I once knew someone who suddenly came into a lot of money. The kind of money most people only fantasize about. Yup, that kind of money.
Guess what happened? She lost the check on the way to the bank.
A freak accident? Maybe. Overwhelming excitement? Possibly. The good news in the end was that she eventually found the check and the day was saved. Fast forward: did she spend or invest the money wisely? She (and her accountant) would say that she definitely did not.
While there are many possibilities that could have explained this scenario, let me focus on one in particular. It’s much more common than you might think, and I’ve seen it many times in my practice.
You see, abundance is a universal principle, available to everyone. Yet, many of us struggle to attract and maintain wealth, happiness, and fulfillment in our lives. Why is that?
The answer, I believe, lies in our ability to receive. To truly welcome abundance into our lives, we must become a worthy container for it. This means cultivating a deep sense of self-worth, deservingness, and inner value.
When we don’t feel worthy of abundance, we’ll often push it away or let it slip through our fingers. We might sabotage our own success, struggle with self-doubt, or attract people and situations that drain our energy. While we wish to feel prosperous, we may inadvertently repel prosperity and actually lead an impoverished life ~ a life deprived of strength, vitality, creativity, and money.
The Self-Worth Barrier
Our self-worth is the very foundation upon which abundance is built. If we wish to have prosperity, and keep it, our personal foundation must be solid enough to support it. When we feel worthy, we’re more likely to:
1. Attract abundance: We’ll draw in opportunities, relationships, and experiences that reflect our inner value.
2. Receive abundance: We’ll be open to receiving gifts, compliments, and support from others.
3. Retain abundance: We’ll be able to maintain and grow our wealth, relationships, and happiness over time.
4. Share abundance: We’ll feel that our good fortune ~ money, health, relationships ~ are meant to be used for the good of others.
Becoming a Worthy Container
So, how can we become a worthy container for abundance? Here are some practical tips:
1. Drop the Masks: By dropping your psychological masks, the ones that conceal your truest nature, who you really are, you will let go of the barriers that come with trying to “fit in.”
2. Practice self-empathy: Treat yourself with kindness, understanding, and patience.
3. Reframe the dialogue in your head: Challenge your inner critic and replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations.
4. Focus on your strengths and your assets: Don’t be afraid to celebrate your accomplishments and acknowledge your unique talents and gifts.
5. Set healthy boundaries in every area of your life: Learn to say “yes” to what nourishes you and “no” to what depletes you.
6. Cultivate gratitude: Focus on the abundance already present in your life, no matter how small it may seem.
Conclusion
Becoming a worthy container for abundance of all kinds requires a deep understanding of our self-worth. By cultivating an honest, positive and compassionate relationship with ourselves, we’ll be better equipped to attract, receive, and retain abundance in all its forms.
Remember, abundance is not just about what we have; it’s about who we are. When we feel worthy, we’ll be more open to receiving the abundance that’s always available to us.
As I always say, “We don’t get what we want. We get what we think we deserve.”
To your abundance, friends.
