As I write this, it’s actually Day 23 of the Simple Abundance devotional, and I’ve decided to put a pause on the blogging. The readings are beginning to seem too similar to me. I’m having a hard time picking up on the nuances from day to day, and I’m having an even harder time…
Category: Simple Abundance Readings
Day 19 – Choose joy
Today’s message from “Simple Abundance” is all about choosing joy in each moment–a nuanced take on thinking like an optimist. Author Sarah Ban Breathnach theorizes that by “cultivating gratitude,” we begin to experience a paradigm shift in our expectations. But it takes practice. “Many of us unconsciously create dramas in our minds, expecting the…
Day 18 – Where do you find beauty?
I feel like I’ve read today’s message before, about opening our eyes to the beauty in our worlds. Breathnach’s theory is that as we learn to simplify our existence (mentally and physically), we crave beauty more than ever. We don’t need to create this beauty because it already exists — we simply need to…
Day 17 – Family harmony
The message for Jan. 17 is about finding a balance in your life which Breathnach calls “harmony.” We each need to find the balance between the demands of outside forces–family, work, social obligations–and the inner “me” who needs peace and relaxation. Breathnach likens the journey for achieving harmony to that of the pianist learning…
Day 16 – Clutter-a-holic?
Hello, my name is Leah, and I’m a clutter-a-holic. I’m not sure that’s an actual word, but I do believe it’s an actual condition which could be applied to those who are surrounded by clutter. Just look at the TV shows that try to tackle this malady: Hoarders, Clean Sweep, Extreme Clutter, to name…
Day 15 – Simply simplicity?
Breathnach says once we begin to identify our blessings, “we feel the urge to pare down, get back to basics, and learn what is essential for happiness.” As an example she says, “Visualize a bouquet of bright yellow daffodils in a white milk jug on a pine mantel, sunlight streaming through sparking clean windows,…
Day 14 – Chronicling Gratitude
Today’s reading suggests keeping a gratitude journal. Breathnach says to write down five good things that happened to you at the end of every day, the idea being if you document the good stuff, your perception will begin to change. You’ll begin to be more aware of your blessings. It is a great idea, one…
Day 13 – Are you grateful for what you have?
I’m starting to really dislike this book. Today’s message is about awakening the gratitude in your heart for your many blessings. That’s not what’s causing the downward spiral of my enjoyment of the book. That’s a wonderful message, one I try to adhere to. What’s bothering me is my impression that the author was…
Day 12 – How poor is poor?
I’m a little annoyed with the Jan. 12 message in “Simple Abundance,” starting with the title “There is No Scarcity.” The gist is that we shouldn’t worry about money…our financial status ebbs and flows, and “You have the power to change your lifestyle and move from a feeling of lack and deprivation to a…
Day 11 – Smile, would ya?
Sarah Ban Breathnach invites readers to join the optimists’ club in her Jan. 11 reading. She says we all face down-turns in life — whether financial or with health or relationships — and the key to surviving is optimism. She says it’s a learned habit, and her homework for the day is to “Smile at…