4 Steps To Enrich Your Life

"Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot.
In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you."
Oscar Wilde

Education may have taught you to get the right qualifications, a good job and then you would enjoy the benefits of a comfortable life, doing what you want to do - happy with the people around you. That was not the way my life unfolded. So what if there were another way? What if Have, Do, Be could be reversed to Be, Do, Have. The "having" becomes a lesser priority.

Life experiences have taught me that being true to, and at peace with, myself is where I start. Then happiness in relationships and success in my vocation come more naturally as an outcome.

There are those, and I am one, who hold the view that we are spiritual beings having a human experience. I find that the human spirit we each are is truly remarkable, How can you activate your spirit and engage with life in ways that are more enriching, rewarding and fulfilling?

The Science of Getting Rich was written by Wallace D Wattles in the 19th Century. The approach he offers applies to receiving material wealth. However, it can be applied equally well to any aspect of your health, wealth (well-being) and happiness.

"To receive, you must be active, Keep in mind your purpose. You will receive in direction proportion to: Your clarity of vision Your definiteness of purpose The steadiness of your faith The depth of your gratitude"

If you have not already read it, I recommend Russell Bishop's last post when he poses the question: What do you want out of life, really?

You could apply the answer you receive to these 4 steps:

1. CLARITY OF VISION

Envisage yourself experiencing what you really want for yourself. More fulfilment in an important relationship? A vocation that is true to you? Peace of mind, effective communications with co-workers, healthier patterns of eating, sleeping or exercise?

See yourself in the picture. Feel, hear, touch and taste what that would be like for you. Take some quiet time to contemplate the richness of your vision.

You might like to write it down, record it or go for a walk and allow the vision to become clearer for you. Ask to be shown more details in your dreams. Be open to the ways you may be guided in your vision and how you can realize it.

2. DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE

Ask yourself the question: Why? Why is your vision important and meaningful for you? How will it be serving yourself, others? Knowing your purpose will help to keep you on track amid all the distractions that life can throw your way.

Your purpose is like a light on your path, to guide you and keep you moving along it.

"Wealth is the ability to fully experience life."
Henry David Thoreau

3. STEADINESS OF FAITH

Act as if the purpose were being fulfilled; you are already enjoying living in the vision. Acting "as if" gives a way to overcome doubt. You may find yourself drawing on your reserves of courage, and in the process experience greater vitality and freedom than you have ever known.

Commenting recently, fellow blogger Kari Henley demonstrates how she took action with faith:

"Yet, when I decided to leave an unhappy marriage, pregnant with a toddler in tow, no money and no family nearby, I acted on sheer faith. I trusted that inner voice that was screaming, "It will be OK- just do it." And, one miracle after another fell into my lap. I followed the "synchronicities" as my guide I was on the right path. When I get that tingle on my arms, and lurch in my stomach, I know it is a sign."

"Faith is a passionate intuition."
William Wordsworth

4. DEPTH OF YOUR GRATITUDE

Education in life is about understanding. Training is about putting what you know into practice. I have known for a while that being grateful is a "good thing". How can you make being grateful a way of being?

For the past several months, I have been writing at least 5 gratitude statements in my journal each evening. Being grateful for what I have seems to attract to me more to be grateful for.

I am even grateful for when things do not go my way because I am learning to assume that everything is working out for the best. It is amazing how that seems to happen. Gratitude is a great attitude.

Commenting last week, this person illustrates gratitude:

"Gratitude in God is powerfully healing, and I mean that in a genuine sense. 31 years ago I got in a motorcycle accident and ended up walking with a limp for a few weeks. While thanking God for allowing me to continue to walk, thinking if limping was the worst that came out the accident rather than having a leg amputated or mutilated - I could handle it and was thankful. While deep in that thought I remember taking one extra step and was no longer limping. I was totally healed. God is indeed power . BTW, I DON'T GO TO CHURCH or belong to an organized religion."

"Abundance through Spirit is available to all.
Spirit is a constantly expansive, available energy that is dynamically present.
It is up to each individual to keep the 'well' or channel open
to receive of the blessings of abundance."
John-Roger

The Science of Getting Rich is freely available on the internet. If you would like a pdf copy, please contact me at the address below.

