Five Keys to Living Abundantly
by Julia Bernards
Many people don’t even consider the possibility of abundance. The law of scarcity so permeates culture that
what many hope for is to have “enough;” the luxury of abundance seems beyond
reach. And it isn’t just economic abundance that
eludes us; it is an abundance of love, beauty, time, kindness, energy,
etc. We are indoctrinated with the idea
that there is only so much of these to go around, and all we can hope for is
enough to get by on. But that isn’t true—abundance
is all around us, and can be ever-present in our lives, if only we choose it.
Here is how:
1. Have an Attitude of Abundance. Wayne Dyer said: “abundance is not something
we acquire. It is something we tune into.[i]”
Abundance is all around us, but we must
“tune in.” A Zulu proverb points out:
“Abundance does not spread; famine does.”
In other words, abundance is already all around us—it is the
reality. But scarcity can spread by the
mentality we choose. With an attitude
of abundance, we see truly and fully what we have. We focus on what is rather than what is not.
2. Anticipate Abundance. “The world is full of abundance and
opportunity,” said Ben Sweetland, “ but far too many people come to the
fountain of life with . . . a teaspoon instead of a tankard. They expect little
and as a result they get little.” Having
your heart and mind ready and open for abundance will invite it in. Kathy Gates encouraged: “You can’t predict,
you can prepare. Experience the power of making decisions based on security
instead of worry, readiness instead of reluctance, abundance instead of
lack.” We can experience the power of
abundance when we anticipate abundance.
3. Appreciate Abundance. Gratitude and abundance go hand in hand. “Gratitude is the open door to abundance.”
Epicurus said: “Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.” The more we appreciate what is all around us,
the more abundantly we will live. And
with an appreciative heart, we invite more abundance. “Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind,
contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely
come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful
heart, ” said Sarah Ban Breathnach.
4. Apply Abundance. When you are tuned in to the abundance in
your life, you are happy to share it, and you rejoice in, rather than envy,
others’ abundance. Sharing willingly is
a powerful deterrent to the mentality of scarcity. As long as we have something to share, we
have an abundance. Applying abundance
means putting the abundance in your life to use. In the Bible we are taught[ii]:
“Give and it will be given to you. A
good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. . . For with the measure you use, it will be
measured to you.” When we use the
measure of abundance in blessing others, we find that the abundance has only
multiplied. As Buddha said: “Thousands of
candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be
shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
5. Abide in Abundance. Continuing in the attitude, anticipation,
appreciation and application of abundance can be a challenge, especially as the
mentality of scarcity rages like a disease around us. Being constantly mindful of the thoughts you
allow to permeate your life is necessary to abide in abundance. Edith Armstrong said it well with this
analogy: “I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love
and abundance. Then whenever doubt, anxiety, or fear try to call me, they keep
getting a busy signal and soon they’ll forget my number.” When we actively focus our minds on
abundance, those thought patterns will become part of us, and we will abide in
abundance.
[i] I
am grateful for so many quotes on abundance found on http://www.abundancetapestry.com/
[ii]
Many words of wisdom regarding giving, sharing and generosity can be found at www.tentmaker.org
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