Abundance & Prosperity - The Difference
I’m getting ready to share “Attracting Abundance,” an annual class I present at HolEssence. One of the first things I define is the difference between abundance and prosperity:
Abundance is something that brings a return value to the heart. It benefits your inner self—body, mind and spirit—with intangible dividends. Examples include love, peace of mind, health, wellness, wisdom, integrity, respect, quality relationships, joy, gratitude, humor, a positive attitude, and contentment—being satisfied. Abundance is inner wealth.
Prosperity is something that brings a return value to the wallet and/or bank account. It is on the outside of self and has tangible dividends. You can touch it, hold it, drive it, live in it, wear it, swim in it, take it to the bank, or deposit it. Examples include money, jewelry, real estate, cars, boats, recreational vehicles, collections, and investments. Prosperity is material wealth.
I’d like to share with you an affirmation that I use. I am open to receive spiritual abundance. I am open to receive financial prosperity. Thank you, and so it is.
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan
www.HolEssence.com
Copyright © Laurie Buchanan — All Rights Reserved.
Tuesdays with Laurie 
I am looking forward to more on this subject. Part of my abundance is expressed by absence, in the NOT having the unnecessary, like “keeping up with the Jones”; it means as well as the Abundance of having a surplus of the things that really matter to me. Although some of it is materialistic or extravagant, those are not the things I place any real value on. My faith and spiritual beliefs give confidence in the concept of a infinity of possibilities and limitless attainment, which are a kind of spiritual entitlement. Having a busy lifetime of application of the principle of abundance truly shows that it is a winning and satisfying way to operate. Where or how we get that is unimportant, that I recognize it as a part of daily life, where so many do not, is.
Through this I believe we can use the tools you have and those we are about to acquire through Laurie’s Holessence lectures, will enable the exchanges of prosperity.
Kathy – I’m so glad you stopped by. Your commont, “… in the NOT having the unnecessary …” made me think of Terrill’s posts on Wabi-Sabi. For anyone who missed them, I highly recommend you follow that short series — they were fantastic! I agree with your mind-set of an infinity of possibilities (you go, girl!) Thank you for your visit today.
laurie,
There is Abundance every time I open one of your blogs, each one is a benefit to my mind, body, spirit, and I am blessed with wisdom, knowledge, humor, gratitude, just to name of the few gifts I receive from the gifts you share with your words, behavior, and example.
Prosperity has been a little harder for me to draw in or attract in any major way, yet I am gifted with what I need each day, through the kindness of family, and friends. I think somewhere along the way I took a vow of poverty, moving away from the everyday world of “normal” job. I have work that fills me with joy, shares the gifts of awareness, and blesses me with Creativity!
I am Love, Jeff
“… gifted with what I need each day,” “kindness of family and friends,” “joy, awareness, and creativity.” Jeff, you are wealthy indeed. Yours are the kind of riches that I’m interested in. Thank you for stopping by today.
Good Morning,
Your topics for blogging always right on.
I live in a world of abundance. I understand this and I am open to all help and suggestions.
I like your affirmations and would like to share one with you.
” I know that the Universe has plenty of everything to go around. If there is anything that someone doesn’t want or need send it my way!”
To this affimation I have started to track just how many times good fortune has fallen to me, ( just to test the Universe, she doesn’t mine. It amuses her!!) and I am always amazed and grateful to see that not only has she seen fit to take care of me but she listens to me as well.
This reminds me, I need to ask her for a really cool broom. Who know that a great stick straw broom would be so hard to find.
Smiling at you,
~Jean
http://www.jeanhartartwork.com
Your affirmation made me smile, Jean — thank you for sharing it here. I also enjoy how you refer to The Universe; it sounds like the two of you have a nice, close relationship. As to fantastic brooms … we get ours at “Hank and Eulaine’s Ozark Music & Ozark Broom Company.” Here’s a LINK to their website — enjoy!
Hmmm, I wrote a reply to this earlier. The Internet must have swallowed it. (Think, actually, that something distracting happened mid-stream…) I love how you teased apart the terms “abundance” and “prosperity”.
Years ago, many years ago, I had an intuition or knowing that convincingly knew that if I “worked” for the divine…I would always be abundant/prosperous. Now that definition of prosperous would probably leave some with eyebrows raised in the case of our life, but in actuality, our income is always enough to do what is necessary/truly desired. People can’t believe how much I/we have traveled on so little money. Fascinating, huh?
Kathy – I checked my “pending” file just in case your previous comment got stuck in there. It’s not. If you are content — then you are rich, indeed. I’ve shared this quote before, but I’ll share it again here because I just love it:
“My riches consist not in the extent of my possessions, but in the fewness of my wants.” — Joseph Brotherton
I think somehow growing up, my abundance and prosperitybuttons got turn off or turned around. It is interesting that I was showered with material items to show abundance in my life of lov, mind, body and soul. It was a false sense of security of the fact that the material things we used to bring about both. In the examination of this way, was that I really did not experiance either, as one tries to fulfil the hole that the other is not filled.
