The Universal Flow Of Giving

Money - easy come, easy go.  That's the perception I've lived with for a long time.  Recently, I've noticed because of that perception, I tend to keep score with my generosity.

And while I'm keeping score and sometimes hoarding my money or making judgement calls about who I feel safe being generous with, I can feel my bank account shrinking.  It all comes back to the Universal Law of giving - the tighter I hold onto money (or love or a job) the more I struggle with bringing money (or love or a job) into my life.

On the other hand, when I remember that there is more than enough financial abundance to go around and give from that place, I tend to receive back MORE than I originally gave.  Not surprisingly, it comes back to me - usually - from a different source, NOT from the person that I gave to in the first place (which has been another misperception on my part.)

There is a flow to giving and receiving.  It's an acceptance and trust that something bigger than me is at play here.  I am financially okay and I will continue to be financially okay.  Thinking anything else is defeating and self-fulfilling.

So, where in YOUR life are you keeping score?

Today, I set the intention to remain open to the universal flow of giving, knowing there is always more than enough prosperity and abundance to go around.

"You have not lived today until you have done something 

for someone who can never repay you."   

~John Bunyan

"The wise man does not lay up his own treasures.  

The more he gives to others, the more he has for his own."  

~Lao Tzu

Affirmative Prayer:
Being fully present in the silence of this moment, there is the sense of one Divine Intelligence, one Creative Wisdom.  It is in the power of a song that touches the heart and in the gentle rain that falls on the fields of flowers; sustaining, nurturing, strengthening.

This Creative Force that I call God knows me personally, expressing as me in every moment.  I am the song and the rain; sustaining, nurturing, strengthening.  Centering my consciousness in this knowing, there is a peaces that settles throughout and I allow Spirit to light my path forward.

Today, I choose to remember that I am a co-creator with Spirit.  I release any thoughts of anxiousness around money as I put the Universal Law of giving into action.  I let go of the belief that money goes as easily at it comes to me and instead, affirm that I am in the flow of an ever-increasing supply of abundance and prosperity. Goodness and prosperity pour themselves down on me all the time and I, in turn, pour my prosperity down over others I meet.  I welcome the transformation in my life from living this Law of Reciprocity.  It is powerful and exciting to know that my dreams of living from the overflow are being made manifest, right here and right now.

I am so grateful for the changes in my life around finances as I watch them multiply into more than enough.  I am thankful for my awareness of something bigger than me that tells me every day, life is wonderful.  Thank you, Spirit, for Your fullness of expression as me and through me.

Feeling renewed, I simply release this prayer to the Divine Action of the Law which activates my word into fulfillment.  My life is filled with peace and joy and happiness.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Photo courtesy of Chris Gin/Flickr

Two Lessons That Bring The Joy Back Into Giving

The more inspirational books I read, the more I see how giving is such an important aspect to being in the flow of life.  For some, giving is so easy and for others it's not so simple.  Regardless of where we fall, when we talk about giving, it seems to always bring up an emotional response.

To be in the flow, I believe the key is to go deep into giving into an area that makes you FEEL good.  Yes, giving is about helping others but it's also about helping YOU build your trust muscle.  It helps build the faith that the Universe is your source and supply - not your job, not your husband or wife or family.  And, it's been a wonderful spiritual lesson for me.  Two lessons actually...

In Deepak Chopra's, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, giving is Law #2.  I especially love that he uses the word affluence in this law because affluence seems like an outrageous expectation and yet, I'm no longer willing to settle for less than outrageous.

"The word affluence comes from the root word 'affluere,' which means 'to flow to.'   The word affluence means 'to flow in abundance.'  Money is really a symbol of the life energy we exchange and the life energy we use as a result of the service we provide to the universe.  Another word for money is 'currency,' which also reflects the flowing nature of energy.  The word currency comes from the Latin word 'currere' which means 'to run' or to flow.

Therefore, if we stop the circulation of money - if our only intention is to hold on to our money and hoard it - since it is life energy, we will stop its circulation back into our lives as well.  In order to keep that energy coming to us, we have to keep the energy circulating.  Like a river, money must keep flowing, otherwise it begins to stagnate, to clog, to suffocate and strangle its very own life force.  Circulation keeps it alive and vital."

So, lesson #1 for me - choose a word that feels OUTRAGEOUS like affluence and consciously think about that word as you circulate what you have.  Not only will you be in the flow, you can't help but up-level what starts to flow back to you.

And lesson #2?  Pay attention to how you feel when you give.  John Randolph Price details this beautifully in The Abundance Book.

"Giving is an esoteric science that never fails to produce results if it is done with love and joy, because the Law will shower you with a pressed down and multiplied return.  But if you tithe (and I really prefer the word 'sharing' to tithing) as a mechanical and calculated method to please God, unload guilt, meet a sense of obligation and play a bartering game with the Law, no one benefits - not even the receiver.  Give with love, joy and a sense of fun and the windows of heaven will be
 thrown open with a blast!"

