Why Your Relationship With Money Matters

When I take time to understand my overall relationship with money, my finances usually seem to change for the better.  I've worked through some limiting beliefs over the past few years and gotten rid of the "rich people suck" thought pattern.  And, I no longer make money SO important that it interferes with my relationships.

But - now that I have taken a sabbatical from work, I'm becoming very conscious of my cash.  With the awareness that where I focus my thoughts is what will manifest in my life, I don't want to create the space for lack or scarcity mentality to overtake me.  So, I reached for Eric Butterworth's book, Spiritual Economics.  He has a chapter that talks about Work and the Success Syndrome.

"How easy and yet how mistaken it is to be influenced by the 'another day, another dollar' syndrome.  Let your work, whatever it may involve, be an outworking of the creative flow, engaged in through the sheer joy of fulfilling your divine nature.  You will prosper and you should do so, but it will not be because you have 'made money' in your job."

What that means to me is, even though I don't have a job, as I focus my time on activities that fulfill my heart's desire and as I treat my volunteer work as my 'job', I will prosper financially.  It seems strange that while I may not be receiving a paycheck, all of my needs are met.

And, if I have faith and trust that the Universe is my source, what emerges are the miracles and blessings that I very likely missed before I took a leap of faith.

No doubt, being jobless takes a little bit of courage each morning that I wake up and realize that I am free to do as I choose (mostly).  But the more I feel financially supported within, the more I see my abundance expressed and returned to me beyond what I even imagine.

 It seems I'm taking my relationship with money to the next level.  And it feels good - no regrets!

So, what is YOUR relationship with money like?  Are you 'making money' from your job?

Today, I set the intention to see the abundance that is all around me, grateful that my relationship with money is healthy and my finances are thriving!

"It is a beautiful insight dealing with prosperity as a divine flow from within.  

When you work in the right consciousness, when your work becomes organically

 a part of your whole self, and when you do your work out of that commitment,

 no matter what other people do, no matter what the compensation may be, 

doing it for the health of your own soul, then you open the door by which

 the affluence of the Universe flows forth into your life."  

~Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

"If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, then you should quit 

your job and go sit at the Temple and beg alms from those who work with joy."  

~Kahlil Gilbran

Affirmative prayer:
Watching the clouds float in the sky and requiring no effort whatsoever, there is the recognition of a pure Divine Power that sustains all of life.  It is joy that is as bright as the sunshine, it is happiness reflected in the beauty of a summer day.  And, it is the unlimited potential of the Divine Creator of hopes and dreams that makes all things possible.

Knowing I am one with the One Divine Power, I look within to a place that is pristine and perfect.  It is a place of overflowing abundance that requires only allowing and acceptance.  It is a place of strength and sustenance that overflows with unconditional love.  I celebrate my unity with Infinite Intelligence as I spread my arms and let every space be filled with joy and laughter.

Holding on to the joy and laughter, I embrace my worthiness to receive the abundance that reaches out to meet me.  I let go of any limitations to my good and I welcome the richness that invades my life.  Prosperity takes over as Spirit guides my steps and I feel the affluence in my bones.  I claim the Divine blessings that are so much more than I can imagine as my relationship with money thrives.  And I affirm that life is so good and getting better with every sunrise that begins the new day.

As Divine Grace enfolds me, I am filled with deep, profound gratitude for the miracles and blessings that prosper my life.  I am thankful that my way is lit with such love and amazing beauty as I receive the bounty of good that is God's great pleasure to give.  And I am grateful for the certainty that as I wake each day, I am financially supported in real and tangible ways.

Affirming my worthiness, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  I am supported and empowered to stand strong in the Divine flow from within.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Photo courtesy of Trey Ratcliff/Flickr

Simple Steps To Restore Your Soul

Rejuvenation.  Restoration.  Rehabilitation.  Most of us will make the time to heal our bodies and calm our minds but what about our souls?  Our soul - our Spirit - is that inner connection to the Divine.    It is the consciousness that everything we need comes from within.  And, it is the infinite, unlimited possibility that is available in every moment.

When I come from my heart and not my head, those are the moments I can best hear my soul speaking to me.  And when I stay open to the energy of love and joy and happiness, I get an inner-knowing that all is well with my soul.

But - human life always sneaks in.  My car needs repair.  My daughter is sick.  My boss is overwhelming me with work.

So, my "head" feels compelled to step in and take control.  It needs to direct the "how" and take back decision-making from my heart.  And, in the moment when I turn away from letting go and letting God, my soul gets battered in the process.

"I'm not worthy of a great love."  "I'm not deserving of that promotion."  "I'm not good enough to have the nice house and the new car."  These thoughts and emotions steal my joy and box me into a house of guilt and shame.

