Abundance in Action

I don't know how it's working.

But it's working.

How am I paying my bills? Am I making enough to have it add up? Somehow, the answer must be "yes," yet I don't see it. So far, as the bills are coming, I am doing what Edwene Gaines said she did. She wrote out the checks, put them in the envelopes, blessed them and prayed, "ok, God, I'm ready to send these and I'll do it as soon as the money shows up."

What is creating this unexpected abundance (and yes, it feels like abundance right now)? I am tithing. Yes, biblical tithing. Ten percent of whatever comes in to wherever I am spiritually fed.

It's been scary to do that sometimes. "But I can't afford to..." Shhhh! Is God your source or not? "Yes," I answer myself meekly. "Then let God be your source. The 'how' is none of your business."

It's also been an interesting process deciding to whom to tithe. Where am I spiritually fed? This has been fun, actually, to discover, to realize those people who contribute to me remembering who I truly am, who lead me to understand the force of the Universe in a deeper way. I have made a practice of putting my tithe in an envelope and writing "thank you!!" on the outside. It reminds ME as well as communicating my gratitude to the recipient.

Anyone want to play along? I'd love to hear about other people's experiences with tithing.

Wishing you love and abundance,

Pam

Practical Steps to Riches

Riches. That's a bit of an old term, isn't it. Do you think it terms of "riches"?

Maybe it's a concept that has been colored to be "greedy" or "materialistic." But let's get honest: wouldn't your life change for the better if you had all the money you want? No, money doesn't buy happiness or love. But think about it. What would your life be like if you didn't need to look at price tags? If you want it, you get it. Doesn't mean you buy everything on the planet. Doesn't mean you spend your money on frivolous things. Just means that the worry over money is gone. The trust and certainty that comes from knowing your basic needs and wants are taken care of becomes the norm.

I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to that.

In Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich, he outlines "six definite, practical steps" to change the desire for riches into actually having the money. Am I the last one on the planet to read this book? These concepts have been in the consciousness for a while so it's good to go to the source.

The first step is to "fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire." Is this for the week? month? year? ever? Not clear on that, so I decided on a certain amount every month. Write an actual numeric amount, not "lots" or "all I can think of" or something indefinitely like that. The Universe needs specifics. I've been counseled, though, to add "at least" or the phrase "or better" in order to keep the flow going. That seems like a practical plan. Write it on a card and keep it around where you will see it and think about it several times a day. Get that amount running through your head. Feel what you will feel when it is in your wallet/bank account. How will your life be different?

Bob Proctor says put it in this form: I am so happy and grateful now that I have earned _______ [amount of money]. Speak it as if it has already happened.

The second step is to "determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire." No free lunch. Have lots of ways to bring in money? Start by brainstorming all the ways to create money in your life. Then cull it down to a simple statement (thanks to Bob Proctor, once again):

I am so happy and grateful now that I have earned ___________ [amount of money] from ____________ [money making activity].

Again, put it on a card or paper where you will see it several times a day. Taste it, feel it, get excited/calm/joyful, etc. This whole process, or so I am reading is about training your thinking.

More steps tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Now about that tithing question. I have one for you. What if you get a loan that you will be paying back with interest. Do you tithe on that? You are borrowing the money rather than earning the money. Does that require a tithe? To be safe, I would say "yes." I certainly want to acknowledge that God is my source and I am very grateful for the investment/loan. I definitely don't want to stop the flow of abundance. But it's a good question, don't you think?

Wishing you love and abundance,

Pam

Tithing from Faith

Many years ago I took the Crown Ministries financial management course. At the time, I figured I wasn't doing such a good job managing my family's money so might as well see if the Bible had anything good to say about it. One of the premises of the class was the tithe. Ya, ya, ya. Ten percent. Ok, sure. "I can't afford it, but I'll work on it." "I give to charity."

Then a few months ago, a Big Dog from the Mormon church came as a guest speaker to my church and presented on....what?....you guessed it: tithing. He told a story of being a young lawyer with a new wife and needing to take care of business. With not enough money coming in to cover the bills, how could he tithe first? Yet he did. Ten percent. And within a very short time, enough money was coming in to not only cover the bills but bring them prosperity.

Then last month I went to Edwene Gaines' class on the Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity. Had the book, went to the class. Edwene further refines the teaching on WHOM to give the tithe to. She says "many mystics believe that if you tithe to need, you create need in your life." She says "giving to a charity is a very kind and generous thing to do, but it isn't a tithe." Her definition of a tithe is very clear: "one-tenth of all income given back to where you receive your spiritual food in order to acknowledge that God is your source."