Focus on what makes you really, really happy when you give and dig deep into that area.  Forget about giving because you HAVE to give, and forget about giving because it's the right thing to do.  Instead, tap into the love and joy of giving.  Have fun with it.

Recently, in San Francisco, there was an anonymous giver who hid $100 bills around the city and tweeted out clues to where you could find the money.  I love that concept, especially when you can trust that the Universe is guiding that money to exactly the right person at the right time.  It's a brilliant way to share!

So, take a look at what makes you smile and feel joyful when you give.  Choose a big word - one that might make you even choke a bit - that you tap into as you give.  Start there and commit to that.

Where can YOU have a sense of fun in your giving?  And what is the BIG word you're choosing to consciously focus on as you circulate?

Today, I set the intention to dive deep into giving in an area that I am passionate about, consciously focusing on feeling affluent and opulent as I remain in the flow of circulation.

"Your faith vibration attracts that which you have and experience in this world

 because like must attract like!  Where is your faith?  Look around you.  

If your faith is in an all-sufficiency, then so it is in your life  If your faith is pulsating

 to a 'just getting by' frequency, than so it is in your world.  If your faith

 is on the dial-set of insufficiency, then there will never be enough to meet

 your needs.  Your world simply reflects your faith."  

~John Randolph Price, The Abundance Book

It's not what we ask for that is outrageous.  It's what we settle for that is outrageous."  

~Alan Cohen

Affirmative Prayer:
Turning within and staying in this moment now, in this time now, and in this space now, there is a sacredness that is calling.  It is a Divine Presence that exudes beauty and grace; a Divine Power that is the essence of strength and wisdom.  Like the whisper of a breath, it is all-sustaining and ever-present.

Noticing my breath, I see, that at my core, I am one with this Divine, Creative Intelligence.  It is a loving connection with the all-good of the Universe that guides my journey.  I give this Divine Spirit space for full expression through me and as me in a way that no one else can and I say bring it on!  

I walk through life affirming perfect wealth, opulence and affluence and Life makes the way for the experience of abundance and prosperity  I am surrounded by grace in every minute of the day and welcome the circulation of my good out into the world in joyful and fun ways.  I feel energized and alive as I give in deep and meaningful ways, knowing that my every need is met by a Source that always has my back.  I clearly see my worthiness to receive as I up-level my circulation back out, cultivating my prosperity consciousness.  I align with my soul and heart which urges me to reach for outrageous experiences of a life in the flow of magnificence and wonder.  And I smile as Spirit blasts open the windows and doors, showering me with a pressed down and multiplied return.

Allowing the feelings of thanksgiving and gratitude to overtake me, I lean into the happiness that emerges and grows stronger.  In faith and trust, I say Thank You, Spirit, for evidence of the truth - that life is for me in amazing ways beyond what I can even imagine.

Grateful for the guidance of the Universe, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  Blessings and miracles are mine to give and to receive.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

Photo courtesy of Jose Moutinho/Flickr

Who Is Responsible For Your Difficulties?

It's funny how quickly I can get down on myself when I feel that I have failed at something.  I re-live the events and find all the mistakes that were made.  I talk to myself continuously about what I should have done differently.   I start the "catastrophe" thinking.

So - what would it look like if I decided to leave behind the voice that says, "Why do you always screw it up?"  What if I decided to embrace the failure and see it as a gift of guidance?

What if I took responsibility for the choices that brought me to that point?

Now - I can see clearly that I am the only one who can deprive myself of anything.  Life is not holding anything back from me.  Life is not making it difficult for me to thrive.   Those are blame-game stories that let me step back into playing small.

When I have failed and feel like I will never be a success, it's a great time to take a look inside myself.  Maybe I have some old habit that I'm hanging on to that needs to be released.  Maybe it's just that I have been too busy to be present to the moment.

So, what if I just show up and am fully receptive to life?   What if I continue to hold onto the bigger picture for my life and am willing to just "be"?

For me, receptivity is the key word here. Being receptive to everything that life brings allows me to adapt and to be resilient when there is change or upheaval or failure.

Perfect example - with the moving I have done over the last few years resulting in living in an apartment, I started comparing myself to others.   As if out of the blue, I seemed to be surrounded by people who owned their own homes and would talk about how beautiful it was and how excited they were.  And, all I could feel was frustration.  I had failed at the great American dream - owning my own home.

Aha!  THAT'S the story I am telling myself!

So, how do I fix it?  Taking a tip from the book I've been reading, The Power of Intention.  I am determined to keep my thoughts on higher energy feelings around this supposed "failure".  I remind myself how fortunate I am to live in the place that I do.  And, I am truly grateful for the clutter-clearing that was required to downsize.

