Category: abundance

abundance

How does jealousy and comparison serve me?

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Jealousy can be a reminder of what I want my life to look like. How I want to spend my days being creative and comfortable, feeling safe to share my story. Of course, when I view others as having the life I’d like to embody, I’m not seeing the details, the work that it takes to get there. I just see the big picture and I want more of that in my life. Jealousy can be a metaphorical kick in the pants to take action toward my dreams. On the negative, jealousy can make me feel lack and blame that they took what was rightfully mine and I can never get it, or it was the only one and there is no other.

Comparison places others as being better or less than me. We are not equals in this game of life. It’s a game of competition, limited resources and the early worm gets rewarded. Yet, I always come up short or get the timing wrong. On the flipside, comparison can make me feel superior to others. I am better because I earned it and they didn’t. Or I feel guilt and cast shadows of doubt on my rewards in life.

Instead of jealousy and comparison, I’d like to feel prosperous, appreciative and at ease.

Prosperous, to me, is accepting all of the gifts that surround me. It is the innate knowing that I have all that I need. It stops the cycle of lack, blame and shame in its tracks. When I appreciate what I have, I’m better able to access the skills and wisdom that is already inside of me. I’d like to feel confident in my skills and abilities. I’d like to be at ease with my current circumstances and stop the inner and outer struggle to change reality.

Perhaps, if I make a daily intention to feel prosperous, to focus on appreciating what I have and be truly comfortable with myself, I will have the confidence to notice that when jealousy and comparison do crop up again, I have a choice. I can project a positive, optimistic outlook and it will come back to me. There really is enough for everyone. And what I have can never be lost or taken from me. I can genuinely feel happy for someone else’s achievements and I, in turn, am able to accept praise and compliments from others with ease and gratitude. Maybe those I may be jealous of today can be tomorrow’s friend or mentor. Our egos will no longer run the show when we show up with love and authenticity.

abundance

The sea glass

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The sea glass is a buried treasure
washed to and fro.
The water ground down its 
edges and smoothed
its shards.

But it is an offering.
A reminder
that it outlived its 
original purpose and is anew.

Was it thoughtlessly discarded
or washed away in a 
blink of an eye?
The incoming tide does that
sometimes.
Washing away my sandals,
the bucket and shovel
If I lose sight and forget
nature's force 
for just a minute 
is all it takes.

Now this glass is anew.
A new purpose.
A treasure.

It's opaque and thick
I can't see through it
But I can hold it
Move it from hand to hand
Tighten and loosen my grip

It has traveled and seen
depths unknown to me
Except in my imagination.

I turn inward and out
like a labyrinth trail
Like the glass washed over
with sand until it
and I are polished
Anew.  A clean slate.
A new beginning.  A new
discovery where there are
no more limits.

That's how I seize today.
Carpe Diem and new moon intentions
A belief that endless possibilities lie ahead
Once I've done the inner work.
Outside circumstances
may have shifted in parallel time and space
But I am steady and still

Even if I don't move from this very spot
The earth has shifted and traveled
unbeknownst to my beating heart and
busy mind.  I have traveled, 
seen and loved, 
and discovered new shapes 
and stories about myself.

abundance

What is abundance?

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This morning after my yoga and meditation, I journaled on what abundance means to me.  It's the opposite of lack.  It's a belief in myself that I have everything I need, including the answers that I seek.  I'm taking an active role over the direction of my life.  It's more than goal setting and self-improvement.  It's a way of living a full, well-loved, well-lived life.  It's the trust and belief that it's all working for the highest good.  And abundance makes me feel safe, empowered and confident that what I intend will become my reality.

I'm currently in the Art of Abundance 31-day challenge with Yoga with Kassandra.  We set our affirmation and intention at the new moon.  This month the new moon is in Virgo, which happened on Labor Day, Monday, September 6.  It's been a very busy time at work and I'm trying to avoid burnout.  So with this in mind, my affirmation for the 31-day challenge is:  I believe in myself and my capabilities.  My intention is:  It's all getting done day by day when I set boundaries that protect my time.

I've done affirmation meditations in the past and new moon intentions.  What's great about this challenge is the repetitive nature and daily reminders of my affirmation and intention.  Time often seems to tick away with to-do's, work, chores, unexpected situations, you name it. And in those hectic days, it's easy to forget and lose sight of my current dreams and goals.

So this is my focus for this lunar cycle.  

What does abundance mean to you?  
Have you felt abundant before and what did it feel like?
Do you believe you deserve to embody the feeling of abundance?