OK, so it is totally possible to see a massive spike in your bank balance, and this happens all of the time…but that is not what this post is about.

When we hear the word abundance, we often think of the money or possessions, but they are usually just a reflection or symptom of abundance.  They are not abundance in itself.

Abundance is actually a state of openness or fullness, where everything that is needed flows into your experience and out of your experience without any lack whatsoever.  I have known individuals who have accumulated a large amount of money, but who’s state is actually one of poverty.

I have a friend who lives in a large apartment building a few minutes from me.  Their building is 4 blocks from the beach (I’m jealous…my place is 20 blocks away!!) and is definitely bringing in a lot of rental income for the owners.  I saw an older woman scrubbing her clothes on the sidewalk in front of the building and felt bad for her because there was a laundromat about 10 feet away from where she was.  I thought she was scrubbing the clothes there because she was broke and just felt that she had no other choice.  What I found out from my friend blew me away.

That woman and her husband are the owners of that building!

After I got over my initial shock, I actually felt worse for her.  How sad is it that someone could own a big apartment building in San Francisco right by the ocean, get what I assume to be a boatload of cash in rent every month (well…maybe their bank no longer delivers it in an actual boat…It’s hard to keep up on these things) and still feel so poor.  If someone is genuinely frustrated with lack in their life, they at least have a chance to turn it around.  If she feels poor under her current circumstances, she will most likely die in a state of poverty regardless of her bank balance.

A lot of people get carried away, chasing the external factors of the world and ignore the power of state.

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence”
- Aristotle

I agree with Aristotle here, pretty much everything we do is motivated by the belief that it will bring us happiness.  Some may argue that people will do destructive and painful things, but I believe that even in these cases it is aimed at creating some type of catharsis or shift that the person believes will ultimately lead to happiness for them in the future.

How can we shift our state and allow ourselves to experience abundance, especially if we don’t feel all that well off?  I believe the answer is in appreciating what we already have.  We have all been taught to “Count our Blessings”. but what does that actually do for us?

Take a look at the definitions of Appreciation:

1. gratitude; thankful recognition: They showed their appreciation by giving him a gold watch.
2. the act of estimating the qualities of things and giving them their proper value.
3. clear perception or recognition, esp. of aesthetic quality: a course in art appreciation.
4. an increase or rise in the value of property, goods, etc.
5. critical notice; evaluation; opinion, as of a situation, person, etc.
6. a critique or written evaluation, esp. when favorable.
- source: dictionary.com

Do you think it’s strange that the themes here are: noticing, gratitude and increase in value?

What actually happens when you appreciate something?  It’s actually a mixture of all three:

You notice something, feel gratitude and as a result it increases in value…to you.

When you take time to feel appreciation for something, don’t you feel more of a connection to it after?  Does it feel more important or valuable to you the more often you feel grateful for it?

If everything we are going for is ultimately to experience a positive state and the more we focus on what we have in our life with gratitude, the more valuable it feels to us then one of the best ways in increase the value of what we have is to focus on it with gratitude.

Here’s something to try:

First, notice how you are feeling now.  Take one minute with each of the following steps:

Step 1. Focus on something you own that you love. What did it take to get it to you?  Think about everything that needed to happen for you to own it: the materials it was made from, the people who made it and shipped it, how you looked for it, or it was given to you as a gift.   What do you love about this and why?

Step 2. Focus on a relationship that means a lot to you. What are the odds of this person being in your life?  What did you go through to find this person?  What have you done to keep them in your life?  What do you love about this person?  Why do you love that about them?

Step 3. Focus on where you live. What makes this feel like home?  When you are away from home for a while, how does it feel to be back?  What do you love most about returning home and why?

Step 4. Focus on what you do for work. Why did you choose to do this?  Who does this serve?  How are you contributing to the lives of others?  What do you love about doing this?  Why do you love it?

Take note of how you feel now.  What is the difference?  Do you feel more energy or less?  Is there a feeling of lightness or heaviness?

Did you feel any discomfort in some of the areas?  If you did, you might want to evaluate your relationship with what you were appreciating when you felt it.  Does having it in your life make it better?  In what way?

We are always focusing on something.  When we focus on the best of what is around us, we appreciate those aspects and make them grow in our awareness.

Use this tool/ process anytime you want to amplify whatever is working in your life.

In Appreciation,

Paul Reimers

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