Tossing Pennies: Making Change Count

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”

-Wayne W. Dyer

I literally have tossed hundreds–if not thousands–of pennies onto the street, because I never felt like they were worth keeping.

At least that’s what I did until recently. The other day I was having a conversation with a coworker, and she excitedly showed me a penny she found lying on the ground.

We’ve had many spiritual conversations, so I knew she was familiar with terms like “abundance” and the “law of attraction,” so I wanted to learn more. It seemed strange at the time that she was so enthusiastic to have found a penny, so I asked her about it.

She didn’t have to talk for very long before I realized that I’ve had a blind spot in my life. By passing up the opportunity to pick up a penny, I am essentially telling the Universe, “No thank you. I have enough.”

I have tossed so many pennies into parking lots, stores, and streets that I can’t even count them. Now, when doing this, I usually had two motives: One was that I didn’t feel like the pennies were worth keeping. The second was that I wanted to gift a stranger with a penny that might find it lying there.

The first habit of disregarding pennies is the one that I will begin writing about today, and is the one I hope to change. The second is one of generosity–which is equally important–and I will come back to explain that later.

To make this shift really count, I put some serious thought into my habits. The act of tossing a penny is insignificant in itself, but the lack of concern regarding money is what I intend to shift.

I am beginning to say "Yes!" to any abundance the Universe wishes to throw my way. In the past–by saying “no”–I was limiting what might come next.

Abundance is like the flow of a river: If you dam it up by declining even a trickle from the stream, that may block a greater flow that was heading your way. The stream will always find the path of least resistance, and will pass right by you.

The path of least resistance is exactly what I want to become. No longer will I dam the stream of abundance. I intend to let the stream of wealth flow through me!

“Abundance is a process of letting go; that which is empty can receive.”

-Bryant H. McGill

This brings me to my second motive while throwing away the pennies. Giving away wealth is an admirable quality, and by no means am I saying I plan to become selfish with my money now. In fact, that is the only way it can flow freely through you, and I plan to keep this habit.

The abundance stream must go both directions–in and out–or else it will get blocked up on the other end. Both blockages will cause similar problems. If you become stingy with money and keep all of it for yourself, it is similar to the parable of having a teacup that is already full.

Probably most of you are familiar with some variation of this story, but if not, let me briefly explain. The student (usually a Western-educated male) comes to the master (from the East) seeking to learn about enlightenment.

Being overly educated, the student has a mind that is full of preconceived notions. The master immediately recognizes this and tells the student that he can’t teach him anything.

There is no way to teach someone who thinks they know everything already. It is like pouring tea into a cup that is already full–it overflows and is not captured.

In order to receive we must be empty, like a teacup. Otherwise the abundance will simply overflow. By selfishly holding onto wealth, we don’t allow ourselves to be filled again and again. We don’t realize that we are blocking up the other end, and limiting our abundance.

Either way–by saying “no” to pennies, or by saying “no” to being charitable–we dam the stream of wealth. Obviously though, we can't simultaneously keep all of our money while at the same time being generous.

What I discovered is that it is the motive behind the action that is important. If we are going to be charitable, we can't feel like what we are giving away is worthless.

Only by giving something away of value to us can true generosity occur, while continuing to appreciate all that we have. This is the secret to keep the abundance in our lives flowing.

Originally published on my blog here:

http://www.deanhurtt.com/tossing-pennies-making-change-count/