True Prosperity
True prosperity has nothing to do with money and how much of it we have. Peace Pilgrim, the well-known woman who spent her middle to elder years walking the country, owning nothing, living nowhere and teaching principles of peace, lived a richly prosperous life filled with joy, purpose, good health and an abundance of all she needed and wanted materially. On the other hand, I've know many people who have good incomes, beautiful homes, cars and other possessions, yet live in a state of chronic financial struggle. Many others have all the money they want but lack the time, health or inner peace to enjoy their material abundance.
Prosperity is a state of mind and, when we have it, we automatically program our lives to work financially. Whether we have a lot or a little, we have our needs and wants fulfilled. We have the ability to attract more, without compromising our well-being in the process, and we also are able to create an abundant life without an abundance of money. If inwardly we feel lack, we'll never be satisfied with what we have. Consequently, no matter how much money we make, we'll create debt, struggle, and worry out of it.
I have a friend who's one of the most prosperous people I've ever known but not because of her high income. Years ago, when she was living on the tenuous income of a newly practicing massage therapist, she would tell stories of people she hardly knew showing up unexpectedly at her door with bags of groceries they had no idea how much she needed; or giving her amazingly large tips for her services. No matter how small her income, her life-style was comfortably gracious, complete with a beautifully furnished apartment, a car, lovely clothes, and always enough to give to others. At any gift-giving occasion, hers tended to be the nicest and most beautifully wrapped, and sometimes she was the only one who remembered to give a gift at all.
I've watched her prosperity steadily grow to include owning an extraordinarily beautiful home, marrying a loving partner, having a fulfilling career, a supportive community of family and friends who adore her, and an all-round bountiful life that hasn't been created with a huge income. Her financial wealth has grown, too, often through generous gifts from those who love her, because she gives loving attention as freely as material gifts. What has always struck me the most about this friend is her positive attitude and ability to remain upbeat even through some of the most challenging times. Clearly, the secret of her prosperity comes more from her open heart and open mind than her financial dealings.
There are countless books, seminars and techniques available these days about how to make more money, from financial strategies to metaphysical techniques. Before focusing on how to make more money, however, I believe it's first important to learn to be abundant with what we have now and, if we want more money, to understand why. Prosperity is available to us without limit. We can have all we need to fulfill our highest purpose and live our highest joy. For some this requires a lot of money and for others much less is needed. As we unhook the idea of "prosperity" from the prerequisite of "a lot of money," it suddenly becomes easier to attract money, easier to live with less money and easier to experience the abundant life God would have for us, with or without money.
Because money is such an important collective symbol of power, to struggle with the lack of it is consuming. The more our energy is tied up in financial survival, the more we're limited in our ability to thrive and to serve the collective good. Financial struggles inhibit our happiness, our greatness and our ability to make a difference in the world.
The spiritual principles of prosperity are, for the most part, diametrically opposed to the mundane rules of finance. Much of the way money circulates in the world today is based in fear. Greed, materialism, miserliness and selfishness are all manifestations of fear. When we fear there's not enough to go around and not enough for us, we're likely to overemphasize acquiring and holding on rather than flowing. Alternately, we may eschew acquiring altogether, fearing it to be synonymous with exploitive greed, and not consistent with a spiritual life. When we believe there's not enough to go around, it's easy to feel guilty if we have more than others.
Imagine what would happen if we went about the process of breathing this way: sucking in breath and holding it as long as possible even after it's stopped sustaining us for fear there won't be enough air; or going to the other extreme and exhaling but not drinking in again for fear of taking more than our share; or trying to store up a life-time's supply, or taking only little, shallow breaths; or worrying about each breath... the analogy could go on and on. Anyone who's flown in a plane knows that in times of emergency, you put on your own face mask before helping another! We can learn a lot about prosperity by using breath as a model. Money is energy and needs to follow the same easy, continuous flow as breath if it is to nourish and support us. So, take a momentÉ stopÉ and breathe!
Exercise: Breathing Prosperity
Relax and take some deep, full breaths, filling your abdomen as well as your chest, and exhaling just as fullyÉ. With every breath, imagine your highest goodÑfinancial and otherwiseÑto be as plentiful and accessible as the air you're breathing. Affirm that you're as deserving of this abundance as you are deserving of breath. Imagine that your having plenty doesn't make there be less for others any more than your breath robs other of theirs. Imagine that letting go of what's no longer serving you as well as sharing your abundance with others is as safe and easy as breathing out. As you breathe in deeply and exhale completely, feel the interrelatedness of giving and receiving, of letting go and taking in, of ending and beginning; each giving rise to the otherÉ. Many times today, become aware of your breath. Breathe in fully and exhale deeply, imagining yourself taking in everything that's for your highest good and letting go of everything you no longer need. Put yourself to sleep this way tonight and any night you want a peaceful night's sleep.