The good news - I am learning to listen to feelings that usually hit me at the gut level.  I can actually feel it in the pit of my stomach.  When that happens, I have created a few go-to steps to restore peace to my soul and to rejuvenate the Spirit within.

Create a ritual

My ritual involves clearing a space to sit for 5-10 minutes, light some candles and start writing down all the things that are annoyances.  I just let them flow and try to get as many down on paper as I can.  Once the 10 minutes are up (I usually set a timer), I take a deep breath, fold the paper and either burn it - if it's safe - or I physically tear it up into as many small pieces as I can.  Then, I take 5 minutes and write down everything I am grateful for.  After 5 minutes, I bless my gratitude list, usually with an affirmative prayer so I can get into that space of feeling Spirit.  For me, this ritual has brought me back into alignment with what's really important and wakes up my soul to all the good in my life.

Listen to inspirational music

There is truly a healing power to music.  And, if I can pair listening to music with walking outside in nature, even better.  Sometimes the music I choose has more of a meditative tone and other times, it's something lively like Michael Beckwith's Transendance.  I even find myself turning to traditional Christian music when I need to get into that space of knowing that God is all there really is.  Or there are some Top 40 pop music songs that inspire me and have me singing out loud (think Natasha Bettingfield's Unwritten or Fleetwood Mac's You Can Go Your Own Way).  I may not be the best at carrying a tune but it sure feeds my soul to belt out a song like a rock star.

Find something to laugh at

Laughter is food for the soul.  Try and find something that brings you that deep, full belly laugh.  You can start with something that will simply make you smile until it develops into something you're giggling out loud about.   Keep a few movies or TV shows that you know you enjoy.  For me, Wanda Sykes comedy clips are hilarious and, of course, The Big Bang Theory is pretty good for a chuckle-fest.  I also know that my daughters can having me rolling on the floor when they banter back and forth.   By cultivating laughter when things are a bit rough, I seem to tap into a Divine moment that reminds me I'm always at choice in how I respond to events.

Aromatherapy

Our five senses are very strong and our sense of smell is particularly potent.  I find that when I am purposeful and seek out scents that make me feel good, it raises my energy level up quickly.  Who wouldn't admit that the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans are close to Godliness?  Just another reason there is always a line at Starbucks :-)  When I'm surrounded by the smell of lavender, I breathe in deeply and the calm penetrates every nerve ending.  Lemon and mint are especially energizing as well.  Make a note of your favorite smells and seek them out when your soul is feeling drained.  And, really focus on the taking in the scent.  When I walk into a coffee shop hoping the caffeine will provide a pick-me-up, I deliberately slow my pace and savor the smells.  Almost immediately, I feel lighter and my soul is rising to meet me in a very visceral moment.

Using these steps consciously, there is a "remembering" that my soul is limitless.  And taking the time to give my soul the space to tap back into the Divine, I remember that everything is here for my highest and best good.

So, today, I set the intention to nurture my soul, balancing my human existence with my Spiritual being and remembering to be present in the moment.

"Put yourself into life and never lose your openness, your childish enthusiasm

 throughout the journey that is life, and things will come your way." 

~Federico Fellini

"Say not 'I have found the path of the soul.'  Say rather, 'I have met the soul 

walking upon my path.'  For the soul walks upon all paths.  The soul walks not 

upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.  The soul unfolds itself like 

a lotus of countless petals." 

~Kahlil Gibran

Affirmative Prayer:
There is a lusciousness to Life, overflowing with abundance and prosperity.  It pours through the fields of corn and wheat and the vines of grapes waiting to be harvested.  It fills the tables with healthy foods and delicious treats.  It is the Divine Nature of Goodness that blesses everything that is.  

Claiming this Divine Nature as my birthright, I let it flow through and around me, affirming that all of Life is mine for the taking.  It is a Spirit of Joy that moves me and I embrace this joy with an openness for life.  The love, the beauty and the perfection of this moment is all God and there is a knowing from within that everything that God is, I am.

Celebrating the good that is God, I step into my soul's desires for life as Sandy.  I nurture the desires that show up in beautiful ways, knowing they are here for a Divine purpose.  My soul sings with a happiness that shines out from every cell of my body.  And just as the fields are harvested for their bounty, my soul harvests my unique gifts and talents, allowing them to reveal themselves in perfect, Divine timing.  I remain present in each moment, releasing any seeming challenges and letting my life flow effortlessly down the path to my greatest good.

As my soul expresses the unlimited potential for my life, my heart is filled with gratitude for this day.  I am so thankful to know that there is always more than enough for me to receive and to share.  And I am grateful that in this plentitude, my soul is restored to its connection with Source, to its connection with Spirit, to its Infinite Nature.

I sing, I dance, I breathe in and out and I settle in to the stillness, releasing my Word to the Divine Action of the Law.  And as it is released, it is made manifest in my life and brought into my experience in joyful, loving ways.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.