Happy New Year!  I wanted to start this year with an inspiring post and hope in my humble way you can invite more money and magic into your life in 2016.

Money is a tremendous source of growth, learning, and expansion. Your relationship to money is what determines how much you have and the fulfillment you feel.

One of the biggest things I learned over the past two years that has aided my transformation and growth process is to look at money with a deep new sense of playfulness, lightness, and lots of love.

Let Magic and Miracles Drop into Your Life

But I wasn’t always this way.  If you were like me, you grew up with specific beliefs surrounding money.  My parents had a lack conscious and as a result, I grew up with fear attached to my money beliefs.

I also feel this has to do with being raised Indian.  I have noticed in my community that though we are very successful professionally and financially, there is still a lack attitude prevalent. As if there isn’t enough food or money to go around for everyone.  Due to this conditioning, I’ve consciously done work around shifting this mindset and embracing a more prosperous one.

Since starting this journey around transforming my attitude around money, I have noticed more money and greater opportunities flow my way.  I feel thankful and blessed for them and this has definitely given me a fresh perspective on having desires and possessing large amounts of money.  Having said that, I am 29 years old now and spent the majority of life in deep seated lack beliefs, so I am a work in progress and am taking the time to practice these beautiful learnings daily.

Have a Playful, Light Attitude and Mindset with Money

Often times, people look at their bank accounts and money with fear and dread.  They become nervous just opening their bank account online or going to the bank.

I was one of those people.  And why wouldn’t I?  We are constantly taught there is not enough not only by our families and communities, but by the world at large.

+ Do this: If you have cash in your wallet, open it and look at the cash bills.  Touch and feel it with love and appreciation.  Or pull up your bank account online and feel deep gratitude for all that money is doing for you (regardless of the amount).  This may sound strange to you at first, but it will help you to shift the energy and get the ball rolling on getting over your money fears.

Remember money is ultimately energy and just like anything in life, the more attention, care, and love, you give to something, the more it will blossom.

Express thanks when you pay your Internet or electricity bill.  Acknowledge all that money is doing for you.  When you think about it, there is already an abundant supply of money in your life, you just have to become conscious of it.

Create Space and Simplify

If you want something beautiful and majestic to enter your life, you must make space for it.  This is true for a meaningful relationship, career, or anything.  But how do you make space?

Look at your bills and the flow of money with a fresh set of eyes.  Really look at where the money is going and coming.  Understand the flow.  If there are things you are spending money (aka energy) on that are not necessary, then you can do away with it.

+ Do this: Simplify your financial affairs and expend energy where you feel the most love and excitement.  

Allow a New Energy to Rise Up

This is tied to creating space.   Fresh opportunities and abundance want to come your way, but you might be holding onto thoughts, beliefs, people, and things that no longer serve any good for you. So how will new opportunities come your way?  You must clear space in your life so they can drop into your life.

But you may be confused on how and where to create space in your life. One way to do this is to pay close attention to your energy and the energy surrounding you. Do you notice your energy shifting around something or someone? This feeling might unsettle you and make you feel deeply uncomfortable. Don’t push these feelings away, instead soak yourself in the feeling. Feel comfortable in feeling the discomfort.

When I feel this way, I usually feel less inspired and enthusiastic. Now that I have greater understanding, I realize this is because some new events are unfolding in my life. Something new is about to drop into my life. I practice being grounded in the present and try to not let my fear-driven ego and mind get in the way.

+ Do this: It will feel like things are falling apart in your life. Let it. Practice sacred surrender. Get in the habit of practicing being a compassionate detached observer of your own mind and life.

When you let the energy shift and you don’t force yourself to become motivated to do something, you will notice how life is guiding you moment by moment toward what is for your highest good, including new money and opportunities to drop in.

Send Notes to the Universe

I learned this enchanting practice from Vienda Marie. I follow her work and read her wisdom-filled posts daily.

+ Do this: Write notes daily (or whenever your heart desires) to the Universe.  State what you desire, am thankful for in your life, and what your desire would look like if it is existed in the current present reality.

