by Ellen Peterson
(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)
Imagine yourself sitting on the shoreline, with the vast ocean lying just in front of you. You lay upon a beach comprised of an infinite number of seashells, too many to ever count. The blue sky above has no visible beginning or end. Each wave falls naturally onto the shore, slowly inching its way toward you. The water thrusts forward, and then slowly retreats back to regain a momentum that allows it to extend out further than it had reached before. Each wave is followed closely by another wave. The abundance spoken here is without limits and simply unfolds in front of your eyes. For perhaps the first time, you realize that abundance does exist and has a natural potential for drawing closer to you.
Although abundance is typically associated with financial gain, it incorporates much more than money. Abundance is having plenty of what you need or desire in your life. It is having that which brings joy and pleasure. It is possible to surmise by the increasing popularity of state lottery tickets and casinos that it is a universal desire to live a happy and prosperous life. Many people are interested in finding quick and effortless ways to achieve happy and fulfilling lives.
Everyone has dreams and desires that yearn to be fulfilled. Yet many are unsure of what they truly desire and therefore delay beginning this simple process. Abundance seems like something that can only be achieved by someone else. It doesn't feel possible to the average person who simply wants to pay his bills each month. Abundance seems larger than what can be applied to an average daily experience of living. Consequently, it is possible to desire abundance and yet disregard it entirely. People are intimidated by the concept of abundance. They overlook it as a possibility for their own life.
Abundance is a spiritual birthright that accompanies life. You only need to look at nature to recognize this important fact. Do you see only one mountain, one tree in the forest, one blade of grass or one winter snowflake? The Universe creates all things in abundance. You are also a product of the Universe. Therefore, you deserve to live in abundance.
Most people mistakenly believe that you must endure years of hardship and sacrifice before you can fully enjoy the harvest of what you sow. Consequently, many people delay doing what they enjoy until some other designated time in their life, such as when they reach retirement: "When I retire, then I will enjoy my life." But why wait until later if you can begin the process of manifesting the life that you desire now?
Abundance for Beginners marks the beginning of a fruitful journey toward a successful and abundant life. It gives you the knowledge and skills to create the life that you want, rather than endure a life that you do not want. Each chapter walks you through simple steps toward identifying your dreams and creating a life of abundance. What would you like to experience in your life—financial security, meaningful work, a loving long-term relationship, a comfortable home, a college education, or a simple, contented life?
Abundance for Beginners explores what you desire for living, and what stands in your way. You will gain valuable insight into your familial beliefs about abundance that may include finances, employment and time management. Explore how each of your parents and grandparents viewed and managed money, time and other relevant experiences of abundance. More importantly, how do these beliefs affect you and your relationship with abundance? Permit yourself to find work that offers more than a paycheck as you differentiate your dreams from the expectations of others. After all, you deserve to live your dreams.
As a beginner to the wonderful world of abundance and fulfillment, you will discover how easy it is to manifest your desires. An abundant life is one in which you lack nothing, because you have everything. Life is perceived as a blessing instead of a challenge. Abundance is more than a particular income, it is an attitude. It is a particular view of life that places gratitude at the forefront. Live your life with gratitude and the blessings contained within will surely multiply and magnify! Open you arms and allow abundance to flow into your life.
I must forewarn you, however. This particular book transmits energy of enthusiasm. Caution! Abundance for Beginners contains content that will cause excitement for living. Read only when you want to increase your energy and vitality for life. Be prepared for the wonderful blessings it brings!
Begin today to live the life of your dreams. After all, you deserve it!
Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2008. All rights reserved.
"Life happens. Life in the flow."
We learn over time that nobody can solve our problems, but someone can guide you how to solve the problem. You may receive guidance through a teacher, a guru or even strangers that you run into every day. As we practice yoga we learn that the more we know, the less we truly know. Every day I am reminded how much I truly do not know; a very humbling experience.
Yoga teaches me to be present. To just live for being and enjoying life as it is right NOW. Not ten minutes from now, no five days ago, but right now. We are taught to get out of our heads, to release worries and fears of the past or the future and to only live for this very moment. Presence.
"Lead me from untruth to truth, lead me from darkness to light." ~ Buddha
Through yoga we are reminded that we do have a dark side as well as a light side. We are not to repress the dark side, but embrace that side of our Self. We are the yin and the yang. We ultimately cleanse the dark stuff we hold inside. We shine the light on this. We must make friends with dark side. Both positive and negative balance out the whole. Daily practice refines and improves our inner vision to see our Self more clearly. We no longer need to run from fears. Face them and say I'm not running from you anymore. So much is in our heads, so much dark is only in our heads, self-doubt judgment betrayal. Yoga grounds the body so that the light and dark sides of ourselves become clear. So much is truly untrue. But as we diligently practice we are able to find the middle ground and walk our centered balanced line in life. We gain balance in centered lightheartedness. We can have harmony in both light and dark.
"Yoga tells us that the world is actually a projection of our own thoughts and we can modify our inner world to manifest into our outer world. When our inside realm is at peace and in harmony, our outer world shines this projection back at us." ~ David, Jiva Mukti Yoga co-founder
Yoga is observation.
We can observe our world and see what part that is in us is begin reflected back to us. We can then see what part of us needs modification or adjustment in order to have our outer reality reflect back to us the peace, happiness and love we so greatly desire and deserve.
Yoga is already inside of you. Happiness is there. Yoga helps you peel away the onion layers to get to the core. To freedom. The deepest Divine connection to the Ultimate Light Source.
Come out of wanting and back into acceptance and Joy. A yogi or yogini can turn any situation into bliss. That is a yogi. Yoga is being now. Ultimate yoga is meditation. Just BE.
Yoga is love.
"Love is the light that dissolves all walls between souls." ~ Paramahansa Yogananda
Through a dedicated practice of all forms of yoga we can participate in the world with a sense of freedom, unaffected from trauma, depression, anger, etc. The freedom is balance in both.
Maggie Anderson is a Yoga & Spiritual Teacher, Reiki Master Teacher, Integrated Energy Therapy® Master Instructor, Soul Coach®, Past Life Coach, Magnified Healing® Master Teacher and Angelights Messenger. She is the author of How I Found My True Inner Peace and Divine Embrace. You can contact Maggie at SpiritualCompassConnection.com.
"Follow Your Bliss. It's Your Spiritual Compass."