Question: How can one be thankful for what he has?
Details: Many religions, philosophies and self-development lectures advocate people to become grateful for what they already have so that they can live in happiness. But this seems impossible:
- we could either (A) consider that our gifts are part of us and we are entitled to have them, or, (B) consider that these gifts are not part of us
- if A, we won't be grateful because there will be nothing to be grateful to have
- if B, they are extras to us and thanks to chance we have them.
But (B) is dreadful: if we are not entitled to have them, then we can lose them.
How can one be thankful for the fear of loss?. This "Be grateful for what you have" is really an invitation to an ultimate dread.
thankful for the fear of loss
. Even if it's true the objects are loseable can't the fundamental object of the thankfulness be the currently having them rather than the fear of loss ???