Abundance Thinking
“Let’s say Abundance is walking down a long, hot, dusty road dying of thirst and along the way she’s offered a cold, refreshing glass of water. “Thanks, “ she says as she drinks it down with gusto. “Bless you. I really needed that.” She continues on her way, refreshed and serene, knowing that the next time she needs to quench her thirst, “ Hashem (hebrew reference for G-d) will be there again to supply all her needs.
“Lack walks down the same road and when offered the glass of water, hesitantly (what’s the catch?) takes a sip. But instead of finishing it, Lack fears that there might not be another pit stop the rest of the journey. So she carries the glass away with her, saving it for when she really needs it later. As she stumbles the water gets hot and undrinkable, spills out of the glass, and eventually begins to evaporate, until there’s barely a drop left.” (quoted from “The Simple Abundance Companion” by Sarah Ban Breathnach)
If you pay attention, you can actually feel a visceral difference in your body between Abundance’s attitude and Lack’s attitude. When I imagine drinking the water with “gusto” and trust in more, I feel an expansion in my chest and a lightness in my body. When I imagine gripping the glass, worrying if there will ever be more, I feel a constriction in my chest and a heaviness in my gut.
This little story was a huge turning point in my life. I already had a journal in which a few times a week, I spent moments jotting down a list of 5 gratitudes and 5 self gratitudes. After reading this, I began to add “abundance eyes” to the pages – 5 things that I found abundantly in my life. Sometimes, it would be simply “an abundance of oxygen” and sometimes a bit more profound – “an abundance of sight.” I felt a joyful inner shift as I moved from “oh, gosh, why don’t I have enough time, money, friends etc.” to “wow, G-d gives me an abundance of abilities, an abundance of opportunities etc….” and noticing these revealed blessings.
Abundance and lack are parallel realities and each day we can choose to decide which world we will dwell in. Shifting my awareness to noticing abundance brings me to a place of gratitude and this feels soooo much better than focusing on what I don’t have. And, just a reminder – something that I’ve mentioned in my other “musings”- that it’s also important to “feel the feelings.” So, give yourself time, when needed, to feel disappointment or sadness for not having something that is important to you. And after that act of compassion (allowing yourself to “feel your feelings” is an act of self-compassion) try making a choice to notice what is abundantly flowing into your world.
As it states in the Zohar, Parshas Tetzaveh: “This world of ours receives its entire flow of beneficence from Above. If down here (people live their lives) with joy and with light, then the world Above reciprocates in kind, with light and with joy.”
When I choose to “drink with trust” from the abundance that Hashem blesses me with, my chest expands, I inhale deeply and my day is that more beautiful.
If you would like guidance in bringing more joyful abundance into your world, spiritually or materially, whether it’s within your relationships or within yourself, please reach out and contact me. My coaching program “Affirmation Transformation” is founded on the steps I took to co-create this for myself and others. It’s easy, fun and simple and just requires an openness and willingness on your part to believe in yourself and G-d’s unlimitedness desire for you to experience joy in your life.
