Learning the Law of Abundance

Do you believe that you live in a world filled with love, joy, creativity, compassion and goodwill? Hopefully, your answer is yes! We are indeed surrounded by the energy of all these things, it fills both the space within us and well as around us. This is the Law of Abundance - all these things are equally available to us all.

Aligning ourselves with the Law of Abundance will allow us to become one with it's energy - the only limiting factor is yourself - your mindset! If you free yourself of limiting thoughts and beliefs you will be free to enjoy abundance on all levels.

Abundance is not only material or monetary items - it is love, joy, happiness, peace, compassion and much more!

So, how do you align yourself with the the Law of Abundance?

Identify areas in your life where abundance already flows - such as a happy relationship, or the joy you feel with you dance, sing, paint, garden, etc.? Something that you love doing - that just flows freely and easily in your life.

Once, you have identified this in your life - note how easy it is to receive and experience the joy of receiving abundance in this area. There are no restrictions, no limitations - it just flows. Tune into this feeling and allow it to expand into other areas in your life.

Practice releasing the need to grasp - the old chinese proverb "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was." - this proverb highlights the importance of letting go verse continually pushing to getting something. The harder you push the further away it seems to flutter!

Allow your mind to focus on the positive attributes in your life, rather than trying to control or manipulate things that you do not have - as soon, as we let go we feel an immediate sense of relief. As soon as we experience releasing things, everything begins to flow more easily. Example: when you are in love and enjoying a positive and healthy relationship, everything seems to just fall in place.

Once, you feel that you are able to identify the feelings where your life allows abundance to flow and practice releasing the need to grasp - allow yourself to practice receiving with gratitude.

Choose an area of your life that you would like to practice receiving - possibly chooses something that is easy. Then release the need grasp at it, find the joy of allowing the energy to flow freely - do not set expectations or limitations. Just allow your mind to visualize the joy of receiving. Once the energy of abundance starts to flow - give gratitude to yourself and the Universe.

"In oneself lies the whole world and if you know how to look and learn, the door is there and the key is in your hand. Nobody on earth can give you either the key or the door to open, except yourself." - Krishnamurti

Enjoy.

Leaving Work at Work!

How many of us come home after work, and bring the stress or worries of work into your home? There is a reason why we only work for a certain amount of hours a day, then come home to relax before the next day. So, why not enjoy the time you have to recuperate and relax by yourself or with your family?

For the next week, when you come home - leave work at work! Once you walk out the building - leave that energy there it will be waiting for you when you arrive back the next day. And, maybe if you really take the time to enjoy your home and family, you will come back to work feeling more energized and willing to tackle those challenges.

When you get home - take time to eat, have a cup of tea, read a book, relax, spend time with you family and go to bed early - remember, the old adage "early to bed, early to rise - makes a man (or woman) healthy, wealthy and wise."

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." ~ Buddhist Quote

Enjoy and relax.

Selfless vs. Selfish

Inspired by a quote from the great Dalai Lama - "It’s very important not to misunderstand what is meant by the idea of overcoming our self-cherishing attitudes. We are not saying that a spiritual practitioner should completely ignore or abandon the goal of self-fulfillment, rather we are advising him or her to overcome that small-minded selfishness that makes us oblivious to the wellbeing of others and to the impact our actions can have on them."

If you have ever read translations of some ancient scripture or book on spirituality - they talk about being selfless and possibly show a picture of a Swami living in a small tent, and wrapped in cloth. And, you immediately think to become more spiritual is to give up everything and live off the love and compassion of mother earth.

Well, that may be true -- that maybe the right path for some of us. But, there is a possibility that you do not have to give up everything, there is a slight chance that you will still be able to enjoy your life with some of your comforts. This selfless path is to enjoy those comforts in a modest way, instead of succumbing to the selfish path of having having more makes me better, or having the best and newest material possessions makes me more powerful.

So, we can still enjoy our clean home and comfortable bed - but, to enjoy it modestly and know that "having more, or having the best" is not important -- is that I could live without any of that if that time came to give it up. What is the most important part of developing and nurturing your spiritual growth is to live a life without being selfish.

Now, ask yourself the question - how can I be less selfish?

