Every time I start a 100 Day Challenge, I have this idea about how it’s going to play out.  You would think that after doing a few of these challenges that I would know better than to expect a certain outcome!  I decide what my challenge will be, imagine how great I will be at it, anticipate how the results will change my life and then the reality hits during the first few weeks of the challenge.  What this pattern continually helps me to remember is that while things don’t always go as I planned, there can still be some great results and unexpected gifts. 

For example, my challenge was to walk for a minimum of 20 minutes everyday.  The first week into my challenge, I started having back trouble and as a result have not been able to walk the way I intended.  However, it has helped me to discover ways to be gentle with myself and to find a compromise.  This might not seem significant to you but I tend to be an all or nothing kind of person and in the past, I might have given up the idea of walking and changed my challenge to something that wasn’t physical.  But this time around, I have been looking for more of a “middle way” – a way to honor my challenge and honor my physical body.  As I continue to work with the pain in my back, I have been a bit more creative like breaking my walks into 5 minute segments through the day, walking in a mall where there is no ice to make me slip or simply slowing down.  And here is where I have discovered another gift of this challenge within a challenge – by walking more slowly, I am able to take in more of my surroundings and there have been some delightful things to see now that I can take the time to see them.

 Creativity, slowing down and really seeing my surroundings are definitely some of the unexpected gifts I have experienced in this challenge.  What are some of your unexpected gifts?

Joyfully,

Deb

“Arrgh,” I yelled in complete frustration.  For the third time that week I was standing in my kitchen with a pool of plastic food containers around my feet.  My frustration had reached its peak as every time I pulled a container from that cupboard, the contents would spill out around me onto the floor.  I started putting the containers back into the cupboard muttering to myself about the waste of time, lack of space and why was it that we had so many containers in the first place?  As I shoved and stacked and grumbled under my breath it suddenly occurred to me (actually I think the clouds parted and angels might have sung)…I am ABUNDANT!  There it was, falling at my feet every time I opened the cupboard and I hadn’t seen it – abundance was all around me!

Have you noticed that you are abundant or, like me, are you missing all of the signs that are pointing to what is possible for you in your life?  The reality is that your natural state is one of abundance but you often don’t see it because you are surrounded by messages of not being enough.  Billboards, television commercials, radio ads and even email spam are designed to make you feel that you are lacking in some area of your life and if you purchase their product or service you will finally be living the good life.  It is this feeling of lack or scarcity that makes you doubt your worth; that makes you feel like you are not enough.  This feeling is uncomfortable and to avoid discomfort you try to fill the void of lack and scarcity by focusing on abundance.

What does abundant/abundance mean?  According to Dictionary.com it means present in great quantity, more than adequate; over sufficient; well supplied; overflowing (like my plastic containers).  Merriam-Webster has a similar definition: more than enough, amply sufficient.  What I notice in these definitions is that there is no mention of love, money, jobs, cars, etc.  Clients will often tell me that they want to be more abundant but all their efforts of focusing on abundance have not had the results they were expecting.  When I question them about their definition of abundance, it is often about having more money or love.  It is this very narrow definition that can keep them in their “lack” situation.

So how do you create abundance in your life?  There is more to it than thinking positively and focusing on what you want.  While positive thinking and clarity are helpful they may be masking the true feeling you are experiencing which is the feeling of lack.  Because we attract into our lives whatever we are feeling, if you feel you are lacking in some area of your life (love, money, jobs, opportunities, etc), you will continue to manifest more lack even if you are focusing on abundance. There is a misalignment between what you want and what you are feeling.  To create the abundance that you are seeking you need to align with abundance.

Take a look around you.  It took the plastic containers spilling onto the floor time and time again to make me stop and look around for all the examples of abundance in my life – a spacious home, an excess of coffee mugs, love of family and friends, books, food and even clutter!  What are your examples?  Notice everything that you have in great quantity, that may be overflowing and recognize it as a sign of your abundance. Take delight in what you have and if you are hard pressed to find anything that feels like abundance go outside and look at the trees.  Notice how many leaves they have and all the shade they provide.  Or maybe you have an excess of snow where you live, or noise or silence.  I have been known to refer to the dust bunnies as a sign of abundance!  You are abundant; you just may have to look for it more consciously.  Then, express your gratitude for what you do have that is in excess. Expressing your gratitude opens your heart and your heart is abundant. It has everything you need – unlimited love, courage, strength, joy, creativity, energy – you name it.  The more time you spend connected to and living from your heart the more “full” you will feel which leads to …you guessed it…more abundance (even in the areas where you might have been lacking)!

We live with overwhelming media messages everyday and it’s not always possible to filter out the “lack” message but when you begin to focus on what you do have, on areas of your life where you are abundant you will, indeed, be living the good life. And if you need any plastic food containers just let me know…I have an abundance!

Sometimes, when you set a goal for yourself to make a change, you encounter blocks or speed bumps – something that slows you down or completely stops you as you reach for your goal.  Many people start the 100 Day Challenge and find it relatively easy at first.  Your excitement and the newness of the commitment help to keep you on track and motivated to do your challenge everyday.  Then something happens, as often does in life, to throw you off track.  You get sick, a family member needs help, a new opportunity is presented to you and before you know it, it has been days or even weeks since you did your 100 Day challenge.