Change your definition of rich

The cover of the Nov 10 issue of Newsweek reads:

The Future of Affluence
The recession will end, but our real problems are just beginning.

I didn't read the article, but the title put me in mind of a tip that's found its way into many of our changes as well as Ariane's Nine Principles of Change. Something as simple (and hard) as changing your thinking can have a dramatic impact on how you live your life.

If your definition of rich means winning the lotto and rolling around in hundred dollar bills, you're not going to be elated when you win $5 in a scratch off.

America has always been known as the land of opportunity, but it's also the land of instant gratification. Thanks to the magic of credit cards, we can have just about anything we want, when we want it, even if we can't really afford it.

I'm guessing that Newsweek piece is going to be about learning to live within our means, financially. My tip is more about learning to see the riches in your life, even when the money isn't there.

If you're not keeping a gratitude journal, you might want to start or take some time now to make a quick list of all the ways in which you are rich ... and come up with your own definition of affluence.