Actionable Aspirations: Cultivating Abundance with Aartha

An abundant mindset brings growth on all levels.

Money is described as one of the most stressful factors in peoples lives, and we often sacrifice our health and wellbeing in order to have enough of it. A good life does require that our basic needs are taken care of, and that there is something put away for future security and occasional luxuries. But money can also be the cause of pain, suffering and ill health - when we forget that it is a means, and not an end unto itself. To cultivate a balanced relationship with money and enjoy a broader sense of abundance, here are two considerations:

• What does ‘enough’ look like to you in terms of finances and material possessions?

• What are the things you consider to be truly valuable, and which do you need more of?

  Aartha refers to prosperity and economic value, and it is a key concept in yoga and spiritual philosophy because it bridges the gap between the esoteric and material parts of life. There is no shame is working towards economic gains and fulfilling your material needs; we have a body that needs to be cared for, and we can take pride and joy in participating in the economy and putting our skills to use in the workforce. A spiritual life does not mean renunciation or rejection of the material world - but it does require discernment to avoid over attachment, greed and suffering.

  Financial stress and a lack of stability place an immense pressure on the mind and the body, and can drive us into extreme and dangerous situations. If you have a roof over your head, three meals a day, clothes on your back and something left over for a rainy day, consider yourself blessed. Almost 1 in 4 people in the world live in poverty, without proper access to basic resources such as clean water, electricity, regular meals and stable homes. Two-thirds of people in poverty are children with little to no opportunity for education, and women are more likely to be economically vulnerable than men. Even in a developed country like Australia, 1 in 8 people lives in poverty, including 1 in 6 children who have a poor start to life.

  But many more people feel impoverished, even when all their basic needs are covered. The global population is increasingly affluent, and yet there is an equal surge in the sense of ‘lacking’ amongst us. Much of this is driven by an ever-growing list of avenues to spend our money; luxury goods, holidays, large homes, entertainment, beauty and even healthcare such as supplements, devices, apps and new therapies. Social media gives us tantalising glimpses into ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, dangling fancy holidays, expensive gifts, luxury cars and flashy handbags in front of our eyes. The constant stream of strategic advertising floods us with a strong consumer mindset of “If I just had…, I would be happy.”

  But often it’s not the case. After the purchase or the experience has passed, the void needs to be filled again. And the constant stream of messages to your body about not having enough is perceived as a genuine threat, so your body creates a stress response by raising cortisol levels, increasing blood pressure and becoming more sensitive to glucose, which disturb digestion, hormone balance, sleep and mental health. It’s important to understand your mindset around money and materialism for a deep sense of health.

  What does money buy? Most of us are searching for more time, energy, love…and ultimately, happiness. Can money buy this? Have a look around you; how many things do you see that bring joy, and how many weigh you down? This is a practice of Aartha - filtering and discovering what you truly value, and whether there is enough quality and real value in your life.

  Consider how to enhance your perception of abundance in your daily life, by increasing your most precious resources in simple ways. Here are some suggestions to start:

• Commit to developing a skill or passion, and make it a side project or hobby that you can slowly cultivate into something more, either as an investment in joy or even a future business.

• Create a mindset practice that encourages abundance and joy, such as a gratitude practice, beginners mind or blue sky meditation.

• Cultivate relationships that have depth, meaning and positivity - the ones that encourage authenticity and growth, rather than superficiality and fitting into social norms, appearances, work or historical relationships.

• Consider spending your resources on things that you truly value such as personal development, health, art, nourishment and relationships, rather than things that are marketed heavily (such as luxury goods, technology, holidays, expensive meals, alcohol, etc). We’ll explore this more in the next purushatra: kama or pleasure.

  Aartha invites us to use the gifts and experiences we have to bring abundance into our lives through an energetic exchange with the world. Each of us has so much to give to our community, both in terms of time, money and energy. Rather than continuously chasing more, ask yourself where in your life you can be more, in order to give more. The money will follow, because the external cosmos is merely a reflection of your inner reality.

“Riches are not from an abundance of worldly goods, but from a contented mind.”