Issue 3 - February 2003

How to achieve abundance in your life
By Mark Sanna, DC

When most people are asked what abundance means to them, their eyes narrow as they imagine winning the lottery and the unlimited money, freedom, time, travel and excitement it would bring.

In reality, abundance is actually a quality of life. It is full, ample and abounding in love, fun, fulfillment, time, energy, money, health and much more.

Abundance is something to be experienced today, not at some point in the future when you’ve made enough, saved enough, done enough, worked hard enough or deserved it enough.

To experience an abundant life, you have to embrace life as it is. If you are not enjoying the abundance you desire, it is probably because some of your beliefs, attitudes and behaviors are holding you back.

“Uninstall” this system of thought. It’s an anchor you wear around your neck. Abundance is already available to you. Your job is not to create abundance but, instead, to access it. Become willing to engage in the process of moving beyond the blocks, patterns, thoughts, activities, messages, fears and paradigms that come between you and the abundance you seek.

Change begins with you. Your thoughts create your reality. What you focus on is what you attract into your life. If you are unhappy with your life, change your focus. Find something you like and concentrate on it.

The Three Pigs Principle
Remember the story of the three little pigs? The first two pigs lost their homes when the big bad wolf came huffing and puffing. The third little pig with the home of bricks turned the wolf into wolf burger.

Emulate the third little pig: Build your life on a foundation of five solid values: Integrity, commitment, loyalty, compassion and responsibility.

1. Integrity. This is the big “I” – the cornerstone of the foundation. It’s the most important block of the base. Integrity is old-fashioned honesty. It is doing things right and knowing that you can hold your head up high, regardless of what anyone else says or thinks. Integrity is a commitment to truth.

2. Commitment. Commitment is the second foundation stone. To expe-rience abundance, you must be fully committed in body, mind and spirit.

Your first commitment is to your finances. Entrust yourself to these seven financial commitments:

• Pay yourself first;
• Pay off credit card and other nonproductive debt;
• Establish and make use of a budget;
• Establish an emergency fund of three months’ overhead;
• Create a long-term, conserva-tively invested retirement fund;
• Increase your rate of savings regularly;
• Plan how you will use your increases in income.

3. Loyalty. Loyalty is the third rock in your lifestyle foundation. It is a close cousin of integrity and commitment. To be loyal is to be faithful to a cause, a person or an entity. Loyalty means that you have the character to remain devoted even when things are not going well.

In your practice, loyalty means working to make a difference in the lives of your practice teammates and patients. At home, it means spending time with your kids, doing your share of the chores and helping each family member realize his or her dreams.

4. Compassion. The fourth foundation stone, compassion, is the heartfelt ability to sense and be motivated by another’s feelings. Compassion must be genuine and not just syrupy sentiment. Compassion begins with listening.

5. Responsibility. The fifth stone is responsibility. To build and maintain an abundant lifestyle, you must take responsibility for your own actions and choices. When you refuse to take responsibility, you rob your-self and those around you. To live responsibly requires self-honesty.

Cementing the foundation
The mortar that cements the foundation stones is the “no matter whats” in your life. These are your bottom line values that define exactly where your boundaries lie.

You will be challenged and even ridiculed when you establish your “no matter whats.” But when you adopt a code of discipline, your self-worth goes up. Abundance will follow.

Crystallize a vision
To find abundance, you need to “see” it. You need to have vision. Vision is the picture you establish and maintain in your mind of where you want to go in life. Remember: You go where you look! Your vision shapes your attitude.

One way to crystallize your vision is to write down your abundance affirmations. For example: “I am worthy and deserving of claiming my birthright of abundance.” The moment you establish a clear vision and start moving in its direction with certainty, your life will take on a new meaning and a new level of excitement.

Abundance is your birthright. It is your gift for being on the planet. You do not need to be special or gifted or anything else. You simply must be true to your heart and true to your spirit. Ask for all that you desire, act accordingly and enjoy the journey.

Dr. Mark Sanna, DC, is CEO of Breakthrough Coaching.