Heather Eldred » abundance

Are you sacrificing today’s happiness for the “success” of tomorrow?

Heather — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:51:34 +0000

We’ve all heard the warnings are out there that getting rich won’t make you happy and highly successful business people die at a young age of heart attacks or sacrifice their families, hobbies and other dreams for the sake of success. Yet, many of us are still driven to this place. The allure of money, success and power has become (at least in the US) a draw like a siren that tempts you with her (or his) pleasures and treasures only to see you crashing on the rocks when you finally have all that you dreamed of. I personally never had any great aspirations to run a company or make a ton of money or to be a leader. Really I never had these aspirations because I was raised to be “ordinary”, which really none of us are. I did however grow up with great intellectual curiosity and an overwhelming desire to work hard and do a good job. I’ve always wanted my actions to matter. I always wanted to look back at the end of the day and say, “ok, there was some value I brought”. Only when I started being successful (through no grand design, just hard work and intuition), did I start to understand that there were perils at the top that no one really tells you about. Even those at the top don’t really admit it or maybe even know because once you are at the top; you have to try so damn hard to stay there. You oftentimes lose your purpose and why or what got you there to begin with. Maybe when we are young we think: I want to get rich so I don’t have to work anymore and I can spend every day fishing or skiing. Yet, what happens when we get successful or rich, we just work harder because we are so afraid of not being at the top or we spend so much money on vacations and self-medication (shopping, gambling, alcohol, food, etc.) in order to deal with the stresses of this lifestyle that we just have to keep making more money. Having aspirations to be CEO or make six or seven figures are worthy goals. However, I do suggest being very diligent in staying in the present moment as you are making the climb to the top. Also, if you aren’t enjoying what you are doing most of the time, then I’d suggest some self-reflection. Is this really what you are passionate about? Can you see yourself doing it for the next 30 years? Or is it just a means to an end? Will you look back and regret that you missed so many of your kids games or let your marriage fall apart or didn’t have enough “you” time? Rarely (or arguably ever) should the happiness of today be sacrificed for the “success” of tomorrow. Just my two cents.

The post Are you sacrificing today’s happiness for the “success” of tomorrow? appeared first on Heather Eldred.

Back yard bounty & cream of mushroom soup

Heather — Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:11:17 +0000

Today I got my fresh air quota and a serving or two of fruits by just stepping out my door. I walked slowly around my yard and picked raspberries and high bush cranberries (only good mixed with other berries as they are very tart & maybe a bit citric in flavor). Instead of picking them to later turn into some yummy jam, jelly or wine, I just popped them in my mouth. I savored the red little gems as they burst open in my mouth. There was something deeply satisfying in partaking of the last of the season’s bounty. The last few goodies, that would likely have been swooped up by the few remaining birds or dropped to the ground. I also came across some shaggy mane mushrooms in my yard (note: many varieties of wild mushrooms are poisonous – like will cause death – so be sure you know what you are doing before picking and especially eating!). I gathered a few handfuls along with the dregs of spinach in my garden and made a wonderful mushroom and spinach soup. Here is the recipe and it works perfectly well with store bought mushrooms, any variety. Cream of Mushroom & Spinach Soup 1/4 cup chopped onion 2 tablespoons butter 3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) chicken broth 1 cup half-and-half cream 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 cups fresh spinach In a large saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Add mushrooms and saute until tender. Combine flour and broth until smooth; stir into the mushroom mixture. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat. Stir in the cream, salt and pepper. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes, stirring often. Stir in spinach, cook until just wilted.

The post Back yard bounty & cream of mushroom soup appeared first on Heather Eldred.

Soul Food – The Universe is not Stingy

Heather — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 17:17:18 +0000

“The Universe is not stingy. We are. Some of us have very stingy souls. Perhaps not in how we treat others – our family, friends, and those less fortunate — but in how we treat ourselves. Yet how can Spirit give more to us if our fists, hearts, and minds are clenched tight? Abundance is about finally learning how to release feelings of poverty and lack and replace them with feelings of prosperity and affluence”. ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach Today be kind and patient with yourself. Do not beat yourself up. Don’t be so afraid that you will screw up or that life will get worse. Let yourself believe that you are a wonderful, worthy soul that has the best of everything headed your way. Fake it if you can’t fully believe or grasp it. Every night before you go to bed repeat, “I am a wonderful, generous & worthy person that has the best of everything headed my way.” Then visualize what “the best of everything” looks like in your life. Don’t judge yourself and if negative thoughts come your way, gently push them aside and get back to your mantra.

The post Soul Food – The Universe is not Stingy appeared first on Heather Eldred.