Personal Growth Planet Blog

When I log into my Facebook page this time of year, I am especially inspired by my friends who post the things in their lives for which they are grateful. Many people declare their gratitude for their precious family and friends. Others share that they are grateful for a sunny day.

In a moment of calm, those aspects of our lives that make us feel so abundant, loved, cared for and happy are prominent and easy to see. It is such a powerful practice to shine a light of awareness on those people and things in our lives for which we are grateful.

The Beatles sang it so memorably–  “Money can’t buy me love.” It is possible that every one of us has had a moment in which we realized that money and material possessions cannot bring us the love and happiness for which we may have been longing.

Perhaps it was when you saved and saved for a newer model car or a larger home and, once that goal was reached, you felt a twinge of disappointment. The angst or the unhappiness that you felt before was still there– even if you were pleased with the purchase (however big or small).

Whether you are a busy parent, one who is struggling to make ends meet, trying to keep up with endless looming deadlines at work or you are worried about the Earth’s environment, you might find yourself saying words like these:

“There are not enough hours in the day…”
“There’s not enough money in my bank account…”
“There are not enough resources on our planet…”
“There’s not enough of me to go around…”

You may have developed a case of the “not enoughs.”

Do you look at your life and wonder how you got to where you are today?

Maybe you are pretty much where you always believed you’d be– this might be mostly pleasing to you and it might not.

Or, perhaps you can’t quite figure out how you’ve come to this place which seems lacking in so many ways.

Your checkbook may be low or empty much of the time.
Your relationships might be contentious and/or lackluster.
Your health might be fragile and weak.
Your body size and shape might be unacceptable to you.
Moments of fun, enjoyment and leisure may occur rarely, if ever.

“Freedom ain’t a state like Maine or Virginia
Freedom ain’t across some county line
Freedom is a flame that burns within ya
Freedom’s in the state of mind”– Peter Udell, “Shenandoah”

There are days when I long for freedom.

I might feel chained to my computer on a warm Spring day. Or, maybe I’m craving travel to faraway places with no worries about the finances to pay for it, who will care for the pets, our home and if the rest of my family would enjoy the places I’d like to visit.

By Amy Phillips-Gary

In today’s economy there aren’t too many people connecting the word “fun” with the word “money.”

News headlines warily report the stock market numbers each day. Job cuts are still being made and plenty of folks are looking for employment that will adequately pay the bills.

A lot of belt-tightening is going on.

In such an environment, the focus tends to be on “getting by” rather than bounding into financial abundance and prosperity.

By Amy Phillips-Gary

Have you ever been so close to having the job, relationship, car, vacation, or whatever it is that you want but something happens that seems to prevent you from actually having that desire come into fruition?

What is it that blasted thing or person that’s standing in between you and what you want?

When I’ve been in such a place, I sometimes delude myself into thinking that it’s another person or some outside force that is the spoiler.

Celebrate and Uplift with Inspired Action
By Amy Phillips-Gary

Today is Earth Day! You’ve probably seen television ads and programs spotlight products that are “green” and eco-friendly. You may have already taken part in events in your community to mark the occasion: streamside cleanup, community gardening, or perhaps tree planting.

Earth Day, officially declared as April 22^nd here in the U.S. in 1970, was conceived as a day to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. More and more of us are joining in with Earth Day activities.

How many times do you inadvertently limit the ones you love with your reactions and comments? How often do you limit yourself with many of the same assumptions and beliefs?

My older son aspires to be a teenaged multi-millionaire computer programmer/game developer. My cheerleader mom-self says: “You go! What ambition!” A different voice inside my head usually says quite the opposite: “That's too big! You're bound to fall short with such a huge goal.” I am hoping that he feels the energy of that cheerleader mom rather than the limits that rattle through my head.

My knee-jerk limited reaction might be expected given what I've known to be true throughout my life. I've never met a multi-millionaire and certainly have never experienced a million dollar salary or lifestyle. There are also certain associations that I tend to make with having a lot of money-- and many of them are negative.

In essence, my judgments of being wealthy as well as the road I perceive one has to take to get to that kind of economic level cloud my ability to simply support the dreams of a person very dear to me. In this way, I am limiting my son.