She also tells the story of starting this at a time when she didn't have two nickles to rub together. Anyone relate? She says she started to tithe as a scientific experiment rather than an act of faith. She even challenged God to "open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing." That's from Malachi, if you were wondering. Don't know where. Check your concordance.

Well, I'm in a similar place as I start this new business life. Creating students in my music school and clients for my Max business, I am reaching for abundance. What have I got to lose?

As a side note, I think I put myself in this position to close the back door to having what I want. As long as I had a salary, I was only willing to try so much, get uncomfortable talking to people so much before I would stop and justify my non-activity. Now there is no choice. I am more humble and also more certain. I speak about my endeavors with great confidence. I am the captain of my ship. I have a quality service and a quality product to offer people.

Back to the tithing question. Two weeks ago I started the 10% tithe of everything that comes in. I have given it to the church, to my Peacemaker Class teacher, and to the Vision seminar. These are all places I have been spiritually fed.

I recently received a check from an investor. This is a loan. It will be paid back in full within one year. Do I tithe on that? It's money coming in, but it's a loan. When I make the money to pay the loan back, do I tithe on that, too? Isn't that a double tithe? Or do I simply tithe on everything that comes in regardless if it is a loan or just clear money I received? Edwene tells of a man who tithed on what he WANTED to make rather than what he made and in a very short time, he was making that amount. Tithing extra is a bonus.

So, yes, I will tithe on the loan money because if I don't, I may find myself in a scarce position again. Edwene says the inflow will stop because the Universe says, "Oh, she's not ready for more money yet, she hasn't tithed on what she's got."

I am READY to receive right now. Thank you, Universe.

Today I added two new students. I'd say the flow has increased. Here we go!!

Love and prosperity,

Pam

What is your commitment?

Just coming out of a weekend seminar, I'm finding that my lesson for the past few days is "what do I want?" Seems like a simple question, right?

Edwene Gaines talks about commitment, "Think and Grow Rich" talks about how it starts with a burning desire for a specific goal, I'm listening to Bob Proctor who talks about being clear about what you want in the next 90 days... It's all over the place!!

Like some of you, I'm open to the HOW part of creating prosperity in my life. My real goal at this point is to bring in a certain amount of money each month. That seems to be the simplest way to focus my thinking. It's all about the thinking, after all.

But, HOW will you create that income? Got me. That's what "Think and Grow Rich" is now telling me. The process starts with a "definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action." That's where I stumble a bit. How about you?

I've looked for simple ways to add residual income. I added GoogleSense to this blog. I signed on as an affiliate with SheetMusicPlus.com when my students order music. I even recommended the Bob Proctor Six Minutes a Day program to 4 of my friends. These are simple things to bring in tiny amounts of money.

These are tiny things, or at least they seem like tiny things right now.

Bigger plans. First, fill my music school schedule with students. Next, continue to build my Harmony Max team (talk about residual income, in a BIG way). In the near future, I have some camp facilitation gigs. In December, I have Lamplight Carolers. Little by little. Putting it out there. One of my mentors (thank you, Pablo) talks about getting the golf ball a little closer to the hole with every choice, interaction, conversation. In music we say "poco a poco."

I asked for my time to be my own, to be the master of my schedule. GOT IT.

Now what?

My daily schedule is becoming more manageable as time goes on. It's based on "what do I want?" Boy, that question is so valuable! It really does start with knowing what I want and putting it out to the Universe, doesn't it? What fills my soul? (thank you, Artists' Way) What brings me joy? (thank you, Vicki Kalmin)

As I consciously choose how I spend every moment, I become more and more in tune with what brings me joy. When my vibration is at joy, I draw those things to me that I desire and declare.

Wishing you great prosperity,

Pam

The question of "yes"

I was talking with a friend last night about the question of living in "yes." As this is the subject of the book I'm working on, it comes up quite a bit in conversations lately. In the class we are in, our leader talked about "the Eternal Yes." I am new to this so of course I did what any of us would do.

I did a Google search on "the Eternal Yes."

I found some beautiful art at http://www.kristanwillits.com/Library/Assets/The%20Eternal%20Yes%204%20Web/Gallery/index.htm

I found a radio station from iTunes: http://yes.com/~vHz4 called Eternal Yes.

There was even a listing of a book by Karl Rahner called The Eternal Yes.

Whew. I've got some studying to do.

