The Artful Living SeriesThe art of living is enjoying the life we have and creating a life we enjoy. The art of series… • uses an easy-to-access format that offers instant inspiration through quotes and practical concepts for better living. The concepts, though shared in simple language, are deep life lessons—essentials we must all learn to become fully human. • follows a progression of spiritual growth that traces a spiral pattern instead of the usual more linear approaches of most self help books. Instead of ten easy steps, the format offers an intuitive approach that makes unexpected connections and draws from diverse sources, leaving room for the soul to breathe and to explore. • is less about steps to some future enlightenment and more about seeing the light, joy, and energy in the here and now of our lives. • is about embodied spirituality and a sense of holy presence: being aware and in love with life, going ever deeper into the nature of our incarnated life on earth; discovering heaven hiding in earth, eternity in time. • is encouragement to transform living into an art. |
The Art of Abundance: A Simple Guide to Discovering Life's Treasures © 2006 Stewart, Tabori & Chang The Art of Abundance: A Simple Guide to Discovering Life’s Treasures
Key Word: Gratitude Key Concept: Divine awareness Cosmic Question: Is the Universe friendly? • You are surrounded by abundance here and now. • By counting our blessings, we discover how rich we are in the things that count. The art of abundance is not about greed or selfishness. The art of abundance is about celebrating life right now, this minute. It is a way of looking at the potential your life holds--the little blessings to be thankful for now and the gifts that God wants to give you, if you'll just open your heart to receive. It's about being enthusiastic about life every day, not just on the rare occasions when everything seems to be going your way. The art of abundance is finding the provision in what is right in front of you, seeing the hand of God already giving you what you need, moment by moment. Then sharing the abundant blessings God has given with others. And completing the circle of giving by praising the One who gave the gifts for us to enjoy. Excerpt from The Art of AbundanceThe art of abundance is the art of awareness. It is a way to count our blessings and practice mindfulness in our daily living. Becoming aware of the small, the little, and the least offers us an opportunity to open our hearts to a larger perspective. We learn to value the tastes, textures, scents, sounds, and sights of our lives as they present themselves to us moment by moment.
Children practice the art of abundance naturally, but often as adults we love the ability to explore and experience wonder. By choosing to be aware of the gifts life brings, we become lovers instead of critics, believers instead of doubters, and childlike mystics instead of world-weary cynics. Practicing the art of abundance has been a transforming process in my life. My spirit has been renewed and my heart refreshed whenever I have chosen to thank the great Creator for the blessings that come my way. It is my prayer that this little book will enable you to affirm the goodness of creation and discover how rich you are in the things that count. Abundance is…not how much I own but how much I appreciate. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (KJV) Abundance is… a pink and lavender sunset sky. Abundance is… the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. Abundance is… an unexpected phone call from a friend. Earth's crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God --Elizabeth Barrett Browning Abundance is…a flowerpot full of Red Rubin basil bursting with exuberant flavor and scent. Abundance is… ruby tail lights and diamond headlights creating a freeway necklace in the dark. The art of abundance is not about greed or selfishness. The art of abundance is about celebrating life right now, this minute. It is a way of looking at the potential your life holds--the little blessings to be thankful for now and the gifts that God wants to give you, if you'll open your heart to receive them. It's about being enthusiastic about life every day, not just on the rare occasions when everything seems to be going your way. Write in your heart that every day is the best day of the year. --Ralph Waldo Emerson The art of abundance is finding the provision in what is right in front of you, seeing the hand of God already giving you what you need, moment by moment, sharing the abundant blessings God has given with others, and completing the circle of giving by praising the One who gave the gifts for us to enjoy. Choice of attention—to pay attention to this and ignore that—is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences. --W. H. Auden Abundance is… wildflowers in a mason jar. Abundance is… the stars on a clear night. Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail. --John Donne Abundance is…creating something special out of the ordinary. |
|