It felt awkward to do this at first, but slowly I got the hang of it, and fell in love with the practice. I often sent these notes (via email) right before I fell asleep while listening to some calming meditation music or some kind of prayer music. Tears fell and I could literally feel the love and gratitude in my heart as if my desires manifested that very moment.

Yes, my desires have actualized, but it was more than that and never in the way I expected. More importantly, it put me in the space of deep gratitude so I could receive my desire and miracle from the Universe with an open heart.

The truth is that there is no past or future.  Time is an illusion as only the present moment exists.  Your desire calls you because it already exists somewhere in the time continuum already and it is calling you for a specific reason(s).  The manifestation of your desires require turning inwards and taking you on a journey that helps you to grow and expand in ways you never imagined.

Here is more information on exactly how to write these notes:

http://viendamaria.com/2013/12/manifesting-101-gypset-style-how-write-notes-universe/

Take Action from a State of Love & Abundance

When you want more money and magic to enter your life, you will typically get into action mode.  We are conditioned to create a to-do list and get started immediately. All my life I have been such a doer that I have rarely shown myself compassion nor paid attention to my energy and feelings at the moment. This is the way we are taught at work and school.  You are taught there is a start line and you race forward frantically to reach the finish line.

When you are accustomed to this type of action-driven frenzy, you will feel impatient and nervous.  This means you are not taking action from a place of love, but instead from a place of inner fear.

We don’t realize that although taking concrete action is important to actualize desires, the process is way more effective and filled with ease and flow, if you first work on your energy.

Because when you align your energy with that of your desire, you will take the right inspired actions and let the process unfold in its own magical way it is meant to.

+ Do this:  Get yourself in the right space of mind and being by raising your energetic vibration to a higher level.  You can do this by taking deep breaths to relax the body and mind and going back to basics (creativity, writing, painting, journaling, meditation, etc.) that bring you to a deep loving inner space. 

Once you have connected to that point of stillness, take actions towards actualizing your desire.  And then let go any attachment to the outcome and surrender it to the Universe. Watch the magic unfold!

Write and Say Affirmations

I have a bank of handy affirmations I turn to for moving into a space of love and stillness.  I feel that affirmations are misunderstood.  Most people, including myself at one time, feel that by saying affirmations over and over, your external world changes dramatically.  The purpose of affirmations is to change you from the inside out.  It is about drawing attention to your energetic vibration and your feelings and beliefs so you can change the belief systems you are holding in your subconscious.

An affirmation I have been saying recently a lot and that I write twenty-five times every couple days is:

I happily receive large sums of money.

I have learned a lot about the practice of affirmations to change your subconscious from Marilyn Jenett whose book I recently purchased to dive deeper into my wealth consciousness.

Here is the link to her book if you are interested in learning more: http://feelfreetoprosperbook.com/

+ Do this: You may feel some resistance initially as this is challenging your belief system, but keep writing it because you want to clear your lack beliefs and have them replaced by beliefs that are supportive to you.  As you write them more, you will notice subtle changes in your thought patterns.  Over time, these subtle shifts will turn into radical changes.

Tend to Your Bank of Inner Guidance & Intuition

Have you been afraid to open up your bank account?  Or does your body start to buzz with nervousness as you make a trip to the bank?  Realize this does not have to be the case.  You might be thinking, well, that is all nice and wonderful for you to say, but it is not reality.  You might feel you need a million bucks in your bank account to feel comfortable with money.

Here is what Jim Carrey said: “I hope everybody could get rich and famous and have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know that it’s not the answer.”  True abundance lies within you and you must first access that precious connection within yourself because that is the key to feeling peaceful and happy.  It means letting go of a unhealthy attachment to circumstances, people, and things and instead letting yourself play with a childlike wonder in this physical world.

+ Do this: Send love to your bank accounts.  Sign your checks with lots of love.  Start to see abundance in your life. Notice friends in happy, loving relationships. Give thanks for the loving friends and family in your life.  Be grateful for the job you have even if it is not your ideal position.

By acknowledging the beauty in your life at the present moment, you will be sending a powerful magnetic vibration to the Universe that will start to drop in opportunities and people into your life that align with your new high vibration. 