In my own world I am struggling between embracing life through "yes" and balancing what is truly for my highest and best good. My friend suggested that saying "yes" might mean "yes, but not now." I like that. She was talking about a volunteer opportunity for an organization she loves and supports. Balancing that with her family and work obligations means she is saying "yes, later" to the volunteer gig.

I have also been struggling with this as I balance my volunteer commitments with my paid commitments. I have a weekend coming up that MAY turn out to be a conflict between these two worlds. Stay tuned. I'll let you know after the second weekend in October on that one.

I think the key to saying "yes" in a powerful way is to be clear about what I really want in my life. My theory (and tell me what you think of this one) is that when I am clear about what I want, only those things that support me will actually show up in my experience.

For example, I have no need for sickness or crime so those things don't show up in my life.

On the other hand, my number 1 on my "12 Great Golden Goals" list (thank you, Edwene Gaines) is to "empower people to live their dreams." As a teacher, I am adding students to my music studio every day. As a coach in Vision and Challenge (seminar work, if you aren't familiar), I get to empower people as I work with them in getting what they want. I am a mentor for a Toastmaster club where the members rely on me for input as we build this new club. People show up in my life who request my input.

Now for the prosperity part. Most of that type of work is not paid. That is the shift that needs to happen in my prosperity "programming." Is this a "worth" issue, as in "am I worth people hiring me to coach them"? Is it a "I don't know how" issue, as in "how does one get started coaching for a fee"? Is that what I really want?

Whew, I guess I'm finding my vision of what I really want is a little fuzzy. Fuzzy doesn't help the Universe, does it? Clear commitment. What do I really want??

Starting from Little to Nothing

I quit my job at the end of July.

No, I did not have another job to go to. I did have one more month of income, though, since the job I left was a teaching position. Was I burned out? Do I hate kids? What were you thinking!!??

I realized that time is more valuable than money. As a teacher, I had two days off between late August and early June. No other days could be taken except sick leave. Ok, some people (who will remain nameless) do use their sick days as "days off," but that's tricky...and not really in integrity.

Ok, what's so bad about that? You get two months off in the summer, two weeks at Christmas, and a week in the spring. Do your whateveritis during that time.

Good theory. Not so good in action.

One of the things I really want to do is to facilitate seminars and workshops. I have an opportunity to do that with challenge camps for teens in ROTC programs. The camps run Friday-Sunday. That means, I need Thursday-Sunday off. Maybe through Monday. Not sure yet. This project starts next month. Well, that's my "2 days a year" already gone with one camp.

I'm also in a training program to be a life coach. That takes time. Two day intensive training on a Wednesday-Thursday. Two more days out of school I don't have.

I have been talking about speaking professionally for a couple of years. When is this going to happen? When will I have time to write? When will I have time to practice, put my materials together, meet with prospective clients?

Ok. I could choose just ONE of these ideas and maybe make it work along with a full-time job.

Maybe.

Then you add the frustrations at school to make everything flow and be happy and work with others and create from a vision of a better tomorrow...when others are trying to re-arrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Did I sell out? Maybe.

So here I am. The plan?

1) ramp up my music studio to the level of a "school" and teach privately from my home studio. I did the math and 18-20 hours of students will replace my salary so why not?

2) get serious about my network marketing business. It's the best thing since sliced bread (even though I don't eat much bread) and why not?? Went to the convention and am all fired up. Doing 3-way calls, others are getting excited. MaxTV is coming, Evander Hollifield and Larry King are on-board. This is big.

3) Speaking, writing, coaching, facilitating. All of this is icing on the cake. Eventually would it be nice to have this as my full-time gig? Sure. I really enjoy being the speaker, the coach, the facilitator. That's the style of my classroom teaching anyway. I love presenting new ideas to people in ways that they can understand. I enjoy the research, the putting ideas together to make sense. It's fun.

So how am I getting there?

1) Edwene Gaines. "The Four Spiritual Laws of Prosperity." This woman is changing my life.

2) Vision seminars, including Challenge and LEAD. Being in an encouraging coaching environment will always result in me doing my very best.

3) "Think and Grow Rich." Ok, ok. It's been on my shelf forever. Right next to "A Course in Miracles." Did I say I value time? Got lots of it.

4) Steven Scott's Master Strategies of the Super Achievers. Steven is a genius and one of the co-founders of Max International.

So this is my project on prosperity. I'm starting with little to nothing. Not sure about paying the bills this month. Definitely living by faith right now. But I'm on the right track. I'm certain of it. Stay with me and maybe we will both learn the secrets of prosperity.

Pam