“Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every area of your life.”

– Rumi

Do you feel abundant? Do you feel deserving to receive? The month of December emphasizes giving and receiving; the ebb and flow of life. It’s an opportunity for us to flex those gratitude muscles!

If you feel stuck or limited, one of the best ways to open your heart is to feel gratitude. By being thankful for what is around you, you are able to attract more of what you DO want into your life. When you are in a state of gratitude, you are receiving and feeling abundant. Being in a “state” of something means that for periods of time you can shift in and out of this space of beingness.

One of the ways to acquire more gratitude is to be present in the moment. As a result, we will see more detail in our surroundings. Yesterday, I was at Lowes purchasing foam board for my next sculpture project. I felt a physical pressure on my head until I arrived in the proper aisle (my guides did not allow me to be distracted with my favorite painting and organization aisles 🙂 ).

I asked God to enter my situation and deliver me a helpful person. I found my items and proceeded to place my two 8ft foam boards into my vehicle, but there was still 2 1/2 feet that was protruding! To follow safety measures, I waited to the point of impatience to receive a red flag for the back of my car. I was just about to drive away when I heard a voice ask, “do you need some help?” I swiftly said no (denying abundance), but then I reconsidered. It turns out the gentlemen had rope to help me secure the pieces! Yet, if the red flag was delivered any sooner, I might not have received their help. I immediately saw God’s divine timing and became humbled with gratitude.

There was also a moment when I stood in the way of my own abundance. I asked Source to send me a helpful person, yet quickly denied it. This seems so trivial, but how many times do we get in the way of receiving?  Do we feel ashamed that we can’t do it alone? What are some reasons you might be blocking God’s gifts.

We are infinite beings of love and if we choose, we never have to do this alone. We all deserve God’s assistance and can allow him to enter any situation we choose with our free will.

To continue the cycle of receiving, we must be willing to give. The act of giving without guilt or obligation allows us to trust in the infinite supply of the Universe.

• If we only receive, we might not readily appreciate the gifts we do have.
• If we only give, we might feel drained and depleted.

“Balance comes from fearlessly giving as you’re guided, and then receiving with joy and gratitude,” Doreen Virtue.  Trust that your needs will always be met and it will be so.

Tips for Giving:

• Genuinely compliment someone
• Volunteer for a cause that your heart is connected to
• Participate in the “Angel Tree” program

Tips for Receiving:

• Say “Thank you”
• Accept the kindness of others
• Ask yourself “What can I learn from this situation?”