What Courage taught me about Abundance

The Lesson of Courage… and the Truth About Abundance

Early in my manifestation journey, I learned a lesson that has stayed with me ever since.

When I first joined a manifestation group, I remember thinking, This is it. This is where things finally start to change. At our first meeting, we were each invited to share what we wanted to manifest over the coming month. When it was my turn, I said one word:

Courage.

I was tired of feeling timid. Tired of holding back. Tired of making choices from fear—choosing what felt safe, or choosing what I felt might stop being an option, instead of what I truly wanted. Courage felt like the answer.

But the month that followed? It was awful.

By the time the next meeting came around, I could barely bring myself to go. Everything I was afraid of seemed to surface—concerns about my children, my health, my parents, my pets, my husband’s job, our financial stability, even the state of the world. It was relentless.

And then, sitting in that meeting, it hit me:

Courage isn’t something you’re handed. It’s something you live through.

It’s not a badge you pin on your blouse. It’s what shows up when life gets scary—and you keep going anyway. It’s showing up to the manifestation meeting,- beat up, deflated, when you don’t want to. Especially when you don’t want to.

That month taught me something else, too:Be specific about what you ask for.

If I had asked for “the ability to speak up for myself,” I might have been given opportunities to practice that skill. If I had asked for “confidence in expressing my opinions,” I likely would have encountered situations to grow into that.

Instead, I asked for courage—and I received it in its rawest form.

Yes, I came out of that month knowing I have courage. But I’ll be honest… it could have been a gentler lesson.

Now, Let’s Talk About Abundance

This month, we’re invited to focus on abundance.

It’s a beautiful idea. We hear affirmations like “I deserve abundance” and feel inspired. Of course we want abundance.

But let’s pause for a moment—because of what I learned about courage.

The definition of abundance is simple:more than you need.

And that’s where things get interesting.

An abundance of something you love? Bliss.An abundance of something you don’t want? Overwhelming.Even an abundance of something you do want… can become too much.

Imagine asking for a cat—and ending up with a whole litter of kittens in your front yard. Technically, that’s abundance. But is it what you meant?

So this month, I invite you to be thoughtful. If the gates of abundance are open, let’s be intentional about what we allow in.

A More Grounded Way to Think About Abundance

Instead of just asking for “abundance,” consider this:

• What are you truly willing to invest your energy in?

• What are you ready to nurture, grow, and sustain?

If you want a thriving business—how much time and effort are you willing to give it?If you dream of travel and adventure—what steps are you willing to take to make it real?

Abundance isn’t just about receiving. It’s about participation.

I deeply believe the universe is abundant. You can see it everywhere—in the countless petals of a peony, in the thousands of seeds produced by chickweed. There is no shortage of energy, creativity, or possibility.

And I also believe this:

You deserve to prosper.

But prosperity requires clarity.

Because you can create abundance…The real question is—of what?

Your Invitation This Month

Take a few quiet moments and ask yourself:

• What, specifically, would I like to have an abundance of?

• How will I recognize when I’ve reached “more than enough”?

• What am I willing to contribute to bring this into my life?

There’s a part of all of us that wants to sit back and wait—to see what the universe delivers. But passive wishing can lead to passive results.

And sometimes… that looks like an abundance of mosquitoes.

Instead, meet this month with intention. See abundance as something you actively engage with—not something that simply happens to you.

The energy is here. The opportunity is real.

Now the question is:What will you choose to grow?