When I was little girl I loved to read books, and still do. Proud to have my own library card, I checked out as many books as I thought I could read. Often I would end up in tears because I couldn’t finish them all before their due date.

As an adult, I’d fill my plate with food and taste every dish at culinary events, eager to try everything. As delicious the food was, the next day indigestion was not worth it.

Eager to prove myself, I took on every project I could, only to find myself frantically trying to juggle everything and meet all the deadlines, often shortchanging both the quality of my work and my health.

I was always biting off more than I could chew, and it usually gnawed at me.

I’m recounting all of this as I rethink the meaning of having an abundant life as we approach a New Year. The traditional definition of “abundance” is “the state or condition of having a copious quantity of something; plentifulness.”

But what’s the point of having plenty of something if it starts to weigh you down? I no longer believe “abundance” is about having plenty if it causes you plenty of headaches and stress. Abundance can be about simplicity, a state of feeling less weighed down by work, obligations and things.

My new simple definition of abundance is having: plenty of time to enjoy life as it happens, plenty of friends to spend time with and plenty of options to forge my path on my time, my way, without feeling obligated or pressured to do it all or have it all.

Why have a full plate if it is still leaving you feeling empty or uncomfortable? A half plate can be just as fulfilling if it is filled with things that you bring you joy and time to enjoy them.

Simply put, a simpler life can be a more abundant one.

And with that thought, I wish you an abundant 2018.

 

 

Fearless Fabulous YOU! will be on vacation (airing reruns) until January 10th.

Listen here to this week’s show on Mindful Aging with world-renowned psychotherapist, Dr. Andrea Brandt.

Three words to live by to stay vibrant and young in spirit: Mindfulness, Passion, and Purpose. World-renowned psychotherapist, Andrea Brant PhD, MFT, author of “Mindful Aging: Embracing Your Life After 50 to Find Fulfillment, Purpose and Joy,” explains how you can throw out old stereotypes about getting older, fight nonproductive feelings of irrelevancy, and move forward to thrive at every age. Her message is “You have the power to change how you grow older.” Age with an attitude to inspire!


Buy Andrea’s book, “Mindful Aging,” on Amazon:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On December 22, 2017   /   Attitude Adjustment