True abundance is a state of being and you will find this will allow you to sharpen your intuition which is fundamental in helping you to take the right actions towards your desires.

Consider Working with a Coach or Professional to Shift Your Mindset

Two years ago, I realized that I had to seek outside help to shift my mindset.  I wasn’t sure what I was doing and this required dropping my ego to get the help I needed to live the life I wanted.  I knew I could not turn to my family or friends no matter how much I loved them because truthfully I saw the same patterns of fear and lack being played out in them.

My soulful journey started with getting the Feel Free to Prosper program with renowned prosperity teacher and mentor Marilyn Jenett.  I did her program religiously and I noticed tremendous shifts in my mindset that ultimately resulted in more money and opportunities dropping into my life.

I am grateful for this, but I am more thankful that it created a long-lasting shift in my belief system that has allowed me to receive abundance openly.  I realized I had to get of my own way. 

Do this: There are many wonderful coaches and professional in the world.  Do a quick search online and find the right one for yourself to aid you in your transformation journey.

Here are some links to amazing coaches and teachers if you would like to work with one:

Marilyn Jenett: http://feelfreetoprosper.com/

Connie Chapman:  http://conniechapman.com/

Vienda Maria: http://viendamaria.com/

Jia Ni Teo: http://jianiteo.com/

What are your beliefs surrounding money?  How do you invite more money and abundance into your life? What practice can you take on board from what I have shared?  Please share with me in the comments!

The last two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster ride.  I have been trying to figure out the next steps in a new writing project I took on.  I’ve been in and out of my house.  Frankly, it’s been mentally exhausting because of the sheer amount of decisions I’ve had to take.  Small decisions.  Big decisions.  Sigh, too many decisions!

Tap into Your Inner Abundance

As a result, I’ve been walking around with a tight, nervous sensation floating in my chest and stomach.  My head has hummed with headaches.  Admittedly, there has been a lot of tears and even some shouting.  For an emotional bottled up type of person like me, that’s a classic move 🙂

And finally, the realization is hitting me how much I’ve been striving and pushing the last couple weeks.  Trying to make things happen and meet goals.  Trying to reach some external form of validation.  To make myself feel better.  To feel productive.  To feel fulfilled.

After an Emotional Breakdown This Week…

So an emotional meltdown had to happen.  Some person became the target of my yelling, shouting, and tears.  I won’t say it was completely my fault, some mine and some the other person’s, but the point is that I transferred some of the frustration and pain building up in me to this person.

It was an extremely heated exchange.  I did some thinking and the next day, I apologized for my behavior.  But it led me thinking.  Why did I do that?  Why did I such an outburst?  What was going on in my inner world?

I was Striving for Fulfillment and Validation through External Situations and People

I was trying to fill myself up with love through these external ways, instead of tapping into my own inner well of abundance.  This is why I felt frustrated and filled with pain and tension.  I am human and allowed to feel this way at times, but the danger is when I get caught up in this endless cycle and trap.

So I stopped doing everything I was doing. I took a mini break in the middle of the week. I worked on bringing myself back to my inner world.

Here are some of the ways I started to tap into my inner abundance.  I hope this helps you too if you’re going through a similar situation or simply want to become more centered and present in your life.

Relish the Small Joys

When you get caught in the striving external trap, the easiest thing to do is overlook all the little things that bring you joy.

The last two weeks, I haven’t made time for meditation.  I haven’t listened to inspiring podcasts.  Instead, I’ve been glued to the television and running around trying to get stuff done.  I haven’t paid much attention to the foods I’ve been consuming either.

Make time to water the flowers or simply sit with a cup of tea relaxing on your sofa.  Drown yourself in a book.  Take the day off from work and simply be.  You will find these seemingly little moments will fill you up drop by drop.  You’ll find a strange sense of peace begin to stir in you.

Close Your Eyes and Play with Your Imagination

Close your eyes and think back to when you were a child.  Remember when you used to play house with your siblings.  Or come up with these games that now seem totally ridiculous and cute at the same time.  When I think back to some of the games I played with my brother and sister, a smile plays on my lips.

