From the viewpoint of grace, which can [and will, when asked with gratitude] always give more, our lives should be a rising arc of abundance. ~ Day 13: Success Through Gratitude; Oprah and Deepak’s “Manifesting Grace Through Gratitude” Meditation Series
Okay, show of hands! Who here has experienced life this way? Who here wants to experience life this way?
Clearly when I track the history of my life, it is apparent that the above “law,” as they call it, is true. It’s when I am wrapped in the horse-blinders of daily living that I entirely forget that law is so.
“A rising arc of abundance.” Gosh, that sounds so nice, doesn’t it?
One way I’ve begun to sneak a peek over the side of those daily blinders is by writing down my weekly accomplishments before my Goals Group call on Tuesdays. When, a few weeks ago, we’d arrived at the question of how we would “reward achievement,” we’d all come mainly to the idea that we would acknowledge what we’ve done. So simple; so uncommon.
Therefore, to instate a habit of it (I love habits), I’ve begun to write down my week’s accomplishments on the Slack page we share to keep track of the weekly Goals Pages questions, our answers to them, our commitments to action for the week, and other somewhat germane comments (see: Kuramo’s vlog about self-love!).
On my own channel on the site, I’ve begun to keep this written log of everything I’ve accomplished in the week, and once I get started, it just pours out of me!
Anything from “cleaned the floor” to “got a massage” to “sent my bio to the J Weekly” to “went with a friend to the opera”!
All of these are accomplishments, achievements. They’re ways that I am being and becoming more authentic and present and seen in the world (Yes, even cleaning my floor! It means that I don’t have to feel gross at home, don’t have to fret when my piano player is coming over to practice, and don’t have those Serenity Moths gnawing at my self-esteem).
My world is only seen as a rising arc of abundance if I choose to see it that way. This abundance is not limited to my bank account but there is clear evidence of an upward trajectory over the past dozen years. And according to the groups with which I hang, financial abundance is an outward manifestation of our internal growth. God is not separate from money, but money is also just a tool, but God is present in all aspects of my life including my finances, but my finances are only one measure of success… Pete and Repeat…;)
I’ll conclude with another passage from that day’s meditation which may help to sort out this cycle of god/money/work/gratitude/action/grace:
What saves me from greed and selfishness is to take every gift with humility and gratitude. … Contrary to popular belief, it is not spiritual to shun external rewards — external rewards can be a sign that I’m connected to my true Source, which wants the best possible life for me. What I need and want to avoid is my ego stepping in and claiming to BE the source of the good things in my life.
Grace is always the source of abundance, not the ego’s selfish, anxious struggle.
Grace needs my hands through which to work its goodness, and I need gratitude to become a conduit for that grace. Pete and Repeat…
Good luck.
Owning Voice 