Prosperity is just a thought away. That sounds simple doesn't it? It would be great if, by saying some magical affirmation, rubbing a crystal, reading a spiritual or religious passage, money, in large denominations and in an unending amount, fell from the heavens. We just needed to stand there with a huge basket and collect all the money we wanted, whenever we wanted it.

Ah, if it were that easy. Prosperity, like everything else, starts with our intentions, beliefs and actions. It involves doing something rather than just thinking about it or wishing for something to be different than it is. It also involves believing that you deserve and can manifest something that resonates with your heart's desires.  

I can intend to manifest large amounts of money and I can do hundreds of affirmations a day, but if believe I am not worthy of prosperity, “money doesn't grow on trees," or "money is the root of all evil," the likelihood of my being or remaining prosperous is almost nil. Working on identifying and then eliminating those thoughts would be the first action to take to become more prosperous.

I can be very stingy, never sharing with others and always afraid I'll lose all my money or worrying that somebody has more than I do. With this frame of mind and the accompanying actions, no matter how much money I have, it will never be enough and I will not feel prosperous. I'll always be worrying about what will happen tomorrow instead of fully enjoying today. I'll be wasting a lot of time worrying instead of enjoying what I have. Worry begets worry and joy begets joy. Your thoughts determine what you experience and only you can control your thoughts.

Oh, by the way, in my opinion prosperity is more than just the amount of money you have in your wallet, bank account or piggy bank. It's an attitude of gratitude. I might have 10 bucks in the bank and still feel more satisfied with my life than somebody who has 10 billion dollars in investments. The amount of money doesn't matter. What does matter is if you enjoy and are grateful for whatever you have in this present moment. And, once again, it's your thoughts that determine if you're prosperous or not. It's about how you feel rather than a number that appears on your bank statement. 

Personally, to feel prosperous,  I stay focused on my thoughts. Throughout the day, I ask myself, RIGHT NOW, what is the one thing that I want to do that will give me joy, without intentionally or unintentionally harming myself or another?  More often than not, it will be something tiny. I might want to get a glass of water, call a friend, tend to my flowers or do nothing at all. If I honor those feelings, nothing is lacking in that moment and I feel satisfied. And satisfied is a close relative of prosperous.

A larger car, house or income won't make me any happier because none of them are related to how I really feel and what I really want — joy, love, peace and health. Notice, those are things that can't be found in the biggest shopping mall. They are not outside of us; they are within us.

Prosperity is about how you feel. Are you calm? Are you having fun? Are you helping others? Are you free of grudges? Are you loved, loving and loveable? If you said "Yes" you are rich in spirit. The amount of money you have doesn't determine if you are prosperous or not; your feelings and thoughts do.

So what thought can you think and action can you take right now that will make you feel grateful, satisfied, content and happier? Are you ready to do it now? Are you ready to commit to the action for the next 30 days? If not, what thought do you have that's keeping you stuck instead of moving forward and having a more prosperous life? Remember, you're in charge of your thoughts and you have the power to change those thoughts!