“Happiness really is about contentedness,” says social researcher, Mark McCrindle, from McCrindle Research. “And if we’re forever chasing the next thing, that happiness never arrives.”
Happiness, joy, contentment – all factors that the panellists in this Helping Hands discussion recognise as major contributors to defining what it means to be blessed. To discuss this thought-provoking topic, Mark is joined by CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn de Bruyn, and Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit.
What contribution do material wealth and possessions add to our perception of feeling blessed?
Mark points out that in Australia, the poverty line is set at a surprisingly high $40,000 annual income because our country is an expensive one to live in. Although the pension is set just over this, an income at this level means that its recipient is only just surviving, with one third of those in Australia who currently rent experiencing “mortgage stress” and struggling to make ends meet.
By comparison, the international poverty line is set at $1,000 annual income, with a staggering 8% of the world – 650 million people – trying to survive on less that that each year.
By comparison, Australians could feel blessed. However, it’s comparison, says Mark, that is our undoing when it comes to our ability to feel blessed.
“Its not actually about your income. It’s about your income relative to those in your peer group … The solution to blessing is to take our eyes off others in terms of the comparison, just be grateful for what we have … give blessing to others, help others. It helps us get out of that comparison vortex and hopefully see our own blessing and benefits.”
Working with and coming alongside those who are experiencing homelessness and the absence of many material comforts, Davyn believes it’s important to see blessing as much more than what you have. While he admits that material comforts contribute towards a person’s perception of feeling blessed or not, he believes the key to feeling blessed is found in both giving and receiving.
“To be a blessing to others is to help them increase – whether it be in joy, in hope, in love … It’s hard to feel blessed when you’re sleeping rough and hungry … but then I know a lot of people who have been very successful. They have a lot, but they’re depressed … (feeling blessed) is learning to master the art of giving and receiving … I really believe that leads to the best life of having, both the material side of things, but then also enjoying the feelings that going along with being blessed.”
Giving is transformational when it comes to life satisfaction, no matter what form it takes, and Mark encourages us that, despite the current financial stresses many Australians are experiencing, we recognise the importance of continuing to be a blessing to others to feel blessed ourselves.
“More than nine in ten Australians have given money to a charity in the last twelve months, and that hasn’t dropped, even though cost-of-living challenges are there. So, it shows that Australians recognise the power of community, of giving, of supporting others, that we’re not self-made, we need a hand-out from time to time, and that we need to be part of that hand-out. And I think that does help with that blessing and that joy.”
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