also means emotional well-being and spiritual fulfillment. And the ability to fully experience—and share—love and joy. True fortune is the art of knowing how to live.
While today we associate abundance with money and material gain, it’s enlightening to take a look at the origin of the words we use to describe having a lot of money. In their origins all have meanings that address quality of life in broader terms. Abundance derives from a Latin word meaning “to overflow.” Prosperity comes from a Latin word “to be fortunate, flourishing, happy.” Wealth stems from an Old English word meaning “well or well-being.” Rich originates from the Old English “rice” meaning “strong, powerful.”
Therefore, true affluence means “flowing happy, healthy power.” Or, one could say, “the power to Mana-fest from the Heart.”
Deeper Aspects of Abundance
Abundance has been understood in a variety of distinct ways in different cultures. In modern Western society, we typically measure abundance in terms of the money and objects we possess. We think that those who possess the most are the most free and powerful individuals and that they therefore enjoy the most abundant lifestyle. Yet for Plato, Aristotle and the Roman Stoic philosophers, the most free and powerful individuals were those who could be happy with the fewest things. While our culture values those who earn and hoard the most, among certain tribes in New Guinea and many other native peoples, the most valued members of society were those who give away the most.
Abundance is an Attitude
In lacking money, we too often think that a lack of money is our only problem.