The Quickest Way To An Abundant Life

by Tess


We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have. ~ Frederick Keonig

We live in a cultural vortex of scarcity. It's hard to escape it. Everyone gets sucked into "not enoughness" some of the time. Everyone runs scared once in a while.

However, if you are in a constant state of worry and fear about your finances and your future, your core belief is in scarcity. If you believe in lack, no matter what you own or how much money you have, it will never be enough. 

Abundance is a state of mind. 

Sufficiency isn't two steps up from poverty or one step short of abundance. It isn't a measure of barely enough or more than enough. Sufficiency isn't an amount at all. It is an experience, a context we generate, a declaration, a knowing that there is enough, and that we are enough. ~ Brene Brown

I was 17 and pregnant when I got married in 1972. I didn’t have a dime in my pocket. Hubs had $1.00 in his wallet. 

We had a big Polish wedding and most of the guests gifted us with money. It's tradition. We knew we would do well and we did. That was the extent of our plan!

In a recession you can still succeed. 

There was a recession in the U.S. from 1973-1975. We were too blinded by love to notice or care. Hubs worked in a factory and I planted flowers on two acres of land and sold them at the Farmer’s Market. We both had a lot of energy and we inherited strong work ethics. 

We were clueless, in love, and crazy-busy. Without a real plan, we became parents to four girls by the time I was 22.

The crazy thing is that we never really worried about never having enough.

I shopped garage sales. We didn’t go out for dinner or entertainment. We played cards and board games with other couples. Our car was old and rusty. It didn’t matter. We laughed about it.

Fear is irrational. 

Today we don’t have near the responsibility we had then. Today we have a plan in place. I look back at those early years and I know that today we’re on Easy Street. I don’t have a reason to fear my future and yet I sometimes do. 

The key to an abundant mindset isn’t to get rid of your fear. We have strong ego’s that will continue to pull us back in. The key is to have a plan in place for fearful moments. 

9 Tips to build your abundant life toolbox: 

If we do not feel grateful for what we have, what makes us think we'd be happy with more? ~ Unknown

Be full out joyful and grateful for everything. Put your focus on what you do have. Put yourself to sleep by counting your blessings. When is the last time you were grateful for the shade of a tree, your morning coffee, or the hot water for your shower?

We're accustomed to having so much that we don’t realize how fortunate we are until we lose something or something that we have quits working.

Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow half sorrow. Swedish Proverb

Share your blessings. Author Neale Donald Walsh states, "If you want something, you need to first give half of what you already have to somebody else." Think on that one sentence. What will you share today?

Those who are the happiest are those who do the most for others. ~ Booker T. Washington

Serve others. Productivity is not a purpose. Serving is. Give without any thought of receiving. Give your time, money, and talents. Share smiles, hugs, and laughter. Never keep score. Give because it’s good for your well-being. Give because generous people are happy people. Give because you see possibility everywhere.

It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan. ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Create a financial plan. Learn how to make and manage money. Live within your means. You will gain happiness, clarity, and peace for what is and what may be.

The world is nothing but my perception of it. I see only through myself. I hear only through the filter of my story. ~ Byron Katie

Spin a positive story about your past, present, and future. Change the stories that you tell yourself. Fill them with joy, happiness, fun, and love. Believe that life loves you and the world is plotting to do you good today.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those that have lighted the flame within us. ~ Albert Schweitzer

Gather support. One of my clients has a fear of being a homeless person. I asked her to list the names of everyone that loves her. Next I asked her to cross out the people on the list that would not help her in times of trouble. She couldn’t cross out anyone.

Fear thrives in loneliness and isolation. Reach out to family, friends, a coach, or a support group. Asking others for support is always a wise choice. 

There are many things that are essential to arriving at true peace of mind, and one of the most important is faith, which cannot be acquired without prayer. ~ John Wooden

Ask for guidance. Pray. Meditate. Listen to your intuition. Use affirmations. Do what works for you. Do it the moment you begin to feel fear. Don't quit until you feel safe.

The greatest wealth is health. ~ Virgil

Honor yourself. Do what it takes to be physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. You’ll have the energy you need to create an awesome life for yourself in spite of your fear!

The next thing you think, the next action you take, will either create a new possibility for you, or it will repeat the past. ~ Deepak Chopra

Take action. Do what you are afraid to do. Don’t make excuses. Don’t be a victim. Life changes when you change it. Begin today. 

Do you fear not having enough? Are you afraid that you will lose everything? How do you deal with “not enoughness?”

Please tweet and post this on Facebook. xo

    { 18 comments… read them below or add one }

    Julie Barrett October 10, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    Hi Tess, That is really powerful, especially in general tough economic times when so many are faced with chaging their mindset or losing themselves. If we do lose every THING, we still have everyONE.
    Julie Barrett´s last post…Is It Possible For Time To Pause? Spirit Magic

    Reply

    Tess October 10, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    Julie,
    Your comment is powerful as well. I’m going to remember it!

    Reply

    Elle, motivational blogger October 11, 2012 at 5:31 am

    What a wonderful list Tess, and I love your quotes. Feeling blessed and grateful is a wonderful space to dwell in…I’ve always liked what Bob Proctor said

    “Let’s start with what we can be thankful for, and get our mind into that vibration, and then watch the good that starts to come, because one thought leads to another thought.”

    Love Elle
    xoxo

    Reply

    Karen October 11, 2012 at 6:03 am

    Awesome – there were several lines that I love – being grateful for what you have, Neale Donald Walsh’s idea about giving away half, and Chopra’s statement about either creating or repeating.

    Love, peace and Joy to you.

