The weather forecast for this weekend is all about abundance. Of snow. Which conjures Abundance’s evil twin, Scarcity: scarcity of groceries, transportation, and brawn to shovel the walks.
When I walked the dog today, I was warm because my sister Deb, who travels to Sweden, taught me that there’s no such thing as “bad weather” — just “bad clothing.” She doled out this tidbit of sisterly wisdom on a cold winter day in Cape May, as we prepared for Christmas. The wind was bitter and I was chilled to the bone, but she was impervious in her arctic-weather attire.
Soon afterwards, I bought the coat that kept me warm today. Rather than a fashion statement, it resembles a sleeping bag. But I’ll be cozy this weekend whenever I venture out to admire the abundance of glistening white snow covering trashcans and walkways, bird feeders and porch furniture. I’ll be ensconced in an abundance of down feathers, grateful for my sister’s good advice and her model of self-care that woke me up so I could break the habit of cursing cold weather.
For the 6th step of the Mother-Daughter Way, we explore how mothers and daughters form and influence each other’s attitudes toward abundance. Ask yourself: How often did you discuss money? How did you define luxury? Did you judge yourself or each other for the way money was earned, spent, saved, or lost in your family? Did either of you ever run a business?
I recall my mother’s attitude toward financial matters was private and careful. We weren’t supposed to talk about money. That was my father’s domain. As a young girl, it bothered me that my mother had no power over this important, if mysterious, foundation of the household. From my point of view, she worked constantly to keep the place humming, while Dad got all dressed up and went out the door each morning. Hence, at the tender age of 7, I started thinking up ways to make sure that I was in charge. It’s my theory that, although she scolded me, my mother was all for it. She saved the worksheet I used to allocate jobs for a neighborhood Pet Show. In my childish hand I was the only one with a full name, and I gave myself the job of “money taker.” We made peanut butter cookies and lemonade to sell to the neighbors. I’m sure our prices were competitive because I was too young to buy the ingredients, or think about “cost of goods sold.” I was not learning business, I was learning theatre — the theatre of children acting like grown ups and taking on roles that they emulate. I loved pets, I loved to bake, and I wanted to be a “money taker.” I wanted to be in charge and call the shots.
To claim your abundance, there are 3 important steps:
1) Identify what you want — what is it that you love?
2) Pay attention to how you’re investing your resources.
3) Count every effort, no matter how small, including learning and experience.
Each tiny effort, each baby step, adds to the foundation of confidence and the experience of abundance. Pamper yourself with a small gift this weekend. For me, a walk in the snow is a glorious indulgence.
Another way to rack up your small wins is by practicing gratitude and counting blessings. Name one thing you are grateful for today. Write it down so it will expand and imprint on your consciousness. In my yoga practice, I’ll spend time on Tadasana to balance the root chakra, which is associated with security, and open the crown, which allows awakening to the bounty of the universe. The warm coat. The beautiful blanket of snow.
There are 2 keys to unlock your abundance: the elemental and the spiritual. Begin with the mechanics of money and security, then open to the blessings from whatever far-flung place they may come. That’s how I tap into the excitement of life and the sense of abundance that pops me out of bed every morning.
Whether it’s a pet show, or a project meeting, when I choose to stand firmly in my place on earth and draw the elemental energy up through the soles of my feet, align my spine and open my crown, abundance bubbles up. A practice of abundance nurtures heart-centered success and creates a legacy worth working toward.
Blessings,