When you were a child, your imagination was incredibly vivid and active.  You placed no limitations on your ability to imagine and daydream.  Everything was possible!  As you grew older, you started to place self-imposed limitations and blocks on your ability to dream and imagine.

It’s not so much about your dreams coming true, while that is also important, it is how you may have completely stopped even dreaming.  You might think: Ah, what’s the point to even dream.  It’s not gonna come true.

When you were a child, you didn’t even care about the outcome or whether your dream would come true, you just dreamed.  So go back to this beautiful practice.  Think about all the possibilities and how you envision your life.  Give yourself permission to feel, smell, taste, see, and touch your desires.  You will feel lighter and this is the energy that will give birth to new creations in your life.

Lay Still and Relax Your Body Part by Part

Your mind may be stuck in the past or future, but your body is always rooted in the present.  If you want to truly know how you’re feeling, always turn to your body.  It is a very accurate reflection of what’s going on in your inner world and heart and soul.

When there’s too much going on and you want to pause so you can tap into your well of inner abundance and love, then lie down on a comfortable cushion, bed, or yoga mat.  I personally prefer yoga mats.  Concentrate on staying as present as possible and stretching each body part.  While moving and stretching each body part, feel the inherent energy vibrating in your body.

Observe how your body makes you feel.  Watch closely which parts of your body contain a light, fine, high energy and which parts contain a low and dense vibrating energy.  Feel any tension in your body.  Move through the emotions.

Write Down What You are Thankful for

This is obvious, yet we all tend to overlook this.  Make a list of what you are thankful for at this moment.  Or simply take in everything you feel grateful for through your gaze and heart.  Look around and see what is surrounding you.  Feel the abundance and love within you.

Your perspective will shift and you will find that freshness will imbibe your work and days.

Observe Your Body in Your Private Space

Have you ever stared at your own eyes in the mirror?  What did your eyes say to you?  What was your soul speaking out to you?  This is a beautiful practice to give love to yourself and accept yourself the way you are, flaws and everything.

You can observe your whole body in a full length mirror.  See what you see.  Feel yourself and your energy.  Smile and watch how your face looks when smiling.  If you want to take this self-love practice even further and create a better relationship with your body, you can strip your clothes and gently observe your body.  What do you like about your body?  What do you not like so much about your body?  Can you still find some space in you to love every part of you, even your flaws and the parts you don’t like so much?

Become Present through a Fun Activity

Your life is not what you are going through.  It’s not some situation or problem you are trying to resolve.  Your life is every breathe you take.  It’s how you go through your days and stay in your being.  You stay in your being when you are present and grounded in the now.

Turn off the television and your phone.  Become centered through a fun activity that will allow you to explore your creativity and imagination.  Something that will be messy and a real, authentic expression of your inner self.  Painting is one way.  You can write a poem.  Bake a cake where you forget the time.  Go for a walk and watch the leaves rustling.  This activity can be anything you desire, as long as you are more rooted in the present and can feel yourself lighten.

Set an Intention to Stay Present and Centered

Lastly, sometimes all it takes to break this cycle of external seeking and striving is to set a clear intention.  Make it simple for yourself.

At the start of the day, set an intention that you want to follow the rest of the day.  It can be to be as present and centered as possible.  It can be to show more love for yourself.  It can be to show up fully for your desires.

As you go through your day, think of your intention and take actions that align with it.  Make sure you’re in a high fine state of energetic vibration that allows you to go through your day.

When your day wraps up, before going to sleep, make a note of all the special things that may have happened to you.  Acknowledge how you felt throughout your day.  Did you feel more alive and lighter?  Did you feel gratitude and love? What did you manifest?  Feel proud of yourself.

Then, the next morning, set another intention.  Living consciously and tapping into your inner abundance is about being truthful and loving moment by moment.

What are some of the ways you strive for more fulfillment, love, and validation through external ways? How can you tap into your inner abundance to instead fill yourself up with love instead of looking at external situations or results? Please share with me in the comments.