What does enrichment mean for you? What are some of the ways your enrich yourself? Have you recently found a new purpose for fulfilling your life? I would love to hear from you!

Please feel free to comment below, or contact me at [e-mail].

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Follow Anne Naylor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Anne4Joy

Comments

[Dr. Cara Barker - Huffpost Blogger]

Sweet Anne,

Your blog couldn't be more timely! We are here on the island for our holiday. And, that said, we are betwixt and between a really major life decision. The words you write bring me back to the one most important theme for me: gratitude. When I start with gratitude for what's before me, then everything else falls into place, including the 'what do you want.'

Over the years in private practice, public trainings and being a leader's confidante, I find that we may think we know what we want, and yet.......­..........­..........­.. What seems to take us a drift is the fact that we believe what we want is 'out there,' which sets up a sort of chicken scratching in the barnyard, and degree of anxiety. Noticing what I'm grateful for, right here and right now, has a marvelous way of reconnecting with what's central to my soul.

Love and blessings your way, dear Anne,
Cara

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dearest Cara,

I so appreciate your comment and your insight. Gratitude is certainly quite "magical" I find. I love your image of the chicken scratching in the barnyard, when we are living in a certain paradise, inwardly that is to say.

You have/are a beautiful soul - being connected again to what is central to your soul sounds like a wonderful place to be.

With great love and good wishes for the choices you are now making,
Anne

[LifeChangeStartsNow]

HuffPost's Pick

Ann Naylor, what a wonderful, rich, filling post; like a succulent buffet set on the table, with good friends bustling around laughing and happy, and everybody nice and toasty on a frigid winter day.

I never considered faith as an aspect worth my attention until this year. Throughout most of my adult life, I decided what I wanted, and just ploughed on through and got it. But that changed in the past year when I started questioning everything, left my job of 17 years and started travelling more.

On my return to Geneva nothing was right and I was all wrong or vice versa. I couldn't tell anymore! It's only when I hooked up with Jack Canfield's mentoring programme earlier this year, in which one of his lessons was devoted to "Act As If" that I had an AHA! moment and understood where faith fit in.

It was very, very hard to trust in the universe and let go and have faith. it took 8 months of constant failure to persuade me to change my mindset. I still don't care for the word faith as such, too close to religion but ... life is grand, life is great even with all the stuff on my plate. That acting as if works.

Thanks again for your post.

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear LifeChange­StartsNow,

What a great name! And thank you for your enthusiastic comment.

As much as possible, I like to find ordinary ways of describing "spiritual" or "religious" principles, as I also like to present "wealth" in simple terms. Money and religion can be so charged with emotion that it is easy to miss the value of the basic ideas that can lead to us enjoying happier and more fulfilling lives.

I am delighted that you are finding so much joy in discovering how 'acting as if' works for you!

With love and blessings,
Anne

[Kari Henley - Huffpost Blogger]

HI Anne!
I am back from a weekend away, and just now having some time to catch up on my FAVORITE reading!
Thank you So much for sharing my comment to Russell in this piece. I feel honored.

I think your piece this week is right on. I still find that keeping that clarity of vision can be challenging... remembering that we are here for a reason, life's lessons teach us many things, but if we do not remember the 'big picture' the full impact is lost on us.

Today I was reminded of the importance of being present with the ones we love, by spending time frolicking in our lake with my kids. Being a chicken, I do not get in until it is like pee water., and today was a scorcher. As my youngest daughter was playing a game chasing me under the water, she popped her head up, dripping like a seal, and with sparkly eyes said, "See Mom, now you remember what it is like to be a kid again!"
The wisdom of a six year old. They are my teachers.
You are my teacher too!
Blessings to you!!!!!!!!!!
Kari

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Hello Kari,

Thank you so much for your comment and adding to the discussion. I love the image of playing in the water with your youngest daughter. There is such sweet wisdom in her innocence.

I agree with what you say about the importance of the big picture. But then I think we need to go out and play like kids, enjoying what each moment brings to us. I have found that the larger picture gets delivered to me as I focus and act on what is present right now.

The whole journey is an amazing learning experience. Loving the process as it unfolds has a way of enriching me. Thank you for your presence on my journey!

