I meditate every morning, and one of my favorite mantras is from Deepak Chopra and it goes like this, "Today I behold all the abundance that surrounds me."
This came from one of Deepak Chopra and Opera's 21-day meditation challenges.
It makes me remember that there are treasures all around us, such as flowers, trees, nature, wildlife and water. These things are totally free, they're yours just for the asking and even on the worst day, they make me smile.
Many of us think of wealth solely in financial and materialistic terms, but I believe that everything feeds us, whether or not it's on our plates -- and it's proven every day. Many of my clients come to me initially with eating issues, such as uncontrollable cravings or stubborn weight gain, only to discover that the root problem is something like low self-esteem, lack of confidence, fear, chronic stress or time management issues -- and that affects how they eat and live.
Just as there are many kinds of well-being -- physical, emotional, spiritual, community, career, financial and more -- there are many kinds of fortune. True abundance, says Deepak Chopra, is when you experience "joy, health, happiness, sense of purpose and vitality."
In short, you can have a lot of money and still be poor.
Here are six things you can do right now to planting those seeds. It'll come back in so many ways, affecting how you eat and live.
•Practice gratitude. There's always at least one redeeming quality in even the worst day. Keep a list of everything for which you are grateful -- and then go even further by writing a thank you note to the universe for bringing it to you.
•Be mindful that the tiniest thing can bring big gains. Last week a friend told me that as she walked down a Brooklyn street she got a whiff of someone's perfume. That brought back some very sweet memories of her first teenage crush at a summer camp. It made her feel happy all day long.
•Reconnect with an old friend. It's easier than ever these days, what with the Internet and sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. It gives you a chance to reminisce about the good, inform each other about lessons learned and "complete your story."
•Practice self-care. Don't underestimate this, even for a second. Take some time out to play with your kids, friends or pets -- and don't be afraid to roll around on the floor and get silly. Having a really tough day at the office? Take a few moments, close your door, turn off the computer, breathe and stretch. You'll be much more productive in the long term.
•Perform a random act of kindness. One day I had the worst day ever. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not raise my vibration. Business coaches call this "reaching the upper limit," when you experience intense growth and challenge. At that time, I commuted into Manhattan and passed by the same homeless woman every day. On my "upper limit" day I bought her lunch -- this very interesting and smart, but down-on-her-luck woman -- and I had a wonderful chat. I learned from her, to stop focusing on my own worries and issues, and it made me feel good to know that, on that day, I contributed to the fight to end hunger.
•Change your frame of thinking. It's usually not that things are being done TO you but, rather, FOR you. You just may not see it right away, so remember it.
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