Get More Now: Ask, Act, Accept
One of the world’s greatest classical composers began losing his hearing around his mid-twenties yet continued writing music until his death at fifty-six: Ludwig van Beethoven, the father of the Romantic era in music, widely recognized as one of the greatest composers of Western European music.
Standing five feet three inches, he played fourteen seasons as a point guard on four teams: Muggsy Bogues, the shortest NBA player ever.
A drag queen receives twelve Primetime Emmy Awards, three GLAAD Media Awards, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, two Billboard Music Awards, and a Tony Award: RuPaul Andre Charles, the “Queen of Drag.”
These three people share a dedication to not letting loss, deficiency, or social stigma prevent them from achieving abundantly successful careers. Whether they consciously acknowledged it or not, their mindset to succeed was more significant than any perceived obstacle, including their own.
When I write about Abundance, as I am here, I am not talking only about money. I am talking about the full experience of having access to what you desire: creative opportunities, meaningful relationships, professional prosperity, a healthy mind, body, and spirit, time to breathe, time to rest, space to create, the confidence to be seen, and the willingness to take the next step.
Beethoven, Muggsy, and RuPaul must have each innately understood this: there is no limit to the Abundance you are entitled to, no invisible line that decides who can and cannot have it, no matter who you are or your circumstances. You just have to access your unique talent, and the ability to live an exponential life is uncovered.
The Myth of “They Have It All”
Here is the part people do not love to admit: someone can create wealth and power early, then crash and burn because they are not ready to handle it. Some achieve notoriety and the privileges that come with it and sustain it. Or do they?
Maybe they were so focused on the result that they sacrificed their physical and emotional health, making their outward Abundance meaningless. Think of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Michael Jackson. Each seemed to have everything yet felt so profoundly lacking that all their outward Abundance was of little value.
My dad used to say, “Never judge a man until you know their end.”
So never mind what your neighbor is doing. Pay attention to what you are doing.
The Gap Is Real. The Obstacle Has a Name.
It is easy to look at someone else’s success, whether tragic or not, and decide you will never reach their heights or even achieve the level of success you want. If you think this way, you will be correct.
There is a gap between what you do not have and what you desire, and the obstacle between these two points is you.
Closing this gap begins when you recognize your gifts and connect with the excitement, curiosity, and Abundance that fuel them.
Two Moves That Activate Intentions
When you set intentions, activate them by doing two things.
One, ask to receive them.
Two, take action toward attaining them.
Many inspirational speakers and spiritual traditions suggest asking to receive. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:7. Then believe with all your heart that what you want is coming your way.
Ask. Believe. Receive.
Then there is one more step that changes everything.
The Step People Skip: Accept. You may think receiving and accepting are the same thing. The two are not.
You need the mental and emotional depth and the ability to accept what you ask for in life. The accountability to manage financial wealth. The self-love to take care of yourself. This depth and ability to accept support the belief that you are worthy and deserving of what you ask for.
We can ask for things, yet deep inside, we do not feel worthy of receiving them. People avoid their dreams, or self-sabotage, for this reason. They worry that if someone pulled back the curtain, they would discover an ordinary, insufficient human.
If that thought has ever lived in you, you are not alone.
My invitation is to use one or all of the following affirmations:
- I am receiving and accepting financial and professional prosperity. It is in my life now, and I am worthy.
- I am receiving and accepting a healthy mind, body, and spirit. It is in my life now, and I am enough.
- I am receiving and accepting a happy, sensual, loving relationship. It is in my life now, and I am deserving.
Nurture the possibilities rather than the limitations. When you are tough on yourself, recall moments when you were in sync with life, then say one of the relevant affirmations. This activates your brain to rewire toward what you want.
The June Practice: Ask + Act + Accept
Do this in one sitting:
- Write what you are asking for in one clear sentence.
- Write one responsibility that comes with receiving it.
- Choose one action you will take in the next 24 hours that proves you are ready to accept it.
- Then say the affirmation that matches your intention.
Photo Op
Take one photo today that represents access. An open door. A green light. A path. A tool you use to create. A step you have been avoiding.
Action Opportunity
Under your photo, answer these three questions:
- What am I asking for now?
- What does accepting it require from me?
- What is my next small step in the next 24 hours?
The next time you think you cannot do something, think about Beethoven, Muggsy, and RuPaul and know that you are worthy of whatever you desire.
“There is no limit on the amount of Abundance you are entitled to.”
-Maria Baltazzi, PhD, MFA
You can find more intentional practices in my book or by downloading my Take a Shot at Happiness app.
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