Prosperity and Gratitude

…You have fallen asleep by the edge of a lake
And now you are thirsty.
You sit on top of a treasure
Yet in utter poverty you will die.
Rumi

How often have you been so preoccupied with the current need or desire that you haven’t paid any attention to all that you possess right now? In working toward a prosperity goal it is important not to loose sight of the many wonderful things you have in your life right now. Prosperity is strengthened through the simple energy of gratitude. It is similar to watering and fertilizing your garden. Initially, you may not see the results but as you continue to use this process of gratitude, you will be the witness to a garden full of healthy plants in radiant bloom. Living a life of prosperity is nurtured in same way. All you need are the tools.

So what tools are needed in order to grow a prosperity garden? Desire, motivation, focused-attention, creativity, patience and gratitude are successful tools that can be used throughout your life. Desire is crucial to starting the engine of prosperity. As long as the desire supports the good of all mankind it doesn’t matter the specifics the desire. The only thing that has been standing in the way of experiencing more prosperity in your life is your belief that it has somehow eluded you. Well it hasn’t, but if you have been looking for it outside of yourself, you won’t find it there. Your prosperity comes from the same source as your desire to have it…in your mind. It doesn’t reside where you work, or your clients, or your worth/or lack of worth. Where you will find it is within you.

Cherish that which is within you, and shut off that which is without.
Chuang-tzu

Motivation is the act of preparing the ground in your garden. Aerating the soil, clearing it of any debris that will inhibit its growth, and raking the soil to ensure good water absorption are necessary in establishing a motivational framework for your garden. This tool is called forgiveness, a willingness to let go of old and unserving thoughts.

Creativity begins to shape your intention of prosperity into a form that is uniquely “you”. Plant your seeds in rich, fertile soil (positive and self-affirming thoughts). Put in seeds that reflect the beauty and perfection that you are. Put in young plants that will reseed themselves, so that your garden of prosperity begins to become self-replenishing. Dare to dream outside of the box and allow yourself to expand and unfold into a new you.

Once the seeds are planted, water with gratitude. Feed the garden with affirmations, songs, thoughts and prayers that affirm your new directions. Watch for any weeds that may come up and deprive your garden of needed nourishments (negative, self-defeating thoughts). Weeding and pruning those thoughts diligently is one of the keys to a successful garden.

Another key for a successful garden is to stay in the present moment. So often when we have a desire, the moment the desire is in place we stop being present for its’ manifestation. Manifestation can only happen where we are… in the present moment. When we allow our mind to being to flip back and forth between the “when” (past) and the “then” (future) we interfere with manifestation of our desire. When present, we are at home to receive the form of the desire made manifest.

Now comes the difficult part…patience. It will take time for the seeds to take root and anchor deeply in the soil of your mind. It is important to remember that on the surface nothing may look different. But at a deeper level those seeds are germinating and working their way to the surface to produce the awesome results that you are working towards. In the meantime occupy yourself with making sure that your garden is clear of the weeds. Continue to give your seeded garden plenty of water. Give thanks for not only what you have planted but for the potential held within each seed to develop into their perfect form.