Welcome Abundance!

Autumn is here! Crisp apples. Crisper air. Shorter days. Longer pants. At this turn of the wheel, our lives and spirits begin to turn inside. We shore up our riches and get ready for the long expanse of winter. And before it comes, we celebrate the abundance of the earth and our lives.

In the seasonal spirit of joyful sharing, here are my personal abundance practices. I'd love to hear yours.

Abundance Practices

1. Create a Gratitude Journal

I have been keeping a gratitude journal for years. At first I listed things about the world I was thankful for, like cold orange juice and baby's toes. Then I started writing 5 things I was thankful for each day before I went to bed, a beautiful ritual for closing the day.

2. Show appreciation.

Let people know they make a difference. We don't hear this nearly enough. Never miss an opportunity to say thank you. It's a way of connecting with others and with the Universe. Thanking the Universe throughout the day can really open your eyes to blessings, from the colour of the sky to a particularly good cup of coffee to getting a seat on a crowded subway.

3. Thank Yourself Too!

When was the last time you thanked yourself? It is so important to acknowledge the role you play in making your life, the lives of others and the world a wonderful place to be. When you say, "I am grateful I got this new job," add "I am so thankful I found the courage to apply, that I put together a kick-butt resume and that I took that course on Desktop Publishing!"

4. Be Willing to Receive

It took me a while to understand this one. I used to have a limiting belief about how much it was okay for me to receive, like I was entitled to "my share" and no more and I was responsible for not taking too much.

Then it suddenly struck me - what if the Universe actually wants to give me more? What if the Universe is sitting there waiting to give me gifts, excited to share all that she has to offer, and here I am saying, "Um, I'll take 5 gifts. That's it. No more. I don't want to be greedy." And there she is, joyfully showing up with armloads just for me, and I'm not willing to receive it. How sad!!

I have stopped putting limits on what I am willing to receive. What's the value in that? The Universe and I talked about it. I let her know that I am deeply grateful for everything she has brought me and I'm also filled with joy and anticipation about what she's going to bring to me next. She and I are both delighted! Every day feels like Christmas!

In this season of abundance, may you celebrate all you are thankful for, take the time to love yourself up with thanks for what you've contributed and created and may you be willing to receive all the abundance the Universe is aching to share with you.

Blessed Be.