How does one achieve שפע - abundance? When I talk about abundance, I mean abundance in all parameters, both financial and spiritual. I once heard a story about someone who, about 20 years ago, won 50 million shekels in the lottery. After 13 years from winning, he passed away penniless. Studies show that most people who won the lottery came from low-income families with financial hardship, none of them believed they would become rich, and most of them did indeed lose their money after 10 years. What is the reason for this? They simply didn't have an abundance mindset, so the money didn't stay with them. In contrast, there are people who are magnets for abundance. People who live not only in economic abundance but also with a constant sense of satisfaction. What united these people was their central common element – without exception, they all had an "abundance mindset."
Abundance consciousness is built from six components:
1. Your approach to life, your beliefs, and your thoughts
2. Your physiology
3. The words you use
4. The actions you take
5. The people you surround yourself with
6. Connecting yourself to the Source of abundance.
"Abundance isn't something that happens to you – it's something you call into being."
Abundance begins with you becoming an owner of an abundance mindset. You live, feel, breathe, speak, think, and behave from a sense of abundance, and this abundance manifests in the different areas of your life. You become a magnet for abundance.
These people have developed abilities that open them up to opportunities. They look at what's happening around them differently, and this is an important component of their success. A group of people can be in a certain place at a certain time, seemingly all seeing and hearing the same things, but only some of the group, and usually a very small portion, will find the treasure, the gold, the opportunity. The success of people with an abundance mindset is not the result of hard work and effort, nor is it the result of exceptional talent or ability in their field. On the contrary, it often seems to stem from their ability to be in the right place at the right time, and simply enjoy and reap the rewards.
On YouTube, there's a video showing an interview with Bill Gates. One of the top interviewers in the United States asks him: "Bill, what is the secret of your success?"
Bill replies: "Before I answer you, I want to give you a gift."
He took an open check out of his pocket and said to her, "Tell me what amount to write on the check, up to $50 million, and I'll write you the check."
The interviewer says to him, "Absolutely not, I don't want you to give me a gift like that!"
Bill insists: "Are you sure?" Don't worry, there's coverage for the check. You will be the richest interviewer in the United States. She replies, "I'm sure, thank you very much, but no thank you." Bill says to her, "This is my secret to success, I almost never miss an opportunity."
The Creator of the world sends us opportunities in all sorts of areas, not just in the economic realm. The Zohar calls this "Drona d'Malka" – a gift from the King. It's important that we know how to accept these gifts that we receive.
Self-love:
Another thing related to abundance consciousness is our self-love. Someone who doesn't love themselves and doesn't believe in themselves cannot love others. It's not just a matter of the Torah's language being "Love your neighbor as yourself." In order to love your friend, you also need to know how to love yourself.
I learned an important lesson on this topic at my children's school.
Our seven children attended the "Reshit" school, a school that fully integrates children with special needs into the classrooms.
At one of the school events, we, the parents, arrived, and there was a band singing while the orchestra accompanying them played various instruments. The band was made up of special children and regular children.
It was very moving to see this combination and hear the performance, which on the one hand wasn't the most perfect, but it can be said that it was the most precise.
You are one of the songs sung by a child with Down syndrome.
Until he sang, I had never heard this song. But since then, for many years, I haven't stopped listening to him.
The lyrics of the song are based on the words of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov: "I have conquered and I will conquer, I have finished and I will finish, I am a river that purifies from all stains, I am a man of wonders and my soul is a great wonder, there has never been a novelty like me."
I watched this special child, who sang in a loud voice and truly from the bottom of his heart, 'I am a man of wonders and my soul is a great wonder, there has never been a novelty like me,' and the words simply pierce my heart and touch the most painful and complex places.
Since then, every time I feel a setback or a lack of faith in myself or my abilities and I get sad, I put the song on full volume in the car and really shout out loud, "I am a man of wonders and my soul is a great wonder! There has never been a novelty like me!"
It is said about Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Pshischa, one of the great figures of the Chassidic movement, that he used to say: "Everyone should have two pockets, which they can use when needed." In one pocket it will say, "For my sake the world was created," and in the other pocket, "And I am dust and ashes." We need to be careful to use each pocket at the right time.
Escaping Negative Energy:
Another thing you need to do to receive abundance is to avoid energy-draining content or people.
In the past year, it's been almost impossible to disconnect from the news; the question is the dosage and where you hear it.
I don't watch news and current affairs programs of any kind on television, and I don't listen to the radio either. When I listen to the news on the radio every few months and I get past the five-minute mark, I feel the negative energy entering me.
A few years ago, someone who had been at the institution for many years and had taken early retirement came to me for consultation.
He told me he was depressed and not doing so well in life in all areas.
I quickly realized one of the roots of his problem. I said to him, "Isn't it true that you listen to that announcer's program regularly?"
He replied with astonishment: "How do you know?" I'm his fan, I don't miss any of his programs, and sometimes I listen to the same program several times.
I replied to him, "This is one of your main problems, that you listen to all the poison he pours on you and everyone else. Stop listening to the poison."
He called me after a while and said, "Wow, you have no idea how much this advice has affected my soul."
Connecting to positive energy:
As we move away from energy-draining sources and figures or those that generate negative energy, we need to connect with sources of positive energy.
I once heard a saying that goes, "A good friend is one who finds the good in you and brings out the best in you."
We need to gather truly good friends around us, and that's also a great source of abundance.
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