Materialism

"But as an adult working in the fashion industry, I struggle with materialism. And I'm one of the least materialistic people that exist, because material possessions don't mean much to me. They're beautiful, I enjoy them, they can enhance your life to a certain degree, but they're ultimately not important."  Tom Ford

If you’re not careful, you can get lost in materialism that is becoming more and more emphasized in our society.  If we remember that everything in this world is temporary and subject to change; we can live in it with contentment regardless of our material possessions.  It is important not to depend on external things for your happiness or validation.  If you do, you can lose a part of yourself that is more than just the physical…..it’s the spirit within your physical that is the essence of who you are.  Never allow materialism, a title, your degree, your social status, fame, money, or ANYTHING to become what validates who you are or what brings you happiness.  Your spirit is much deeper than that and none of that can feed or nurture it. 

So….enjoy your things but don’t let it tell the story of who you are!  I have been taught the greatest wisdom from people that the world will never know of.  They had very little material possessions.  I was once told at a very young age, “Look around!  Life is beautiful!  The world is beautiful!  You have all of the most beautiful things around you!  The sun shines on you every day!  All things are working together and all creatures on this earth have a purpose.  Take notice!  You were chosen to live here!  You were blessed with abundance!” 

I walked away thinking this:  Wow Tonya, you can choose to see the beauty and abundance around you every day and realize how amazing it is to experience this life OR you can always think about what you don’t have or what you wish you had and not notice your abundance right in front of you which is your very own life. 

I thank God for allowing my eyes to behold the beauty of this magnificent place!  I also thank Him for blessing me with everything I have in my life.  Gratitude is medicine for the soul.  As I focus on how beautiful this place is; somehow all that I could ever ask for or think has been given to me by the Almighty!  Yes, God has blessed me with abundance BUT I work very hard at being mindful of why I purchase what I purchase.  Materialism will never become what feeds my soul.  I’m grateful for it all BUT it does not define who or what I am.  I am a spirit within this body that will one day walk out of this life into an eternal one.  I will not take anything physical from this world into my eternal one BUT I will take with me the beautiful message given to me when I was a child by someone that the world will never know of. 

All that really matters in this life is LOVE.  We are not becoming love or learning how to love…….WE ARE LOVE!  To love is to BE!  Being is defined as the totality of ALL things that exist!  It’s from THAT space of BEING that you realize that the gift of life and love is the totality.  It’s also from that space that all material things are attracted to you.  Appreciation can attract your manifestation!  Don’t we all want to be appreciated?  It’s human nature to want to be around people that appreciate us.  Why would you think that your material blessings were any different?  All things have a desire to be appreciated.

Appreciation will attract your manifestation!  What is it that you’re trying to manifest?  Have you taken notice yet of the abundance that God has already blessed you with?  If you are breathing and reading this right now, you have been blessed with the greatest gift ever….LIFE!  Be grateful because appreciation will attract your manifestation…..and sometimes your manifestation is not exactly what you expected but much better than what you could have ever imagined!