FEATURE - June 2019

Conscious Wealth

How to Tap Into and Live in Awareness of Joy and Abundance Every Day

 

by Lysa Allman-Baldwin

 

The word “prosperity” most often brings to mind tangible, financial prosperity—the in and out flow of money.

  
But true prosperity is a state of mind and higher level of consciousness touching every area of our lives: finances, career, health, relationships, and spiritual awareness/growth.  

  
According to internationally recognized author and meditation teacher davidji , although money is one symbol of material wealth, abundance consciousness is more about circulation and flow.
 

“True abundance consciousness is opening our mind, heart and soul so wide so that EVERY aspect of our existence … flow into us without conditions. … When we allow the world to ripple into us with open arms and then let it flow out of us with grace and generosity, in that moment we are a pure conduit, a channel, a medium for whatever we desire. And it is in that sweet act of giving AND receiving that we fulfill our purpose, our needs, our desires, and the universe’s intentions.”

  
As wonderful and heart opening as that sounds, let’s be honest: it’s a tall order to fulfill. We do, after all, see evidence of lack and limitation—what some call “Scarcity Consciousness”—everywhere. And it may sound a little Pollyanna-ish, like once we flip “a switch” we step into life’s current and easily ride the waves.  

  
Scarcity Consciousness can show up as thoughts like:

   “I’m not good (or smart, pretty, tall, thin, educated, young/old) enough.” 

   “I can’t afford it.”

   “There’s not enough time.”

    “I don’t deserve it.”

  
And even the happiest, richest and most successful-looking people can sometimes succumb to this error thinking. 

  
We create our life experiences through thoughts, words and actions. Therefore, we have the power to change focus from lamenting what is missing (scarcity), to celebrating the abundance of what we do have.

  
That is “Conscious Wealth.” 

Change your Wealth Operating System

  
Our “Wealth Operating System” is the mechanism through which we filter our life experiences, and the place to start cultivating any new practice or habit.

  
One practice I adopted years ago was examining the words I used about financial wants and needs. So instead of saying, “I can’t afford to buy that concert ticket (or dinner out, new bestselling book, pair of shoes, or whatever) I would rephrase it as, “My spiritual investment funds are allocated elsewhere.” 

  
The truth is, I could afford that concert ticket, dinner out, new bestselling book, or pair of shoes. But I chose instead, on that occasion, to “spiritually invest” in myself and my family in other ways, like paying the mortgage, buying groceries, or tithing at church. It’s all about shifting your thought process and mindset. 

  
Your career and creative self-expression are other areas to practice Conscious Wealth.

  
Say you want to start a new business but feel like you don’t have enough time or money to accomplish it. What if you looked at things you’d start or stop doing if the business was already up and running?  

  
You might decrease hours at your current job. Or invite your kids into “the family business” by helping with graphics or social media (they are whizzes at technology!). Finding an entrepreneur support group in your field could also be beneficial. 

Any of these steps help you focus on what you can do, instead of what you can’t.

  
Observing your emotions can also help improve your Wealth Operating System. Sure, feeling tired, overwhelmed, uncertain, and so on at times is normal. To counterbalance these, create a list of emotions you would rather experience. Do you want to feel Authentic? Free? Peaceful? Productive? Vibrant? Present? Blissful? It’s up to you.

 
Choose words that capture the essence of who you are, or how you want to show up in the world. Read them aloud several times a day. With practice, living in an abundant flow will become increasingly effortless and second nature.

Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude 

  
According to author, speaker, and prominent figure in the New Age movement Deepak Chopra in his article Cultivate the Healing Power of Gratitude, those consciously focusing on gratitude experience greater emotional well-being and physical health than those who do not. The benefits include less stress, feeling stronger during trying times, optimism about the future, enjoying closer family ties, and making greater progress toward achieving important personal goals, among others.

  
“If you want more happiness, joy, and energy, gratitude is clearly a crucial quality to cultivate,” writes Chopra. “It is a fullness of heart that moves us from limitation and fear to expansion and love. When we’re appreciating something, our ego moves out of the way and we connect with our soul. Gratitude brings our attention into the present, which is the only place where miracles can unfold. The deeper our appreciation, the more we see with the eyes of the soul and the more our life flows in harmony with the creative power of the universe.”

   
A gratitude list is a powerful and effective way to appreciate the big and little things in life, despite the circumstances.

  
Here’s a quick example.

  
A couple of years ago, I had a bike accident. While lying on the ground in intense pain, I realized the best thing I could do at that moment was make a Gratitude List. So, I started saying out loud:

   I’m on the sidewalk; not in the street.

   It’s daytime and not at night.

   There are people coming to get me who know what they’re doing.

   I have health insurance.

   The hospital is only two miles away.

   And most importantly, for me, God is here.
 

Here are a few other simple ways to cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude:
 

• Create a journal and note every wonderful thing that comes your way. Things like an unexpected refund, praise from your boss, or when someone treats you to lunch.

• Take a walk during inclement weather and acknowledge the positive benefits to follow, e.g. verdant flowers and trees after the rain, or replenished reservoirs from melted snow.

• Clean out your personal spaces—car, desk, closets, etc.—and donate what you no longer want or need to help someone else. 

• Make every day a “special occasion” in some way. Serve dinner on your fine china. Send flowers even if it’s not someone’s birthday or a holiday.

• Play “Secret Santa” without expecting an acknowledgment. 

• Give yourself props! Repeat affirmations like: “I’m proud of myself!” “I did a great job today.” “Who I am matters in this world.” 

• An Attitude of Gratitude is not about living in denial or looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Rather knowing that even in the appearance of chaos—a job loss, divorce, loved one passing away, or bad bike accident—there is still greater good taking place.
   

Go with the Flow!

     
Instead of rowing upstream against life, Conscious Wealth opens the channels of Divine flow in all directions. And that flow is available anytime and anywhere.  So, claim it now!

 

 

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