In 2018 I examined my story and realized I was NOT living abundantly. How could that be? I had bought into the myth that living abundantly had to do with things. Why? I looked around and mistakenly ASSUMED that everyone looked happy who had lots of things. Mistake number one: DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.

Living Abundantly Is Living From A State Of LOVE

“Yeah, yeah,” you are probably thinking or saying. I was a skeptic too. After all, I had been treated poorly by people who professed to love me. I was not buying it. Thus, being the stubborn and prideful person that I am, I tried to figure it out on my own. Where did that get me? Well, there is NO DOUBT about it, I had things. Guess what? I was miserably unhappy. The things were nice, but empty and in the grand scheme of things meaningless. Then I remembered something my mother would always tell me, “you have got to learn to love yourself.”

LOVE HAS BEEN MISUSED AND POORLY UNDERSTOOD

To love another person, is to allow them to be themselves. More important, it is to accept them as they are, flaws and all, without judgment and criticism. That is so hard for many of us to do, because society has convinced us that we differentiate or categorize others based on the external. Yet, to love unconditionally is to love what’s inside each person. If you believe that Jesus Christ created each of us then you love that person as a creation, gift from God. Learn to apply this as well to yourself. It took me decades to really get this. I love you simply because you were created by my Heavenly Father.

LOVING SOMEONE DOES NOT MEAN YOU LIKE THEIR WAYS

We are human and we make mistakes. I like to believe that the majority of people are good; however, I am not naïve enough to think that there is no bad or evil in this world. Yet, when you are living abundantly, you rise above. You hold each other accountable by setting healthy boundaries. Being honest with someone, should never be about being right, but about encouraging them to grow into their full potential. Realize you may love someone, without liking their ways. In that case, if they have no interest in respecting your boundaries, you let them go. Love them and leave them, allowing them to be themselves.

LIVING ABUNDANTLY MEANS KNOWING THERE IS ENOUGH

What do you know that there is enough of? It starts with you, you are ENOUGH, just as you are. Your worth is not defined by anything or anyone. You are worthy simply because God chose to bring you into this world. Unfortunately, many of us reject this gift of love and begin our journey of paucity.

There is enough to meet your DAILY NEEDS. Therefore, you find the stress and tension leaving your heart, mind, and soul. You do not worry because you KNOW the source or supplier is infinite. Trials and tribulations, while at times painful physically or emotionally, are handled with grace. We maintain our joy, peace, and contentment because we know this too shall pass. More important, we are not going through this alone.

LIVING ABUNDANTLY MEANS ACCEPTING THE TRUTH

The truth is we are blessed, protected, and we have the best guide to lovingly take us on this earthly journey called life. When we live from this state of abundance, we can treat each other with compassion, acceptance, respect, and empathy.