I do, some days, still question if this is how my life is supposed to look.  After all, if I am a co-creator with the Universe, why have I not created something "better"?

But - I also have great faith in the Universe.  I let go of the feeling that I have somehow compromised and settled for less by living in an apartment.  Instead, I focus on the fact that I AM resilient.  I can adapt to change better today than I ever could before.  And, I trust that the Universe is always guiding me and that I am NEVER in the wrong place.

Best of all, I refuse to play small.  I show up every day as the wise, spiritual person that I am.   And I dare to take big, bold action - even when it's scary - because I know that the Universe has my back.

So, have there been times you've needed to be resilient in your life?  How did you adapt to change?

Today, I set the intention to welcome change, knowing that I am always in the right place at the right time and it is perfect.

"You live in a universe that has limitless potential for joy built into 

the creation process.  Your Source, which we call the universal 

mind of intention, adores you beyond anything you can possibly

 imagine.  When you adore yourself in the same proportion, you're 

matched up with the field of intention, and you've opted for 

the path of no resistance."  

~Dr. Wayne Dyer, The Power of Intention

"Creation is eternally going on; change is always taking place 

within that which is Changeless."  

~Ernest Holmes

Affirmative Prayer:
In the morning dew on the grass, in the fog that blankets the coast, there is a Divine Intelligence that moves through all that is, covering everything in love.  It is a Life that knows only good, only joy, only happiness, and It is a Source that brings fresh wisdom each day.

Looking within, this Source of Love, of Life, moves through and around me, expressing as me, in all that I do and in all that I speak each day.  I am always connected to Source, to Spirit, and my life unfolds with grace and ease as I take each step in my journey.

Affirming that the Universe always has my back, I allow my life to be guided by perfect, Divine order.  I let go and let God provide for my needs as I remain open to change.  I am supported by a Source that wants my highest and best and I stay centered in feelings of trust and of peace.  I am safe as Spirit directs my path and I am transformed as I lean into the possibilities of playing big.  I release any thoughts of lack or failure and welcome the blessings that show up in my life, knowing I am loved beyond measure.

I am so grateful to the Presence within for the gifts that are given and shared as I show up for life.  And I am thankful for the love that surrounds my every choice.  I am filled with gratitude for the abundant supply that is always available to me.

From this place of gratitude, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  All is well.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Plan For Prosperity. Ditch The Same Old Life

Every thought impacts your life.  That has become so clear as I continue reading The Power of Intention.  For the past few days, I have been consciously holding the life I want to manifest in my imagination.  Now, I must take the next step - to examine the obstacles that keep me from connecting to my intention.

Yep, I have to get my hands a little dirty <sigh>.

It is so important to be conscious of the conversations I am having with others and having with myself.  I may be creating barriers to realizing my intentions by talking and thinking about what I DON'T want.

According to the book, "Everything in this Universe is a movement of energy."  This includes your thoughts.

"Every thought you have has an energy that will either strength or weaken you."

So, as I have conversations that are not loving and not valuable - conversations that simply fill space - my energy level remains low, impacting not only me but those around me too.

If I keep having the same old conversations in that low energy level, that will translate to the same old life.

What if I am seeking to up-level my life to one filled with more prosperity and abundance on every level?  The goal, then, is to be aware of my thoughts and raise them to a higher energy level.  This means I MUST start noticing what I am actually saying.

I learned something about myself recently as I started paying attention to some of my conversations.  My husband, Kevin, and I were talking about going on vacation to Hawaii in December.   I agreed that would be nice but we won't have the money.

Wait!   HOW do I know I WON'T have the money?  I was already planning for lack and scarcity.  And - I just set my future in motion with that intention.

With that in mind, I took a minute to stop and change my thoughts to one of possibilities.

I went out to the Travel & Leisure website and started picturing myself enjoying one of the many vacation options they had listed.  And, I wrote down affirmations about how affordable our vacation in December will be - how amazing it will be to stay in a 5-star resort this year - how exciting the opportunities for dining and for spa days and for other activities would FEEL.  I even threw in how luxurious flying first class would be on this trip.

I planned for the prosperity rather than the lack.  And, now the doors are open for the Universe to provide unexpected good where before there was "not enough".

So, how do YOU plan for the prosperity and the possibilities for good?

Today, I set the intention to take responsibility for my thoughts, seeking only to engage in higher energy conversations that translate into a life of prosperity and abundance.

"Faith is expectancy.  You do not receive what you want; you 

do not receive what you pray for, not even what you say you have 

faith in.  You will always receive what you actually expect."  

~Eric Butterworth, Spiritual Economics

"When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you."  

