Wonder Is Abundance. Sensation Is Abundance.

It's so funny to me when I discover something profound, that begins to reshape my outlook of this life, and then notice that it's been hiding over my shoulder all along...

Wonder is abundance. Sensation is abundance.

Abundance does not waver, if we pay attention.

Spring may be the easiest time to recognize this, as you can see all the leaves exploding out of their buds on every deciduous tree, the colors of the flora bringing more life back each day, the chatter of birds at dawn that overcomes the crisp silence of the night. More reliably, count all the thoughts that run through your head in an hour, or every speck that lands in your dustpan after you sweep the floor. Try not to feel your hips activated when doing pigeon pose! It's too much to track; symbols of abundance are literally everywhere.

This new ethos is contrary to what I had previously believed. I always longed for abundance, as if it was some distant place I was perpetually striving toward. I often would get stuck in looping thoughts of lack, deprivation, or smallness. And I used to restrict myself to the idea that abundance only means tangible wealth, or stereotypical comfort and success. But in fact, it all just depends on how you look at it. Viewing the world through the eyes of wonder and fascination, there is no such thing as “not enough,” for there is always endless possibility. The universe has been providing it for eternity, and it can be found in any aspect of life. Whether or not you know how to get there, whether or not you are able to grasp it...it exists.

Part of my reclamation of happiness many years ago was simply this: conscious decision-making. In every situation, I choose how joyous I am, and I don't let my feelings dictate how each moment transpires. Now, this is a skill that takes endless practice in order to continue to strengthen over time, and it took me many years of deep depression, numbing, and avoidance to finally come to this resolution, and I am still struggle with consistency. But my baseline is this: I decide to be happy. No matter what.

This awareness of choice has helped to magnetize joy into my experiences overall. I recognize now that this process is a variation of abundance. I always have ample choice in how I interpret each situation. I can choose to shame myself, or try to force a particular outcome... Or I can make the most of the experience, give myself grace, find the lessons within it, and continue to seek betterment.

The abundance of suffering I used to choose, I was able to dissipate with just one different decision; one different angle of perspective. Simply choosing to find some meaning in any situation, no matter how glorious or painful, shows how fruitful life itself can be. There is always alchemy to partake in.

I also understand that I am incredibly privileged...another way that I already am abundant, despite not being where I truly desire yet, physically, financially, or in my career. I was blessed to be born to a large, loving family, and grew up in one of the wealthiest and most diverse parts of the world. I am grateful for the health and fitness I've been able to maintain over time, as well as the warm home I've been creating with my lover. This bubble has not denied my knowledge of all the suffering that does still exist on this planet. In fact, it has made me perceive how much of a capacity for abundance the rest of the world does have, and that is what I wish to increase throughout my existence.

I truly believe that in order to give more of the world the opportunity to improve their quality of life, those of us who do have comfort and freedom need to use our “privilege” to destroy the means that continue to keep people distraught and oppressed. We cannot continue ignoring the actual suffering in the world. Within our abundance here in the States, distractions are constantly being thrown at us to provoke hysteria, so we forget that much of the world is still suffering, including many of us here as well.

This planet is endlessly nourishing, yet we've allowed its nourishment to get stuck in various pockets where it has been held hostage. We fall for the traps of a deficiency mindset portrayed in our media and politics: fear-mongering, deceit, denial of the purpose of our bodies, and virtue signaling. The world has always been a scary, dangerous place, and our advancements will never allow us dominion over the planet's behaviors. But this does not justify living in fear or feeling perpetually victimized! We must learn to embrace this unavoidable truth: we are part of nature, and only we can save ourselves. This may seem inconvenient, but we mustn't forget the struggles our ancestors endured in order to progress our species forward. Humans have never lived in a more comfortable time, yet so many of us have forgotten how much better off we are now than ever before.

The first part of my recent epiphany, “wonder is abundance,” came in the midst of winter, while driving and listening to a podcast about viewing the world through the lens of wonder. The simplicity of it smacked me out of sorts. I had to turn off the conversation to let my thoughts wander. My mind is always spinning in dozens of different directions, and something fundamental to my being is my sense of wonder. I was taken aback that I had never made the connection before: that my values and goals are equivalent to abundance, and therefore I am eternally abundant because I hold them within me.

I am always daydreaming of a luscious planet that we all can peacefully inhabit. Although the state I envision may be out of reach, the premise is very doable. It just takes more participation from all of us with consciousness. And I do not possess all the answers, but if we could all view the world from a place of wonder and possibility, rather than fear and constriction, I believe that we could create a state of better alignment with one another, and all of our suffering could be objectively mitigated.

The second part of my realization happened later that same night, while I was deep in a yoga pose, and the explosions in my hips vibrated out to every cell of my body. In that moment, my brain said, “Sensation is abundance.” I was overwhelmed with this new appreciation for my body, and entirely flushed with tingles. I know that everything is connected, and for a long time, I've cherish my awareness that our visceral sensations are messages from the body, providing us with information. But to be washed over with the feeling of oneness – connection to self and universe all at once – it was a new high to experience. And it's available to me at all times, everyday.

Our bodies are perfectly designed to transport us through this existence, and continue our species onward. Our cells know how to fend against pathogens and regenerate themselves. There may be some hiccups along the way, but that is why I believe it is our responsibility to be conscious of everything we are consuming. Anything we put on, around, or into our bodies becomes a part of us in some way. How we take care of ourselves gets passed down through our lineages. Therefore, our bodies and environments are deserving of our tender, loving care, support, and respect. And once we are able to honor and embrace the wholeness of our selves, we can then share this appreciation with one another.

The time is here, to seize our access to prosperity. This means that we each have the responsibility to pay attention to what it is we are consuming, ideologically and physically. The abundance we are gifted with in the modern world is not actually a gift if it comes from the hands of slaves, but we have the capacity to find ethical ways of obtaining and distributing resources. The poisoning of our fellow Earthlings is not worth the convenience that plastics and pesticides provide, but with greater understanding, we can create sustainable and regenerative solutions instead.

We have to work with nature and with each other, rather than against it all, as we've been doing. We are capable of looking at the world from a broader, more compassionate perspective. We must get serious about where and how our literal things are created, everything that is impacted along the way, and who is orchestrating our supply chains. We must tap into our senses to determine what it is that our sacred bodies are truly asking us for. We have ample opportunity to witness and alter our own behavior... if we so choose.