Dec
Enough, already!
Why are we in an economic downturn? One of the most prominent reasons is greed. The process that led to current woes began long ago. High water marks along the way were the Enron and Worldcom scandals. Greedy corporate leaders, greedy Wall Streeters and greedy individuals all contributed to the mess. Prices were artificially inflated although the flow of wealth seemed endless.
It was not endless.
The fallout from greedy excesses has created the current mess. It is prelude to an adjustment of prices and values. Because of the lopsided consequences of rampant greed, financial matters got out of proportion. Now comes a time when they must settle back to where they belong. It will take time. People will feel the economic squeeze for many months to come.
Greed is not prosperous thinking. Greed is actually connected to Need, and that means the Naud Rune. It is insatiable because deep down inside, Greed thinks there is not enough. Like an ever-hungry beast eating everything in sight, Greed keeps grabbing because it is not convinced it has enough to last. Like the beast that starves because it has eaten every edible thing on the island, so the Greedy come up short.
Wanting more good is natural. Having more than you need is a buffer against lack. Greed goes beyond a buffer. It wants everything it can get. The cunning twist is that the more it gets, the more is it controlled by what it has. Greedy folks do not let their good (Fehu) work for them. Greedy people are slaves to their possessions. In their mind there is never enough. Satisfaction evades them because they are driven to seek more rather than to make the best use of what they have. Greed is a form of a self-induced poverty mentality. Ironically, the poor tend to be greedy. They just do not have as much with which to be greedy.
I have said it before. The cure for greed is one word: enough. Life is not all about “getting.” Life is a give-and-take experience. The instinct for acquisition must be balanced by the virtue of generosity. Sharing one’s good with loved ones, friends and acquaintances restores priorities.
On the other hand, I have known people who are stinting and miserly. They do not want to share. They believe that everyone is out to get their money. Following that belief, they end up alone, bitter and paranoid. Most folks will not go near them because greed eventually creates a toxic personality.
Generosity is encouraged in the Havamal for good reason. It promotes mental, emotional and social health. Greed and stinginess are unhealthy in more ways than you might expect. We are seeing the results of greed in our society. What better incentive to avoid greed in our personal lives?
