Greed or Gratitude?
October 7, 2008
The recent events in Wall Street and its impact on the economy are attributed by many to lack of government oversight, corporate governance and transparency.
However, greed undoubtedly also played a major role in provoking the present global economic crisis.
Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, in a speech to corporate executives said the credit crisis highlights a lack of values among corporations and executives "We’ve seen the triumph of greed over integrity," he said.
What is greed? It could be defined as the never-satisfied and out of control urge to acquire and posses more then one will ever need. It seems however, that whatever definition we have we always apply it to others and not to ourselves.
We all want to improve our lives, by increasing our income and wealth. It is human nature. That is often how most people measure progress.
Where is the line between a legitimate aspiration for growth and greed?
It is only possible to answer that question on a personal basis.
In a search for the answer, we might want to consider another value that is not measurable by money, and that is the value of gratitude.
Gratitude can have a direct impact in the way we conduct our lives and business. Professor Charles D. Kerns, PhD of the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University says that:
"Effectively applied in the workplace, gratitude may positively impact such factors as job satisfaction, loyalty, and citizenship behavior, while reducing employee turnover and increasing organizational profitability and productivity."
The genuine feeling of gratitude can have a direct impact on health, reducing stress and increasing life span. In an article published by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the authors, (Danner, Snowden and Friessen) believe that:
"…the practice of gratitude may hold promise for reducing stress and consequent related healthcare costs, which in an organizational setting could bring great dividends."
In the present time of uncertainty, counting our blessings may be exactly what we need to face future challenges and crisis.
As John Milton once said:
"Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."
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