I spent a lot of time day dreaming about the life I envisioned for myself and and preparing in more ways than one, so that I’d ultimately reach all abundance within my reach. Abundance obviously has a different meaning to everyone however, for all who seek it, it requires readiness and preparation which often comes in the form of sacrifice, action and most importantly patience.
Abundance is a product of personal expectation met with action and intention all based on the belief that the desired outcome can actually be made a reality. When I reflect on my greatest accomplishments, comparing them to the smallest, not only have I had external gains to celebrate but I’ve also experienced internal transformations that have been of great value. I realized the information and skill I’d picked up while meeting one goal, was the preparation I needed to move on to the next.
So often we associate achievement and success to acquiring physical possessions and while those may bring us happiness or have become a common way to recognize an achieved milestone, its often temporary. Don’t get me wrong, just as much as the next person, I also like being able to reward myself, but I’ve also realized the importance of the wisdom and strength gained from getting through tough moments. When we think about all of what we’ve been able to accomplish for ourselves or all of what we will have once we accomplish a certain status, we often keep score of the superficial, external gains rather than personal internal transformations gained through our smallest adversities and life’s most challenging phases. These are actually the most important.
What we learn along our journey doesn’t always get the proper recognition. Its what helps us to achieve the next level of abundance and continue the growing process both internally and externally. Rushing abundance often looks like allowing yourself to be influenced by someone else’s success. You lose sight of your personal plans, what it takes to reach those and opt for the quick routes that often leave us with regret and wasted time.
By taking short cuts and eliminating the uncomfortable encounters, you risk losing out on so many valuable lessons and in some cases arriving at your destination unprepared. I can’t imagine now, proceeding without the knowledge I’ve gained and making decisions without the experiences I’ve gone through. So, don’t arrive unprepared. Taking the long route may not be ideal and may be perceived as not being as far ahead as you could be, but in reality you’ll be further ahead than most. You’ll have the information and real life experiences to stand up against upcoming challenges. First arrivals are nice and all, but who you want to be is the last one standing.