The MONTHLY Motivator - April 2020

Living with abundance

You were meant to live with abundance. What is abundance? Is it material wealth? Is it happiness, fulfillment, joy? Is it spiritual attainment, or success in relationships? Is it knowledge or wisdom? Abundance is all of these things and more. Abundance is the experience of living life fully. Abundance is a richness of living. That richness is there for you, always waiting to be experienced.

Abundance is intertwined with life. If you exist, you have real and direct access to the abundance in the universe around you. Abundance is not a mystical or supernatural concept. Indeed, it is very clear and very practical. It is here and now, available on a day-to-day basis. It is all around you.

To experience abundance, you must tune yourself into it. Again, this is not a mysterious or esoteric practice. Mainly, it comes from thinking and acting with a mentality that will put you in contact with the abundance that is surely and already there. You don’t go out and get abundance. It is something you already have access to. Rather than acquiring it, you must learn how to connect with it and make it a part of your everyday experience.

Abundance is your birthright. The fact that you are alive means that you are swimming in a sea of abundance. So why does life seem so limited and unfulfilling? Why is the theme of living so often lack and limitation? Abundance is yours, but only to the extent that you truly live it.

Abundance is yours for the living. Yet it is you who must live it. No one can claim your abundance for you. It means nothing to you unless you appreciate, understand, experience it and make use of it on your own terms.

So let’s take a look at some ways to do that.

Count your blessings
The surest way to experience abundance is through gratitude. Gratitude is the cornerstone for getting in touch with the limitless abundance that your world has to offer you. When you focus on the good things in your life, those good things grow. By living with gratitude, you nurture your own abundance.

Have you ever sat down and made a list of all the things you have to be thankful for -- major, lifetime things as well as everyday things?

Challenge yourself to think of one new thing each day that you can truly and sincerely appreciate. As you go through the day, keep that one blessing in mind. Focus on it. Consider how it has already benefited your life and think of how it could be an even bigger blessing in the future.

You may be surprised to discover how many things you already have to be thankful for. Of course there are the obvious things -- the material blessings. But there are also your family, your friends, the work you do, your knowledge and skills, your experience, the beauty of the world around you and your ability to appreciate and find joy in it. Even your problems and challenges can be blessings, because they compel you to move yourself forward.

Rise above the insignificant, petty things
Abundance often lies hidden and out of reach because it is blocked by petty, insignificant concerns. That wastes a lot of energy, and it obscures much of the abundance that life can offer at any given moment.

Is there any joy or fulfillment in being angry? It is understandable to occasionally be angry, but is there any reason why you should act to perpetuate your anger? Thoughts, words and actions undertaken out of spite, jealousy or revenge will do nothing to add fulfillment to your life. Attempting to find pleasure in the pain of another ends up extending that pain into your life as well. Gossip does not bring anything positive to you. It only serves to lower your respect for yourself.

Stay away from the useless, petty, negative things that prevent you from experiencing the abundance that is yours to delight in.

If someone says something that offends you, so what? That’s their problem. Someone looked at you the wrong way? Who cares? Replace the petty thoughts of anger, jealousy and spite with thoughts of strength. Replace thoughts of lack and limitation with thoughts of abundance.

Calm down. Rise above the little, insignificant things. Focus your thoughts in the direction of fulfillment, accomplishment and the true richness of living.

Be yourself
Another way that abundance gets blocked is when you try to live life on someone else’s terms, when you adopt the goals and dreams of someone else. You are your own person and the abundance in your life is special and unique. Don’t depend on someone else to tell you what is joyful and fulfilling. Whatever gives you true, pure joy is joyful. Whatever brings you fulfillment is fulfilling. It is in no way selfish to be your own person. In fact, it is a very loving and giving thing to do. You have something unique to offer. The selfish thing would be not to offer it.

Be yourself. Follow your own dreams. Do what you love to do. Find situations that will challenge you to be your best. Be around others who bring out and who appreciate your true, unique value.

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--Ralph Marston

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