“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.” Wayne Dyer
My word for 2019 is ABUNDANCE. I like the definition of abundance that says, “overflowing fullness.”
The psalmist writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Jesus follows this by saying, “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have life more abundantly.”
As my kids and I made our vision boards for this year, I thought about what it means to live in abundance. Does this mean I just want more work, more money, more “things”, more influence, more sleep and more dessert? Yes. Maybe. And No.
For me, I view living abundantly as a mindful practice to live life through the lens of abundance vs living life through the lens of scarcity. This practice is deeply rooted in my faith tradition.
Walter Brueggemann describes the Christian faith as a subversive way of living in the world. In his book, Deep Memory exuberant Hope: Contested Truth in a Post-Christian World, Brueggemann wrote a chapter titled, “The Liturgy of Abundance, the Myth of Scarcity.” It has been a long time since I read this book, but I remember being shocked by all the ways I am made to feel that love, resources, work, money, etc. are scarce and only the fastest, strongest, most confident will have what they need. Don’t get me wrong competition is good and healthy when the heart is connected to the idea of abundance because it calls each of us to offer our best selves to the world. The opportunity is also there to cross over into unhealthy competition when we believe the things we need are scarce. This scarcity mindset breeds distrust, jealously, and anxiety.
The beauty found in the Christian sacred text is the reminder to live life through the lens of abundance. The scripture calls us to see God, the world, ourselves, each other as offering and receiving an abundance.
Here is how I change my mind to change my brain using the theme of ABUNDANCE.
1-When I am scared that I won’t sleep well or wake up in the night and look at the clock (rooted in scarcity), I will say, “I have an abundance of time to sleep.”
2-When I am putting my resume out for jobs over and over again which can lead to scarcity mindset, I will say, “There is an abundance of work for me.”
3-When I am feeling unloved or unappreciated or I see someone take something I really wanted, I will say, “The world overflows with love for me.”
4-When I create an event instead of worrying (scarcity leads to anxiety), I will say “My people know my name.”
I will say these until my inner dialogue changes to see the world through this lens. Adopting a new lens is not easy, so plan small steps and celebrate the journey!
How can you turn your inner dialogue from scarcity mentality to living abundantly in 2019?
May we be able to honor ourselves, be who we are I in the world, and express that power without fear.
See you next Tuesday!
Amber Mattingly 