version of the American dream and the other half envying those who are living it.  Has anyone, however, ever stopped to notice how many people with money are miserable? Ironically, those who have "too much" money often suffer from having too many choices. So many choices paradoxically will create stress and anxiety. At the same time, the opposite extreme of wealth-poverty-has been just as devastating to the human spirit. Yet, some people considered "poor" by economic standards are not miserable at all, though many are. And, some wealthy people, particularly those who use their resources for society's betterment, are happy as well. If we suffer when people have too little or too much, the questions arise: How much is enough and how do we find balance? Moreover, at some point do money and the things it buys cease to add appreciably to the quality of life on this planet?

At best, money's  benefit is temporary. Money engenders fear unless we change as we acquire it or transform our view and use of it into something other than commodities for our own adornment and amusement. We must serve others with our good fortune or risk getting caught in a vicious cycle. All the world's riches have  no purpose if they are not put to good use. If we constantly spend money on "toys," we will remain empty and essentially unhappy. Happiness purchased in this way evaporates quickly.

Certainly, money and material wealth can help us organize and operate our society more humanely. However, we need to be aware that the things we do often have unwanted side effects, evidence of which we see on an almost daily basis.  We are swayed by our desires and pushed by fears, particularly when it comes to money. Left unchecked, they urge us to possess and to hold on. Avoiding this trap demands that we really look in the mirror to seek out and then reflect on those moments of true contentment. Can you recall a time when all your yearnings were satisfied? Or, more accurately, look back to a time when your inner world was still; when you were free from wants and cravings. Did this moment occur as you watched the birth of your first child? Or, did it occur as you watched your daughter take her first steps, speak her first words or discover the beauty of a newly fallen leaf in autumn? Were you fishing with your father on a tranquil mountain lake or walking peacefully in the woods, away from the pressures of work and the endless pursuit of material wealth and sensual pleasure?                                                                              

The answer is in mastering the ability to cultivate true contentment. The deepest, longest lasting satisfaction comes when we are resonating with nature, ourselves and others; and when we have shed most of our desires. Indeed, abundance is the absence of anxiety, not how much we possess. The deprivation that is experienced so widely ultimately has nothing to do with monetary wealth. It is a state of mind that even those who are rich are at risk for, reflecting the ultimate state of imbalance. Conscious awareness-the practice of remaining in contact with the true source of contentment-is the only true path to comfort. Even in the midst of fear, misery and chaos, we can return to this feeling, but we must first understand what is truly valuable and shift our attention to the appropriate goal. Over time, this state of contentment can become the new habit.

Please share your thoughts...  

Question: By society's standards, so far, I've led a pretty successful life and enjoy what's considered a fairly fruitful career.  I earn an honest living and bring in a higher salary than many others with my level of skill and experience.  I've been working within the same industry for a number of years and feel appreciated and rewarded at work.  Still, I find it difficult to live within my means.  Each time I get a pay increase, it seems that a new expense pops up.   My children are not babies anymore.  They need care, education and fulfilling lives.  My wife needs a certain amount of money to run the household.  My car and home need repairs, and taxes are only going up.  I wouldn't say that I live extravagantly, but I cannot deny that money is important, and cannot do without certain things. I feel stuck, like I'm always catching up, and it's affecting my quality of life.  Will this ever end?

Answer:  Many years ago, before modern day currency, people were actually paid in salt.  This is the origin of the word salary, which originates from the Latin word salarium.  It might be hard to envision something that's now so accessible playing such a vital role in the system of values years ago, but that is the true nature of money-it's value is relative.  The point I'm making is that money itself is not important, and the emphasis our society has placed on it has given it a false sense of value. 

Now, let's return to the present and your situation. For one, know that some expenses are inevitable.  For instance, taxes don't just sneak up on us.  Mortgages usually run a span of 30 years.  There are certain milestones in our lives and the lives of our families, with costs attached to them, that we can anticipate ahead of time.  The skill of life planning is a virtue we should all indulge in.

Next, let's examine the meaning of the word "value" for a moment.  The wellnessand education of your children, your shelter and means of getting around, your quality of life...these things all have value, but it sounds like you are trapped in the belief that money is more important than the quality of the relationships themselves. I would not argue that the things you need to support the primary needs of the individuals you love are not important, but I would suggest that you find the intrinsic value in other things that you provide with your attention separate from the paper in your pocket. 

For example, it would help you to make greater use of the elements of nature that are freely available. What activities do you remember from your childhood that were most important....fishing, cooking, a hike in the woods? , Indeed, these activities and those things that bring people together in a spiritual sense don't usually cost anything. You mention that your children are not babies anymore and that you need to find alternate avenues for enriching and fulfilling their lives.  Instead of taking them to a baseball game for an unheard of price tag, take them for a walk in the park.  Bask in the sun's rays together and skip stones across a mountain lake. I think if you spent more time doing these things yourself, you might find yourself in need of less. Ultimately, the greatest source of abundance is knowing that the food we need comes in many forms. The key is to diversify the investment of your time to tap into these different sources.

Again, instead of exerting misplaced energy and falling victim to the mounting stress you feel crippled by, I encourage you to step back and think about the things that stand the test of time that don't cost anything.  If you've made a mistake, and hurt or disappointed someone important to you, when has buying them an expensive gift ever really solved the problem? 

Finally, because it seems that your heart is in the right place, I urge you to cut yourself some slack. I don't think you need to change that much at all. Instead, I suggest you try to creatively reevaluate what you need, and add emphasis and devote time to those things that are intrinsically valuable.  Ultimately you may find that this investment is far more rewarding, and you will begin to feel better.  And with time, you will realize that many of the material things that you now value are not nearly as important as the love you share that comes from your heart, something you have always had and will always possess. 

Please submit your own question here.

• On April 16^th, I will be speaking with award winning financial advisor and author Jeff Gitterman about how one's patience cultivates the soil for growth.
• On April 23^rd, meditative scholar Dr. Lawrence Edwards, Ph.D.  will join me to talk about the connection between physical and spiritual health.

Coming up, I will be recording a 2-part lecture series with The Learning Annex about detox and juicing.  Stay tuned for more information as dates of availability become available.  

The next SunRaven Book Club will take place on Thursday, April 7^th at 7:00pm.  The book to be discussed is The Spell of the Sensuous, by David Abrams, which is about our relationship to the Earth. The bookaddresses such seemingly daunting topics as where the past and future exist, the relationship between space and time, and how the written word serves to sever humans from their primordial source of sustenance: the earth. Please join us. If you have any questions, send an email to: bookclub@sunraven.org.

The next Group Juice Fast I will be hosting will begin on Monday, June 13^th at SunRaven. The 8 day program will conclude on the first day of Summer, Tuesday June 21^st. If you have been thinking about undertaking a true "cleanse" or detox, a green juice fast along with a comprehensive protocol developed by one of the leading experts in the field can be an extremely valuable experience.  The SunRaven Juice Fast is unique in that it offers the support from a group of participants who share this interest and live in the same community, as well as my personal guidance and participation. If you have any questions, send an email to: juicefast@sunraven.org.

FINALLY! A New Thought for the New Moon