By utilizing a simple model – for how you manage your finances– and a state of mind, you can both live in abundance and become a funnel of abundance for the Universe.
To truly live in Abundance, one must live life feeling that all of one’s needs are being met, now and into the future. Once one can realize this state and practice it for a period of time, it becomes the normative state.
Many traditions speak to “Thy cup overfloweth” (my cup runneth over), meaning that one is in such an abundant state, that she is not able to consume or use all of the resources flowing to her from the Universe; thus she has the opportunity to become a “passionate partner” – with a cause, with another person or with the Universe’s magic by flowing the excess resources.
Financially, one needs to adopt a practice of meeting their personal needs with a % of their net income and directing a set % to areas of personal passion that are outside of themselves. The Abundance Model recommends these 3 separate categories: CAUSES, PEOPLE, and MAGIC.
It is recommended that each practitioner of the Abundance Model adopt ideally one, but no more than 3, strategic “causes” for which he becomes a passionate partner for change.
Examples of such a cause might be: climate change, endangered species, enrichment programs for lower socio-economic children, enhancing the lives of the elderly, and cleaning up trash in Nepal. The practitioner will become a contributor of both finances and time to his CAUSE, ideally allocating 10% of his net income over time.
As one practices the Abundance Model, she is likely to meet high potential people who are in need of mentorship and/or financial investment to fully realize their potential.
Examples of this could be: a nephew who develops a passion for volunteer work and wants to visit Honduras, a neighbor’s child who is seeking ways to attend music school, an inner city child who dreams of attending summer camp, a penniless woman with a huge heart and a passion for helping others in need. These people do not need a “hand out” – they need a little support and nudge to realize their potential. Ideally 10% of one’s net income over time should be invested in these PEOPLE.
This world is magic, all of it. And as we experience this magic, we develop a desire to become magicians – for the simple joy of it. Ideally, allocating 10% of one’s net income towards magical projects could very likely be the most powerful piece of The Abundance Model.
Examples of MAGIC: upon leaving a restaurant, secretly paying for the meal of a young couple on their first date, or paying to have the lawn mowed for someone while they are in the hospital or away on vacation, secretly funding a theatrical group to perform at an elder-care facility. The Merry Men of New York are great examples of magic as they load parking meters that are about to expire so the owner doesn’t get a ticket. The effect is truly MAGICAL.
Ouch, how am I going to reduce my cup to 70% of what it is today? Well, if there is a will there is a way. We understand that for many this is very hard to do, to reduce one’s personal financial needs to 70% net income. This is the amazing part! By the practice of constantly directing back into the Universe your excess resources, or overflowing cups, the Universe will start to flow more toward you. This means more energy, more abundance, more cash in your pocket. Within 6 months, the amount flowing into your personal account will be greater than the original amount, while still overflowing to your abundant accounts.
The easiest way to implement the Abundance Model is to setup four separate checking accounts at your online bank. Name the accounts “Personal” “Causes” “People” and “Magic.” When you deposit your paycheck or other income to your personal account, just transfer 10% of that amount to each of the other 3 accounts. This simple act is an example of “The Cup Runneth Over” … $1000 came in, it overflowed your personal account, and this overflow was caught by the buckets of your passions. As these buckets start to accumulate resources, you will find the appropriate places to make the investments in Causes, People and Magic.
This means more energy, more abundance,
more cash in your pocket.
It works like this. The abundance of the Universe is always flowing somewhere, somehow. The Universe wants to provide everyone with a surplus of energy, but it needs a vehicle through which to provide this surplus. By the practice of giving 30% of your net income towards causes that you support and believe in, you’re effectively funneling the energy of the Universe to promote positive growth and change. At first, results may only be your own sense of fulfillment. However, once the pattern is engraved into your life, the universe responds and begins to direct more energy your way. This means more connections, more opportunities, more relationships, more money, more abundance. As your total income increases, so does the amount of money you’re investing into your causes. You actively become a funnel towards positive growth in life. You begin to live in a state of abundance.
The only real way to prove this method to yourself is to put your money where your heart is, and start consciously contributing to what you believe in, using this simple system. You may be surprised after six months of practicing, to see your income increasing by 50% or more. It might be challenging at first to divert 30% of your net income, not only because it’s a large chunk of your money, but because this system requires you to get out of your own way and live more selflessly … to believe in the potential of humanity, and even more, yourself.
How to start practicing the Abundance Model if you have debt:
So, you say, this sounds great, but what if I have a lot of debt right now? I don’t feel I can start this till my debt is taken care of. We have heard this before, and have found that one can start utilizing the Abundance Model today, with one short term modification to the model. Start with setting up 5 online checking accounts: Personal, Causes, People, Magic and a temporary account called “Debt Transformation”.
Implementation:
The idea is to adopt the mindset that one is indeed overflowing in abundance now – “all needs are being met, now and into the future” – and to direct part of that overflow toward debt elimination. Once this is done, the full 30% will be available for the fun causes. Use this allocation to begin:
70% for personal
2% for causes
2% for people
2% for magic
24% for Debt Transformation
We are forming an Abundant Community:
It is always easier to adopt a new lifestyle when we have the support of like minded people. A Facebook Group has been formed to provide support and for sharing of ideas. Please join our group now