Morning! For those of you in the U.S., welcome to the day after Thanksgiving, also known as “Black Friday” for the retail therapy aficionados out there, but really known to most of us as the day the leftovers give you life. For this early moment, though, it might just be best to start with a cup of tea. 😉
Even though it’s technically still a holiday, I couldn’t resist the perfect timing for a “No-Fail” Friday mindfulness challenge. Earlier this week, we did the obvious thing and focused on gratitude. There’s just always something to say about, you know? It was really about whether you can be grateful (present) and ambitious (future-focused) at the same time. It’s a tough balance to strike, but it is possible. One of the ways you do it is by planning from a mindset of abundance (we’ve talked about this before as well), and first taking stock of what you do have, so that your dream don’t become about filling a void, but rather building on what’s already there. Make sense?
Either way, abundance is a pretty amazing idea, and even more so when it’s the perspective through which you view the world. Abundance can be about how much is in your wallet, or your fridge, or your closet. But, it can also be about how much, and who, is in your life. It can be about the breadth of opportunities you have before you, or the depth of the love one person shows you. It can be about the relentless optimism you find within yourself, or the strength you manage to rally when you need it most. All of these things constitute abundance. All of them are a reason to be grateful.
You “no-fail” mindfulness challenge this weekend is about finding your abundance. Where are the corners of your life in which you have more than you could ever imagine you would? Acknowledge them, internally or even out loud, and allow that gratitude to fill you with warm recognition as only it can.
Most importantly, be happy about it. Let go of any self-judgment or guilt that you may feel when bringing to mind the abundance in your life. Simply say “thank you,” and build your dreams from there – with gratitude, and from abundance.
“It is not what we have, but what we enjoy, that constitutes our abundance.” — Epicurus
Photo credit: Matthew Henry
