A Brilliant Statement On Abundance

Grandmaster Maria Baird was teaching one of her Manifesting Me seminars on dreams and desires when she said something that struck me as brilliant. She said, “Once basic needs are met, abundance is an experience that comes from utilizing our gifts in rewarding ways.”

Americans are big on stuff. I live in Los Angeles. People here are really into their stuff. It’s the syndrome of, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” In fact, people are so incredibly focused on what they don't have, they can rarely see and appreciate what they do have. Even when (by my standards) they have A LOT.

I like stuff and all, but I’ve spent years striving for and collecting things just to find out that what really gives me a kick is helping people feel better about their lives. When you are doing what you love to do because you love to do it and because you’re good at it, it’s what comes from that action that feels so good. Not the stuff you buy with it.

Focus on gratitude. Forget consumerism. Forget stuff. Redefine what is really and truly important to you that isn’t material. Then build on it. You will know abundance like you never have before.

Felix Felicis

I've been thinking the last few days about Felix Felicis, aka Liquid Luck, found by the rest of the Harry Potter nerds on the planet in book (or movie) 6. There's a big Quiddich match and Ron is rightfully nauseous and nervous because...well...he's not a very consistent player and he knows it. At breakfast, Hermione spots Harry slipping something into Ron's drink and as Harry puts the bottle of Liquid Luck into his pocket Ron immediately knows what Harry has done for Ron and for the Griffindor Quiddich team. Ron gulps down his lucky pumpkin juice feeling like a million Galleons, plays uncharacteristically well and gets carried off the field as the game champ. It's not until later that evening that Harry divulges to Hermione that he hadn't actually slipped anything at all into Ron's drink - he only pretended to. Ron played his best game by his own devices and never needed Liquid Luck to do it. He never needed anything more than a nice healthy dose of courage and faith.
The way Felix Felicis worked when Harry actually took it is it sort of guided him. He'd get a feeling that something was just the right thing to do and he'd go for it without question. It led him to a great success and changed the future of the world and the rest, of course, is magical history.
There's the internal voice in us all that says "That looks fun - maybe I'll do that!" Then you've got the other voice giving you a nudge-nudge-wink-wink and in no uncertain terms says, "Listen to that other voice and you're gonna totally screw up." In a way, it seems the potion blocks out the voice that says, "Naaahhh....better not go out on a limb."
I've asked a couple of people what they'd do if they could drink some Liquid Luck and, predictably, they say they'd go get a lottery ticket. But then what? Now you're a millionaire, great. Would you still avoid the things that you think you've got no chance at? Or would you finally talk to the person you've been crushing on for years? Would you apply for that job or start that business? Would you make a phone call you've been dreading? Would you get on the 405 freeway at 5pm on a Friday?
What would you do today, tomorrow, the next day, if you knew no matter what that luck was on your side?