Abundance resonates with creativity and living from the overflow and knowing there is enough. It is a consciousness in which no fear exists. Abundance relates to self-esteem, prosperity, health, time, relationships, career, nature, money, vacations, rest, work, sexuality, laughter, confidence. Everything!!!

Abundance: What it is; What it isn't

Here's a concept that is the basis of many of my thoughts and practices about abundance: Abundance and money are not the same. Nor is either the same as prosperity. We can learn about abundance using money as a vehicle, but the two are not synonymous. I believe that if we all unhook from the belief that money and prosperity and abundance are the same, we will experience more of all three! Each of us has a right to be inundated with all three, if that is our desire.

Someone can have lots of money, yet live in poverty consciousness. Someone can easily meet financial commitments, yet feel sadly lacking in confidence or friends or competence or joy. We can use anything to experience abundance: dead leaves in the forest, the ocean, food, mountains, paper, trust, money, confidence, skills, anything! Abundance is about unlimited consciousness, not physical things. The consciousness of abundance creates those things.

About an Over-arching Intention

I advocate identifying an intention for all new explorations and ventures. Intention is the energy or consciousness from which actions emerge. An over-arching intention is a broad intention that can guide your vision and direction. Here are a few suggestions for statements of intention about the theme of Abundance:

* To live in the constant realization that all my needs are met.

* I realize that I manifest from Spirit, not from the physical.

* To know in each moment that I create my life from the abundance of the universe.

* I know that all my needs are met.

About a Challenge

I challenge you in this way: Stop yourself from affirming your lack or your lack consciousness. Make it into a game. The more anti-abundance thoughts you catch and stop, the better. Listen to the words you say out loud as well as to the thoughts you keep in your head. Here are a few examples of common expressions that affirm lack, limitation, or poverty:

* I (We) don't have any (or enough) money / time / skills.

* I (We) can't afford that.

* I'm no good. I'm not enough.

* I'm afraid I (we) won't have enough money.

* I worry about money / time / job / someone else / myself.

* I can't ever seem to get ahead.

* I'm depressed / powerless / a victim.

You get the idea. And, of course, there are many variations on not-enough expressions. In fact, such expressions are in too great an abundance! These emerge from a strongly held belief in limitation. Individuals have colluded with each other to continue to perpetuate this belief. Incidentally, if you try to prove that your belief in limitation or lack is justified, then you are arguing for limitations. You have a right to do this, but I think it's important that you know the consequences: your arguments -- especially vehement arguments -- about limitations create the experiences that manifest further limitations.

So, here are a few alternative expressions to help you to transition out of the not-enough-money cycle:

* I choose to spend my money on something else.

* I know that all my needs are met.

* I am fed by the Divine.

* I love money.

* Here is a vacuum created to be filled with money.

* I open a space so that money can flow in.

And some alternatives on non-money lack belief:

* I have all I need.

* I have all the ______ I need / want / desire / choose.

* I am powerful.

* I am joyful / happy / peaceful.

* I am in charge of my life.

* My thoughts produce my experiences.

About another Challenge

Many people stay in a consciousness of lack, limitation, depression, or victim because of telling and retelling and retelling yet again the same same same story. It's a bit like memorizing a script and spewing out the words when the right cue comes along. If you have a depressing or disempowering story that you tell repeatedly, identify it. And then select one of the following suggestions to come to closure on it. Each retelling locks the thoughts in more deeply, creating more of the same experiences.

1. Resolve to tell it one more time. This time, tell it to someone who agrees to listen to you with 100% of his or her attention, without judgments or sympathy or advice or suggestions for resolution. Deep listening is the greatest gift we can give each other. The philosophy behind this suggestion is that you are more likely to give up this story if you feel someone you trust has heard you deeply. Move forward with your life.

2. An alternative to the above is to act out the depressing or disempowering story either alone or with a trusted audience. Exaggerate all the points of the story so that it is so big and out of proportion that the memory fades from a barrier in your life to a small speck that can be flicked away. Move forward with your life.

3. Understand that each retelling is an opportunity for you to learn something new. Watch for the learning. If there is no new learning, consider that you are complete. Move forward with your life.

4. Write an article, letter, or journal entry about it. (Note: that says "write" not "publish." Let this be the last -- unless, of course, you want to keep manifesting the story. Move forward with your life.

Let the past be the past. Live in the present. It is in the present moment that you are creating your future. The fullness of time is in the present moment - now that is abundance!