Practicing "The Yamas" (the way of "right living" or ethical rules) will assist us in living a selfless life :

• Non-violence (abhimsa) - this covers not only physical violence, but also mental and emotional violence. Clear your mind of negative thoughts to yourself and others. Instead, of hoping someone to not succeed in their job, rather wish them well.
• Non-stealing (astray) - covers many areas, applied to our modern day lives think of things such as time, objects, energy, etc. So, don't be late when meeting a friend for coffee or don't take the extra 5 minutes break at work.
• Moderation (bramacharya) - anything we do in life should be done in moderation. Do you over-work, how much time do you spend with your family? Do you over-exercise? Over-indulge in food or drink? Find the right balance in your life.
• Non-Possessiveness or Non-attachment (aparagraha) - how attached are you to your possessions? Or, how attached are you to the idea of being the most powerful person in your business arena? If you are able to let go of your possessions or of an idea, it will open up more room within your life and your heart for new experiences - maybe, that experience is living a life free of stress and worry, being more peaceful within.

I have only presented 4 of "The Yamas" - as, Swami Sri Kripalvanandaji said: "Practice the yamas and niyamas ... When you pick one petal from the garland of yamas and niyamas the entire garland will follow."

Live your life selflessly.

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Namasté

Daily Insights: Rise Up and Touch the Sky

What is your morning ritual? Falling out of bed and sleep-walking yourself to the basin? Jumping out of bed and running straight to the coffee machine? Or does the screech of the alarm clock yank you out of your deep slumber? Then, for the rest of the day you zombie-walk through work or your regular routine feeling un-energized and un-motivated while counting the seconds till your head will hit the pillow again?

If this sounds like your typical morning ritual followed by a "groggy day" - maybe it's time to try something a little different? Something that will ease you into your day, awaken you from your soles to your crown, and hopefully add that extra bounce in your step throughout the day.

Once you have taken a few moments to orient yourself from your deep slumber - take a few moments to take in some deep breathes - each breath should act as a cleansing breath to revitalize the body from the core.

Now, that you are awake - it's time to reach for the sky and flow through some easy Sun Salutations, follow this easy routine:

1. Inhale - raise your arms towards the sky - allow yourself to stretch up and create length throughout your entire body.
2. Exhale - fold-forward, bringing your hands towards the floor - do not force it allow your body to ease into the flow, with each salutation your body and muscles will being to warm up and move deeper.
3. Inhale - move your right leg backward, keep your hands resting on the floor and lift your head and heart towards the sky - pause for a moment to finish your breath.
4. Move your left leg back, keeping your arms straight as if you were going to do a push-up.
5. Exhale - as you slowly lower yourself towards the ground.
6. Inhale - raise your head and expand your heart and gently arch your back (cobra or upward facing dog), your hips can rest on the ground.
7. Exhale - as you raise your hips towards the sky - creating a pyramid shape with your body (Downward facing dog), let your head hang towards the earth. Take a few breathes in Downward facing dog.
8. Inhale - as you step your right foot forward, again raise your head and heart toward the sky. Exhale as you step your left leg forward beside your right leg. Let your body fold forward and keep your hands resting on the floor or on your shins. Let your head hang as you bring your forehead towards your knees.
9. Inhale - as your rise up lifting your arms towards the sky - stretching through your arms and legs to create length in your body.
10. Exhale - as you bring your hands down towards your heart center.

Repeat 6-10 times alternating your legs.

Try do this each morning for a week - take note of your energy levels. In Ayurvedic medicine Sun Salutations are recommended for lifting ones energy.

Rise up. Enjoy boundless energy!

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.” ~ B.K.S Iyengar

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Namasté

Daily Insights: What's Your Daily Mantra?

Do you have a daily mantra? Something you repeat to yourself daily - something that makes you feel confident and positive? A mantra does not necessarily have to be a sanskrit mantra, it could be a positive affirmation, a quote or even a positive word.

The importance of the mantra is that it is positive and it encourages a peaceful and happy attitude within yourself. If you have not chosen a daily mantra - take a moment to think about what positive emotion and attitude you want in your life.

Example: If you want to be happy - try "Everyday in every way, I am happier and happier!" or, if you are working on opening yourself up to spiritual energy and enlightenment you could repeat "Om" - it is a very powerful mantra, the root of all mantra.

Make the Most of Your Mantra

1. Repeat it will feeling either out aloud or silently to yourself.
2. Write your mantra on sticky notes and paste them all over the place - next to your bed, in the book you are reading, in the refrigerator, at the front door.
3. If your daily work requires that you sit at a computer - change the screensaver or desktop to reflect your daily mantra.
4. Repetition is key.

“The mantra becomes one's staff of life and carries one through every ordeal. Each repetition has a new meaning, carrying you nearer and nearer to God.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

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Namasté