The theme reflects our collective aspiration to build a Malaysia where progress is not merely measured by economic achievements, but is genuinely felt and enjoyed by the people; through greater wellbeing, inclusivity, unity and shared prosperity. My 14-year-old grand-daughter, Iffah Faizah of Secondary 2 of a Boarding School, revealed "People think of prosperity as a fiscal bottom line. ‘When I have X amount of money, I will feel better.’ The truth is that prosperity is a spiritual bottom line, and the actual formula should actually be, ‘When I have X amount of faith, I will feel better.’ What do you think?”
I responded by stating that “Prosperity at its root is a belief in a benevolent something - and a belief that ‘something’ will guide us and guard us. We will be led in the direction of good no matter what amount of money we have at our disposal. Prosperity is never just about money. In my personal history, I have had tight fiscal times and times of greater abundance. I have learned to have a sense of safety based on my conviction that Allah (God) will provide.”
I agree with Iffah that prosperity is not just about money - but to have a prosperous heart, our relationship to money must be brought out into the light & we must be brave enough to look candidly at it. I myself have worried about money, and found that having money does not end this worry. I have also discovered practical tools that have brought my family and myself - out of money worry, out of an anxious heart and into a prosperous one. I believe that prospering is something we can do, right now, today, no matter how much money we have. What we're after is clarity, serenity - this is a prosperous heart.
Although our culture invites us to dwell on negativity, there is an alternative that can encourage in ourselves. That alternative is the prosperous heart. The prosperous heart recognizes that prosperity is a spiritual bottom line, not a physical one. Our faith, not our cash flow, is what brings to our lives comfort.
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