~Lao Tzu

Affirmative Prayer:
There is a Presence in this moment that is filled with happiness, filled with joy, filled with bliss.  It is a Divine Wisdom and Divine Intelligence that exists throughout all that is - in the beauty of a green meadow sloping down toward a lush river, in the quiet patter of the rain falling against the window - It is alive and awake to the possibilities of Life.

This Divine Presence of Life is also awake and alive through me, expressing as me, in ways that are filled with the wonder of what will be.  As I move through my day, this Presence of Spirit within guides me and sustains my very being as I allow the flow of happiness and joy and bliss to surround me.

As Spirit expresses through me, my dreams and visions are brought into my every day experience.   I keep my thoughts and feelings focused on the good that is available and it shows up in ways that are better than I even imagined.  I let go of any thoughts of lack and allow the Universe to prosper me in every area of my life - in my relationships, in my finances, in my health.  I am worthy of the flow of abundance that is here now and I am enough, just as I am in this moment.  And, just like a stone that is tossed into a pond, this flow of prosperity and abundance, of happiness and joy, spreads out to others who are open to the possibility of every day miracles.

I am deeply grateful for the good in my life, for the blessings that seem to appear out of nowhere.  And I am so thankful for knowing the nature of God is always my Truth, the nature of Good is always my Divine Birthright.

From this place of thankfulness, I release my Word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  It is creating through me - right here, right now.  And I let it be so.  And so it is!

You'll Never Know Until You Try

I'll never know until I try.  That mantra keeps going through my head and I'm feeling a calling to be like Alice in Wonderland.  I need to step into the rabbit hole and stop playing it safe.

It's almost as though I'm remembering something important about myself that I've forgotten.  It's so easy to get caught up in adult responsibilities - going to work, paying the bills, buying more "stuff".

But - what if I could prosper and thrive by being more like a child and using my imagination to create my reality?  There are new treasures my soul is longing to discover.  I can feel it move through me like a wave of energy, building momentum every day.

And - just like Alice chased the rabbit throughout Wonderland, I'll need to chase the ideas to discover my true abundance.

The key, for me, will be to let go of the need to be perfect before I put myself out there for others to see.  I will need to accept myself for exactly who I am, exactly where I am.

The challenge of doing things perfectly showed up recently while I was practicing my flute.  It has been YEARS since I've played and I'm very rusty - VERY rusty.

After 30 minutes of failed attempts to hit certain notes, I was berating myself for my awkwardness.  I grew up playing flute and I should have this down, regardless of how long it's been since I've played.

All I could think in that moment - I'll never be good enough to play in front of other people.  Thank goodness for The Course In Miracles.  I stopped, took a breath, and asked "how can I see this differently"?

The answer came quickly - Google.  I searched for "flute emboucher".   A number of results came up including YouTube videos of master classes by James Galway.  I grabbed my flute and started practicing the tips he gave.  What a difference that 5-minute lesson made.

My aim, now, is to work with the videos and find a good flute instructor who can guide me.  I may never be "perfect", however, I am loving the time I get to spend practicing and I am REALLY loving how much better I am sounding.

My new goal is to get good enough to perform again.  Because - I'll never know how my life might unfold even better than I can imagine unless I try.

So, I set the intention today to surrender the need for perfection and to embrace the path that is unfolding as I try new things.

"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it.  

Boldness has genius and power and magic in it."  

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"To embark on this glorious challenge, you must leave

 the known and jump away from the familiar, the status quo,

 to discover who you truly are and can be."  

~Judith Wright

Affirmative Prayer:
In the stillness and quiet of this moment, there is a beauty that flows around all that is.  It is filled with wisdom and with love and it is a Divine Presence that is the essence of life itself.  It is ever present, revealing and expressing as the One Life, amazing and dazzling in Its brilliance.

Breathing in this brilliance, I embrace this Presence as it moves through and around and as me.  I am a perfect expression of Divine love and Divine wisdom and I let my heart be filled with Its peace and glory and grace.  I close my eyes and know that I can never be separate from this Intelligence that exists within me.

And as I open my eyes, there is knowing that my natural state is perfection - my natural state is confidence - my natural state is abundance and prosperity and joy.  I let go of any fear that might hold me back from sharing my gifts and talents with others.  I let go of any worry that I might not be good enough.  Instead, I claim that I am Divinely guided down a path that supports me as I try new things.  I claim that the right and perfect experiences align with my journey as God expressing as Sandy.  I hold the consciousness of faith and hope and know that miracles are occurring every day as I make the choice to step boldly into the light and shine.

Leaning into this feeling, I am so grateful for the miracles and blessings that prosper my life, that support me to live fully and completely.  And I am thankful that my unique gifts and talents are the Truth of who I am - a spiritual being having a human experience.  I am filled with gratitude for the knowing of a Source that calls me Beloved in every minute of the day and night.

From this place of gratitude, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done, it is already made manifest in brilliant and amazing ways.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.  Amen.