    Reply

    Tess October 11, 2012 at 8:12 am

    Karen,
    That was the first time I saw that Deepak quote. Love it! Thanks for stopping over.
    xo

    Reply

    Evita October 11, 2012 at 8:33 am

    Oh Tess, so true, so true! It really all is in our mind!!!!!

    And I so enjoy always hearing your life story….every time I read something about your beginnings with your husband, or having kids, or how you lived and thrived, and went back to school, and today about your grandkids and travels, it always puts a smile on my face :)

    You have, and are, living an awesome – and BOLD – life!
    Evita´s last post…Finding Your Happy Place, And Staying There

    Reply

    Tess October 11, 2012 at 8:50 am

    Thanks Evita! I appreciate your friendship and support! xo

    Reply

    Paige | simple mindfulness October 11, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Julie’s comment is right on! I’ve been plagued with being not enough much of my life. Any time my fears of losing everything or not having enough come up, I easily come up with a list of a million people and things I’m grateful for in my life right now (my coffee, tea and a hot shower are always on that list). I also play out my worst case scenarios and find that I’ve already experienced all of them. Fears dissipated.

    I needed this post today! Each month that ticks by in my job search creates more fear in our house. I try my best to focus on the joy and fun but sometimes it’s tough.

    Thanks so much for this Tess! Big Hugs!!
    Paige | simple mindfulness´s last post…Ask Our Readers: What Challenge or Fear Is Keeping You From Creating Your Happy, Healthy Body?

    Reply

    Iris October 11, 2012 at 9:55 am

    Great read. So much inspiration!

    We have a proverb that is similar to the swedish one. It goes like this: “Happiness is the only thing that grows when you share it.” :)

    Reply

    Sandra / Always Well Within October 11, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    Tess,

    I love the essence of this message – to truly believe you have enough. I have to catch myself from falling into fear and place of scarcity. Thus, I really appreciate every single reminder here. I especially appreciate that you included practical steps like creating a financial plan!
    Sandra / Always Well Within´s last post…Killing the Angel of Perpetual Giving

    Reply

    Janet October 11, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    it’s true it is just a mindset shift. we’re meant to live in abundance but society teaches scarcity.. so you have to unlearn a lot of things.

    Great tips on the article! I especially think being healthy physically emotionally and spiritually (holistic living) is so important!
    Janet´s last post…Lessons from <BR>the Trenches: <BR>Living the Dream<BR> In the Slums

    Reply

    Megan Bord October 12, 2012 at 6:29 am

    TESS! I really enjoyed reading this post, and this line, especially, drew me in: “We have strong ego’s that will continue to pull us back in.” Like you said, we need a plan. Having a plan doesn’t mean we won’t deviate from it or set it down every once in awhile. What it means is we’ve thought about / imagined a better future and have gone so far as to take steps toward it. Two steps forward, one back is still progress.

    Love you, Tess!

    Reply

    Galen Pearl October 12, 2012 at 4:29 pm

    As others have noted, powerful indeed. I have a verse from the Tao Te Ching framed in my room. “He who knows enough is enough will always have enough.” I’ve been needing to spend a lot of money lately and it has made me nervous. Those fears about scarcity creep in even when your rational mind says it’s all going to be fine. Thanks for the reminder. Perfect timing.
    Galen Pearl´s last post…One Story — Many Lessons

    Reply

    Budget & the Beach October 13, 2012 at 8:41 am

    I can relate to this a lot because this summer I was full of fear because my freelance projects dried up for three months. I was constantly worried, and begging the universe to send me jobs. It seems like the last thing you should do when jobs are not coming in is to “let go,” but that’s exactly what I needed to do. Not stop altogether, but just do what I needed to do, then let go of expectation. This month the jobs are flooding in, and I’m not saying that it’s 100% the reason, but at least it has been teaching me that worry does nothing to help your situation, and it’s possible that I was attracting lack in my life by worrying so much. Who knows! :)
    Budget & the Beach´s last post…Honoring a Friend

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    Betsy Henry October 13, 2012 at 9:09 am

    Tess,
    I absolutely love this post. My husband and I have talked a lot of the idea of “scarcity”. I never had it in the past and I suddenly contracted it a few years ago like a disease! I’ve been working on the letting go and trusting aspect. I know that I have everything I need. Like this Lao Tzu quote: “Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking,the whole world belongs to you.”

    Thank you for your inspiration and your reminders!
    Betsy Henry´s last post…A Visit With Dr. Andrew Weil!

    Reply

    Brendan Baker October 15, 2012 at 4:48 am

    This is great.

    I love how you have added gather support and ask for advice. It’s only recently that I have started to appreciate the true power of these. Relationships are key for abundance!

    Brendan
    Brendan Baker´s last post…Get Busy Being Happy! The Benefits of Being Busy

    Reply

    Erik Frimann October 18, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    Great post, and comments, too.

    I really like your advice, even more so since they come from someone who has walked the walk.

    I am quite happy with what I have. I am even quite happy with who I am, finally.

    But I will never be happy with what I can do/achieve/help/find/***: There must always be new borders to cross, skills to learn, things to understand and learn, experiences to be had.

    This process/progress need not cost any money, only guts. And it might cost a lot of money. Not important. From a bedrock of reason and dependablity, I can still live boldly. You can do it, so I can do it. We pretend that my clumsyness is an element of style, ok?

    Thanks for at great post.

    Reply

    Max @ Famous Quotations November 25, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Hi,
    love your article and beautiful quotes!

    Most of the time I strive to reach my goals: I have difficulty taking it smooth and relax. But once in a while, I like to have a “retreat” and really disconnect from all this “rat race” and blind ambition. And the best way for me to have that retreat is to go in nature, find a good trail and lost myself in it and in my thoughts.

    “Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.”
    Wayne Dyer
    Max @ Famous Quotations´s last post…Felix Baumgartner Picture Quote – Life As Spectator

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