Chapter One : A Life Worth Living Understanding the Art of Abundance Changes the Rules of Engagement with Life When I think about creating abundance, it''s not about creating a life of luxury for everybody on this planet; it''s about creating a life of possibility. It is about taking that which was scarce and making it abundant. --Peter Diamandis Beyond everything you think you want, what you truly seek is quite basic: a life of wholeness, a life of peaceful satisfaction. The irony is that such a world already exists-but only for those who have eyes to see it and faith to claim it. The problem has been that the majority of humankind doesn''t know where to look for such a life. That is the purpose of this book: to help one open their eyes to the limitless amount of wholeness and abundance that lies waiting just beyond their current belief system. However, it is important to understand at the beginning of this journey that The Art of Abundance is not a book about prosperity; it''s a guidebook to creating wholeness in every area of our lives. Creating a prosperous life is quite different from creating "prosperity.
" This is a book about creating a prosperous life-a life worth living-through accessing and utilizing a principle that is as old as the Universe itself: the Principle of Abundance. Throughout this book it will be made clear that there is a distinct delineation between abundance and prosperity; they are more than two different words that many people take to mean the same thing. Robin Williams is quoted as saying, "No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world." I invite you to embrace his words and open yourself to exploring new and different meanings for the words herein-you may discover new ideas that will modify your perception of the world and deepen your understanding and experience of what living an abundant life really means. My desire is that The Art of Abundance: Ten Rules for a Prosperous Life will speak to your mind and your heart. Not only do I want you to think about abundance and what it means to you, I also want you to experience how you feel about abundance. This is important because behind your feelings you''ll discover your deepest beliefs lurking, often without your awareness, operating incognito. In other words, what you think about abundance may differ greatly from what you deeply believe about abundance and, thus, your ability to demonstrate abundance in your life.
An exquisite balance between head and heart-thought and feeling-is required to access the principle of abundance that awaits your awareness and acceptance. The word rule can be used as either a noun or a verb-and both are relevant in the context of this book. The thinking mind is objective and hungers for details. It is always looking for rules to follow; steps to take; a logical, linear process by which to arrive at a goal; the how-tos of getting there. It is for this reason that I offer, within each of the ten Abundance Rules, principles and practices that when followed faithfully will lay the foundation upon which a life worth living can be built. The phrase "practice makes perfect" makes sense; because the mind sometimes tends to wander when learning new things, the practices lay out a clear road map for the mind to follow. As a noun, a rule might be defined as a detailed or understood guideline, regulation, or principle that governs one''s conduct within a particular activity. This is logical to the thinking mind, which operates linearly and deductively, but for the heart it is a different story.
The heart is intuitive and sees only the complete picture of an idea in its finished state; it doesn''t resonate with-or even like-rules, it doesn''t discern boundaries, and it certainly doesn''t follow guidelines. The heart seeks a direct experience with any life-affirming notion; it does not require a linear process by which to arrive at a conclusion because it sees only the bigger picture, an already completed idea. Because the heart is intuitive, it knows only the spontaneous, expansive joy, wholeness, and freedom that comes with the awareness that abundance is already yours by virtue of the fact you have been given the gift of life-and inherent within the gift is an abundance of whatever is needed to sustain you, to prosper you in every way. In other words, you don''t have to earn abundance-you have to learn how to accept it, which is why keeping an open heart is imperative in the process of accessing the blessings and bounty of an abundant life. As a verb, to rule means to control, direct, or exercise authority. Consider a king or queen who "rules" their kingdom with absolute confidence because they know they have immediate access to unlimited abundance. The intent of The Art of Abundance is to assist you in becoming your own authority-to lay claim to the good that is yours by divine inheritance. In this context each rule engenders a feeling of authentic power, which arises from within, experientially, when the principle of abundance is realized and actualized.
Metaphorically speaking, you are royalty because you have been given sovereign control over the territory of your heart by the architect of all life. It is liberating to the heart and soul to know that you can rule over the domain of your own life-that you need not rely on the world for access to your personal abundance, fulfillment, and freedom. On the other hand, it is meaningful and reassuring to the linear thinking mind to have a clear set of rules to follow that will guide you and serve as a glide path-taking you the distance, manifesting in a life truly worth living; thus the "practices" that will be offered in each chapter. As you read the ten rules, you''ll find your head and heart working in partnership to create a blessed life, the life you deserve and were born to have. Let us begin with a parable about the abundance that awaits your discovery in the pages ahead. All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. --Swami Vivekananda Once upon a time there lived a school of fish in the shallow, warm, clear waters of a secluded blue lagoon, protected from the crashing waves by a large coral reef. Every fish in the lagoon had been born there and most would die there, remaining separated from the vast sea, fearing to venture too far beyond the safety of the reef because of the legend of the lagoon-stories, passed down from one generation to the next, of those who followed the call of the mysterious Great Infinite Ocean and never returned.
Many of the younger fish considered the stories to be a challenge-something to explore-because they considered the lagoon small and very boring. However, even they would admit that the mysteries and apparent dangers hidden in the unknown depths of the Great Infinite Ocean beyond the reef were intimidating. The legend made leaving the lagoon-which was convenient, comfortable, and safe-difficult to do. To better prepare themselves, the young fish devotedly attended school, making ready for the big day when they would graduate, knowing they would ultimately have to decide whether to follow the mysterious call of the deep or stay forever in the confining lagoon, living out their lives, swimming in the same circles, only dreaming of what life might be beyond the reef. The day eventually came for their final exam. Being very wise, Master Mojarra, the head teacher, gave the fledgling class their assignment, saying, "Young ones, your graduation test is twofold: First, you must discover the secret to life. Contained within that secret you''ll find a life of wholeness, a life of abundance, where you''ll learn that there is more than enough of whatever you need, not just to survive but to thrive-and not just for yourself but for every other fish in the sea. Second, you must determine how you will use that which you discover to create a life of purpose and fulfillment-a life worth living.
If you have the courage and faith to discover this secret, you shall transcend the confines of the lagoon forever and in that transcendence shall be found the greatest joy, a bliss beyond anything you have ever known. However, I must warn you, albeit right in front of your very eyes, the secret you seek is hidden extraordinarily well. To assist you I offer this ancient paradox in which the secret can easily be found: ''What you are looking for, you are looking with.'' I must also inform you that you will not find the secret to life in the confines and safety of this comfortable lagoon, for it is hidden in the vast, boundless, deep, uncertain waters of the Great Infinite Ocean, a place where you have never ventured before. Now go, and when you have found the secret to life, return to me to share what you have discovered." Acting as one body, all the young fish excitedly swam out past the reef and into the vast mysterious ocean for the first time, seemingly eager to find the ultimate secret to life, despite not knowing when, where, or how it would be discovered. Almost immediately, many of the fish began to feel very tentative about venturing outside of the known lagoon. The farther they swam away from the safety and comfort of the only home they had known, the more frightened they became; the terrifying legend of the lagoon lingered in the back of their little fish-minds.
The Great Infinite Ocean seemed so big; it appeared to have no boundaries . no bottom . no beginning or end; it just went on forever. They began to tell one another, "The secret to life could be anywhere out there. We''ll never find it . and it is very scary out here all alone!" Finally, out of their collective fear of the unknown, they gave up their quest and, again, acting as one body, quickly turn.