When people think about abundance and how they might create it in their own lives, they often think abundance is about money. I know I did. As of that, I can see why others might think I'm being selfish.
After all, I do have a job, a car, a house, and enough groceries to do for a week or so. How can I ask for more when there are starving children, displaced populations, and homeless veterans?
Well, the answer is simple: If I have more, I can give more.
In my hometown, I'm directly involved in a charity organization, which provides help in form of clothes to Eastern Europe. For me being able to give all the clothes that I, my family and friends don't use anymore, to someone less fortunate, gives me a satisfaction I can't measure in money.
Let's talk about the money for a moment too. Say I usually give $500 a year to charity. Or maybe put $20 in the collection plate at church. Maybe I let the local high school band members wash my car for $10. Now imagine if I could multiply all these gifts by 100 and give to a dozen more worthy causes as well. Imagine if I would be able to create my own charity to help whatever problem I see in my community and being able to endow it with $50,000 in start-up money.
With abundance flowing into my life, I'll have more time and energy to devote to my favorite causes (because I don't have to worry about bills and obligations). It's what's called a win-win solution. I have more to give, so I give more, and those in need benefit directly from my abundance.
If I suddenly would receive a million dollars, should I worry that I'll run off to Bali and forget all about the starving children? Or the homeless man on the corner of my street?
I don't think so.
As I write this post, I'm sitting on a deck in a small town called Subotica in Serbia. I'm here on a kind of work-related holiday. And I feel relaxed and abundant. And most of all thankful. This is my view:
Image property: Cecilie Aslaksen
To me this is not just another church tower, it symbolizes what I'm reaching for. Some say it's lonely at the top, or that it's a long way down when I'm falling. But I'm going to hold on tight, and help all those people that helped me get there. That way, others will join me. And together we stand stronger.
I'm thankful for being able to do this trip, meet interesting people, eat good food, just relax and most of all feeling alive and well. I'm thankful for being able to make shifts of money in this economy, which again will help the people here get a better life for themselves.
By involving myself in the worlds economy, both by shopping in foreign, poor, countries, and by engaging myself in both national and international charity, I truly believe I have everything I need. I have the opportunity to provide for my own family, as well as help others get a better life. I absolutely live my life in abundance.
Wanna live in abundance yourself? Well, stop having limited thoughts.
Abundance, to me, is a way of living, not something you own or have. It's about who I am as a person, what values I have. And most of all it's about being thankful for the things and benefits I have, and the life I'm living.
It's not selfish to wanna live my life in abundance, it becomes selfish when I don't wanna do what it takes to reach that level. There are so many less fortunate people, who is relying on me to reach my full potential.