During the holiday season, quite a few people I know were shocked to the core by the turn of events. Those who were able to recover sooner from the cosmic 2×4 were the ones who didn’t shut down and they asked for help.
It is understandable that unexpected and extreme events can cause us to shut down, yet this is when we need support the most. Those who have a propensity for gratitude are more open to asking for help and they recover faster.
Practicing gratitude builds resilience and reduces stress. We are less likely to overreact or isolate ourselves in the face of adversity. We remember we aren’t alone, the world isn’t against us, and it is okay if we can’t control everything.
Gratitude often comes from a thought. If we learn to feel gratitude in the body, we can raise our vibrational frequency so that we can “summon” the Universe to help us. Things can come together in surprising ways.
Those who have gone through the cosmic 2×4 often develop an appreciation of life with a sense of awe and reverence. Having touched by the unexplainable support, they become more available to connect with the Universe.
If we trust that the Universe is on our side, and that we don’t need to worry about how things will go, that is true wealth. When we remember we can summon the Universe to support us, we have true wealth.
The more regular we bathe in the vibrational frequency of gratitude, the more we strengthen our relationship with the Universe. That trusting relationship becomes wind beneath our wings.
I am not a fan of having to go through a cosmic 2×4 to learn my lessons. I prefer to work on expanding my awareness so that a homeopathic dose of any challenge is enough for me to learn what I need to learn.
If one of our main lessons is to feel how much we are loved by the Universe, a great way to strengthen that trust muscle is to become more aware of how often the Universe shares its abundance with us.
Having a relationship with the Universe may seem esoteric, and there are practical ways to raise our awareness so that we can start seeing how the Universe supports us. Here are a few of my favorite practices:
1. Track expenses, income, and value received.
Since money is often a factor in decision-making, having a clear picture of our finances is essential. If we do not know what we have and how we spend our money, we cannot make informed decisions, and fear will get in the way.
In addition to tracking income and expenses, record non-monetary gifts we receive helps us see how abundance shows up in our lives. We can assign monetary values to the “gifts” we receive.
It is easy to assign values to discounts, refunds, presents, or freebies from anyone. Consider the value of a kind gesture from someone, a friend’s suggestion saving us hours of work, or a referral leading to new opportunities.
I love assigning value to “gifts” because it is playful. There is no right or wrong answer. Instead of letting the market or others tell us what something is worth, we decide what is valuable to us.
Since value assignment is a game, we do not judge the value we receive. We are as excited about finding a penny as being gifted a dream vacation. All are loving (and sometimes humorous) expressions from the Universe.
Energy flows where attention goes. What we choose to focus on grows stronger. When we pay attention to what we value and feel grateful for them, we are encouraging more of that in our lives.
2. Invite the Universe to change our “not enough” stories.
When people say they don’t have the money to pay for something, it usually is a priority or allocation issue. If something is important enough, we can develop a saving plan, change our spending habits, and give up certain conveniences.
When we show our commitment by taking aligned actions, the Universe will respond. Unexpected support comes at an opportune time; we become aware of money or resources that we didn’t see before.
While we can always ask the Universe for help, we also need to help ourselves by changing habits that feed the mentality of lack and limitation.
For example, I used to tip servers based on the quality of service they provided. Since last year, I have been challenging myself to tip servers at the highest suggested rate shown on the bill, regardless of the service I receive.
Tipping servers based on the quality of service is a reactive way to live. If I want to create abundance and “encourage” exceptional services, I need to “invest” on my desired outcome by being generous first.
Every time I see a bill, I feel torn about how to tip the server. It is tempting to go back to my old habit to save a few dollars. I know that every time I choose to be generous, I am taking a stand for the abundance I am here to experience.
When we want our lives to change, the desired outcome has potential energy. By focusing our thoughts and actions to align with what we desire, we are working with the Universe to transform potential energy to physical reality.
I have applied this concept in a variety of situations, including changing diagnoses and prognoses, improving engagement in communities, and resolving legal settlement related to investment fraud.
Some of us keep fighting for what is rightfully ours because we think “they owe us.” It helps to ask: what would I do if I have everything I need. I have learned that sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is to walk away.
When we don’t get caught up in how wrong they are, we are declaring that our peace and sanity is more important. When we choose to forgive and let go, we allow the Universe to orchestrate better ways to take care of us.
3. Relax expectations; add novelty to daily routine
Many of us like routines and do not like uncertainties. Knowing what to expect helps us feel secure. We do research and ask for opinions in order to feel assured that we are on the right path.
Holding onto our expectations can block us from seeing and receiving the surprising gifts and care from the Universe. The linear mind does not like it because it is unfamiliar and it likes to be in control.
Relying on expectations keeps us on autopilot. The Universe wants us to come alive instead of living in a trance. Adding novelty to our lives trains us to be at ease with the unfamiliar. It is easier to tune into the Universe then.
Earlier on when I asked for help from the Universe, I had a very narrow idea on what help would look like. I expected symptoms to go away quickly. I didn’t realize the Universe was communicating to me through my body.
The Universe often communicates to us in unexpected ways. The revelation or help can show up in the in-between moments, conversations with strangers, or YouTube videos that pop up randomly. The surprises are endless.
There are many ways to add novel yet low-risk experiences to our lives. We can take a different route to go to work, rearrange the furniture, try a new recipe, or talk to strangers. Be curious and allow that to be uplifting.
We are entering into a very dynamic year. If we are exhausted or overwhelmed, we will only see more problems. In that state, the communication channel between us and the Universe is filled with static.
If you have been feeling the weight of the world, chances are the negatives are overshadowing the positives more and more. Contact me and see how I can support you.
With Love,
Carmen
I help clients regain vitality,
transcend limitations, and
own their divine presence.