I look forward to learning more about the didstanictionof the two, in my mind I mus distringuich the two to move forward with helping my mind, body, and soul and what they are lacking, rather than seeking the materialistic things that will only temporariy fill that void.
Thanks for sharing. Kim
Kim – Making the observation(s) that you have means your half-way home! You hit the nail right on the head when you said, “… the materialistic things that will only temporarily fill that void.” It’s like throwing aspirin at a headache. It might do something for a bit — cover it up — but it doesn’t address the source; the trigger that started it in the first place. I’m glad you came by today, Kim. Thank you for stopping.
Laurie thank you for the mention of the Creative Potager wabi-sabi post. Most appreciated.
You and I are so much on the same page it is like we were bound into the same book! Your distinction between abundance and prosperity is extremely relevant and particularly so as we face these new economic times. Because sometimes people lose heart when they lose or can’t have “things” and turn to drink, drugs or suicide. If they could just read your post, and sit with it for awhile, they would notice that not all is lost without the too many things some of us seem to expect to have… only to find that they clutter and actually lower the quality of our lives. Arrrhhhggg enough said! Beautiful post Laurie.
“… only to find that they clutter and actually lower the quality of our lives.” I second the motion, Terrill. And I agree that we’re bound in the same, wonderfully feisty book!
It is an unfortunate bad habit of mine to overlook my abundance by focusing on prosperity. And yet the things that bring me the most joy are derived from abundance. I strive to learn to embrace and appreciate it.
Leanne – I was just over on YOUR BLOG where I answered your question, “Is my idea a good habit I should start ,or the continuation of a bad habit I should break?” I’ll betcha people will be curious about this juicy question and want to throw their two-cents worth in is as well … I’m glad you stopped by today, thank you.
Laurie — I love your definitions and your affirmations. I am going to use them. I am also realizing just how much I am a part of other people’s abundance. It sort of adds a new perspective on “being the change” I want to see.
I’m so glad you’re going to incorporate the affirmations, Barbara. And yes, you are — indeed — a huge part of other people’s abundance. Speaking of that, I hope that you’re considering using your blog, Eternal Presence, as the building blocks for a book, “The Art of Eternal Presence: Bringing True Presence to Life.” Like Joan Borysenko’s page-a-day, Pocketful of Miracles. Each of your daily pages could have an “exercise” that supports that type of presence. I think it’s a really good idea! Your thoughts?
Laurie — those are good thoughts! I have been thinking about writing something from this blog and I think you have just hit it square on its tiny little pixel head! I will start working on it immediately 🙂
Barbara – Every day you give me something solid for my mind to chew on throughout the day — food for thought. It’s of the same high caliber as Joan Borysenko (Pocketful of Miracles). I think a year of Eternal Presence (page a day), with an exercise (something tangible for the reader to do) for that specific “presence” would be ideal! If you’re not familiar with Pocketful of Miracles, go look at one tomorrow at Borders or Barnes and Nobel so you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Keep me posted on where your heart/head is on this …
I second the motion……..
Kim
Your most precious, valued possessions and your greatest powers are invisible and intangible. No one can take them. You, and you alone, can give them. You will receive abundance for your giving.
W. Clement Stone
Whatever we are waiting for – peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of simple abundance – it will surely come to us, but only when we are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.
Wayne Dyer
Have a great weekend everyone! I have an “abundance” of things to accomplish which will make me feel abundant, healthy from hard work, joy and celebration in my heart for others and I’m sure lots of humor!!! And we can’t forget an abundantly full belly because of my Muder’s (mom in law) wonderful cooking.
Flowers to plant as our garden club’s civic volunteer work, a graduation party to celebrate a friend’s accomplishments, and a birthday party of a brand new friend. Abundance at it’s finest!!!!
Beth – What wonderful quotes you’ve gifted us with — thank you. It’s sounds like your weekend is going to be wonderful – enjoy!
Funny how things vary.
Down here in New Zealand the meanings of the words are quite different.
Down here abundance simply refers to there being an ample sufficiency of something – lots of it. Like oxygen in the atmosphere – it is abundant, and therefore has no monetary value, because everyone can get as much as they want for free; even though it is one of the most valuable things for any of us, for deprive us of it for just 15 minutes and we are dead beyond resuscitation.
Prosperity down here is thriving good fortune, which can have a financial aspect, and isn’t required.
It is true that things which are abundant have little or no monetary value, as everyone can get all they want for free.
This distinction is a major failing of money as a management tool.
There are two mechanisms to increase the amount of money one has.
One is socially beneficial, which is to produce something that others are willing to pay you for.
The other is socially destructive, which is to increase scarcity, and thus increase the value of what one has.
Included in this scarcity modality are laws that create barriers to entry, or support monopolies, like training standards, educational standards, copyright and patents if more than a decade or so.
It is time we start thinking beyond monetary values, and start thinking abundance of those things that are necessary for a full life – so that every person experiences them, no exceptions.
“It is time we start thinking beyond monetary values, and start thinking abundance of those things that are necessary for a full life – so that every person experiences them, no exceptions.” Ted– I’m so glad you stopped by and shared your perspective. I’m in wholehearted agreement!