Abundance

“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards, they try to have more things or more money in order to do more of what they want so that they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You must first be who you really are then do what you need to do in order to have what you want. ”

― Margaret Young

What does abundance mean to you?

For me, abundance is not the possessions or material things we can collect throughout our lives.  It is not owning a nice car, or having multiple homes, or wearing fine clothes and jewelry, or the amount of money we have to spend.

Abundance comes from the heart.  It is an overflow of warmth and gratitude for our station in life and for the people we love. It is the idea that whatever we have is enough — that enough can also be abundant.

Abundance is traveling to new places and learning about the people and cultures, embracing ideas that are not familiar to us.  The willingness to be completely open to new experiences without judgement is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves. To embrace our own authenticity and vulnerability can bring strength and abundance into our lives in unexpected and delightful ways.

In her book, “Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”, author Sarah Ban Breathnach talks about authenticity of self and having gratitude for ‘simple pleasures and everyday epiphanies’.  She encourages the practice of keeping a list or journal of all that we are grateful for each day. This one simple practice at bedtime can refocus our thoughts from negative regrets and worry to the present moment, allowing us to pause and acknowledge the beauty and love we have in our lives — our truest possessions.