With much love and blessings to you,
Anne

[Dr. Judith Rich - Huffpost Blogger]

HuffPost's Pick

Hello Beautiful Anne,

I love everything you suggest in this post, but the most powerful one for me is to express gratitude. I read somewhere a long time ago that gratitude is the state that opens us to even more abundance and to express gratitude in advance for those things or conditions we don't yet have that we desire.

So I'm in a continuous gratitude prayer for all the goodness that already is and is on its way. It's impossible to feel anything other than joy while in a state of gratitude. To me, that's a pretty rich life!

I'm grateful for you and for the gift of what you share with us each week. You enrich us all.

Much love,
Judith

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dearest Judith,

Thank you very much for dropping by with your words of wisdom. I so agree with you about gratitude - it has been said that the only prayer is thank you! Gratitude and joy definitely go together in my experience.

I also love "appreciate" because it speaks to me of adding value. In a sense I see that is what we are here to do through the giving of our gifts and talents, understanding and love. We serve to increase.

You are a wonder in this miraculous world of ours.

With love and blessings to you,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

HuffPost's Pick

Anne this is another thoughtful and provocative blog

I love, "Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot.
In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you."
Oscar Wilde

My life is enriched with new cyber friend like:

Janice, Eli, Alana, Jason, Kari, Russell, Tara, Kari, Judith, Cara, Sara and YOU*

Meditation is infinitely enriching along with skiing (my passion)..writing books, blogging for HuffPo and being part of the whole brilliant HP community. As well as Care2.com and Intent.com.

My life has been enriched by my beloved wife and friend Deb and my blessed friends Robert Thurman and HH the Dalai Lama who wrote the forewords to our new book. Also Byron Katie, Mark Matousek, Gangaji, Ellen Burstyn, Marianne Williamson, Dean Ornish, Jean Housten, Joan Halifax, Jane Fonda, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Sylvia Boorstein and all the other luminous individuals who have contributed to:

BE THE CHANGE
How Meditation Can Transform You and the World

I offer my humble thanks to all those who have enriched my/our life!

All Love,

Ed

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Ed

Thank you for sharing the blessings that you enjoy - and the blessings that you are.

Your friendship is a treasure.

I appreciate the kindness that you shower over those you care for.

With best love,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Youa re kind*

[Jason Mannino - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for another incredibly appropriate, timely article. These are words to live by as of right now!

Light and love!
Jason

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Hello Jason,

I appreciate your rich presence here

With love and blessings to you,
Anne

[Eli Davidson - Huffpost Blogger]

As a speaker and executive coach I find that this is a simple recipe for success. "To receive, you must be active, Keep in mind your purpose. You will receive in direction proportion to: Your clarity of vision Your definiteness of purpose The steadiness of your faith The depth of your gratitude"

To receive, you must be active.
What are you doing today to make your goal a reality?

Keep in mind your purpose.
How does this goal serve a greater good?

You will receive in direction proportion to:
Your clarity of vision
Do you see, touch and feel this goal?

Your clarity of vision-Is it 50% believable? Can you see yourself 100% having already achieving it?
Your definiteness of purpose- How will this benefit the world as well as yourself?
The steadiness of your faith- Are you willing to keep going and overcome setbacks?
The depth of your gratitude- Are you grateful for everything you already have?

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you Eli for amplifying these points! You have a gift to hone in to that which can make the difference, here and I appreciate in many other circumstances.

You are a blessing!

With loving and Light,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Eli ROCKS!

[truthartbeauty]

the sense of gratitude does NOT require you to check your brain at the door and believe in imaginary gods. gratitude, like morality, needs no religion to exist.

[Anne Naylor - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear truthartbeauty

Thank you very much for your comment and wise words. Gratitude to me seems a natural law, like gravity. Gravity just is. Gratitude we need to activate, and through it we get to receive more fully who we are and what our world is really about.

With love and blessings to you,
Anne

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

gratitude is a gift that each person can decide what it is for themselves. It is vast in meaning.

It is a glorious expression of the heart. Best to leave the mind behind.

come out of your mind and into your heart. Is a book we wrote.

Life is a * gift *

Ed