CHAPTER 1

What is Abundance?

"I come so that they may have life,and have it more abundantly"John: 10: 10

Learning to live abundantly enhances the quality of life'sjourney. The art of living a life filled with abundance is justthat—an art. It is the ability to see, feel, believe and expect abundanceand prosperity in all areas of life—financially, physically, mentally,emotionally and spiritually.

Abundance is our birthright as children of God and 'heirs to theKingdom.' Yet most of us give away that birthright; we don't layclaim to what is rightfully ours! It's like having a million dollarsin the bank, throwing away the checkbook and living in abjectpoverty.

What is abundance? Is there a generic definition that applies toeveryone? The dictionary defines it as, Plentiful, fullness, overflowing,ample sufficiency, wealth, affluence, prosperity, comfort, resources,treasure, and so on.

We could add a few more, such as health, peace of mind,happiness, friendships, love, family and spiritual fulfillment.

We are constantly surrounded and immersed in abundance. Itsurrounds us as intimately as the air we breathe. If we experience alack of abundance and prosperity, it is not because there is a lack,but because we believe there is.

What we believe we create.

That reminds me of a little 'fish-story.'

A young salmon was swimming restlessly in the Pacific.

Around and around he swam, searching everywhere upand down in the water intently looking for something.

Finally he noticed a larger fish, a mature salmon. Heapproached it and asked, "Excuse me, sir, could you tellme where I might find the ocean?"

"The ocean?" asked the older fish, "You are lookingfor the ocean? But you are swimming in it now, thisminute—totally submersed and surrounded."

"This!?" cried the young salmon, "This is only water, I'mlooking for the ocean."

He swam away disappointed, restlessly searching,unaware of being already immersed in that for which hewas searching.

The moral of this story is—there is nothing to search for.

All you need do is look.

(Adapted from—"TheSong of the Bird"—Anthony De Mello S.J.)

* * *

The logo for this book is the cornucopia; a basket overflowingwith a rich harvest. This harvest is the direct result of the planting ofseeds, of tending the garden and then reaping the reward.

What kind of seeds do you plant in your garden of life? Doyou plant what you really want to harvest? Do you give it seriousthought? Do you actually plan the garden, what to plant, when andwhere? Or is it just easier to mix everything together, good seeds,bad seeds, weed seeds and then just blindly hope for the best?

The Seeds of Today are the Flowers of Tomorrow

Thoughts are the seeds you plant in your garden of life. Everygreat accomplishment, every wonderful invention is a consequence,a direct result of someone's thought process. The thought is theparent of the act. Are your thoughts positive or negative? Both arepowerful, both are productive and both reproduce after their ownkind. A Jalapeno Pepper seed will always bring you peppers andnever artichokes no matter how much you'd rather have artichokes.

Both positive and negative thoughts are highly magnetic, and asmagnets do, attract more of the same into your life (either positive ornegative)—whether you are consciously aware of it or not.

Take custody of your thoughts and become aware of theirtremendous power of creation for good or ill!

Each of us has our unique concept of abundance, but sometimesit is so vague and hazy we don't have a clear image of it in ourmind's eye. As long as it remains in that state, it will never come tofruition. In order to create a truly prosperous life, you need to haveclear images of what that would be like and what needs to be donein order to bring those desires into reality.

A word of caution. Your desires must never interfere with thelife or desires of another. True abundance cannot really be had at theexpense of someone else. There is never a need to take from another.There is more than enough for everyone. The secret is to learn howto access it.

What are your concepts of abundance? For some it mightbe material wealth and good health; for others, happy, lovingrelationships; for still others an enriching spiritual life or all of theabove and more.

It is time for a little homework. I invite you to get in touch withyour own idea of abundance, and with the difference experiencingabundance would make in your life.

Take your time with the worksheets at the end of each chapter.In order to get the most out of this book, please do not skip any ofthe exercises. Complete them all before going on to the next chapter.They carry over and build on each other.

Allow your imagination and feelings to flow freely and be asspecific as possible. Don't just say something like. "I only want ahappier life." Specifically, what would make you happier? Whatneeds to be different? What do you have to do to create a happierlife for yourself.

And, ask yourself, "Am I willing to do what it takes?"

Visualize what that would be like for you. See it clearly in yourmind's eye, use all of your senses. Feel it, see it, hear it, touch it, andbe with it emotionally.

As you are doing these exercises, you are attracting yourabundance at this moment, right now! Through the use of yourconscious mind you begin the process of your desires movingtoward you.

Be specific and clear.Be cautious and aware.Be sure you really want what you are asking for.It will come to you!

"Ask and it shall be given unto you; search and youwill find; knock and the door will be opened unto you."(Matthew 7:7)

Worksheet #1

In the space below, write your own definition of abundance.

TO ME ABUNDANCE IS ...

Worksheet #2

(Please read the entire sheet before answering)

A) What area of my life would I change first in order to feel that lifeis more abundant?

B) What do I need to do to create this change? (Be specific)

C) What would this abundance look and feel like?

(Get a clear mental picture of it—use all of your senses)

1) If you could see it—what color is it?__________________

2) If you could taste it—what would it taste like?____________

3) If you could hear it—what is its sound? ____________

4) If you could smell it—what is its scent?________________

5) If you could feel it—what is its texture? _________________

Example: If your life of abundance would include a homeby the sea, would the color be blue; the smell—salt air; thesound—seagulls squawking; the feel—sand between your toes,etc?

D) Describe how life would be different. "What would it be likeif ..."

Worksheet #3

In order to clarify your concept of abundance for yourself, drawand/or color a picture, image or symbol, which would clearly expressthis concept for you. Please do not skip this exercise; you will beusing this image again as you work through this book.

For me, a 'Life of Abundance' would look like ...

CHAPTER 2

What We Believe, We Become

Whatever we can conceive...