Do you live in gratitude for what you have, or resentment for what you don’t have?

It’s a very important distinction, because when we live from that place of gratitude, our cup is inexplicably full. We see ourselves as connected to others, and that allows us to recognise when others are in need of help, and to give to them in whatever capacity we can.

This is what paying it forward is really about.

But when we operate from a sense of “lack”, our cup is empty. We look to the world to give back to us, to fill our needs, to solve our problems. It’s impossible to give from that space, because instead of being a positive magnet, we’ve become a negative magnet, so our energy is pulling in a completely different direction.

Recently a friend asked a favour of me, and offered to pay me. Whilst I would have gifted him my help at no cost, the fact is that I have helped him out a lot recently, and I knew he really wanted to pay me. He wanted to feel that he was giving back.

So I gave him a “mate’s rates” price, one that wouldn’t strain his budget in any way.

He was surprised at how “cheap” my price was, and challenged me on it.

“Your time is worth more than that, Artemis!”

I needed to sit with this. What was my real reason for requesting such a small financial energy exchange? Could it be that I don’t value my own worth? Is it possible I’m trying to buy his friendship with acts of service? Or is it something else….

I sat with these different possibilities, allowing my subconscious to sift through them to uncover the truth, patiently waiting for the answer to bubble to the surface.

The answer came to me this morning. And as it did, I felt my heart bursting out of my chest and I absolutely knew this to be true. This is what I realised….

Yes, money is a commodity. We need it to pay for food, shelter and a way of life. I was going to write “It’s an important commodity”, but I realised it’s simply a commodity. It’s neither good nor bad.

I have certain activities I do to earn money. I pour a lot of love and care and attention into my work, and the money flows in.

But this is different. Aside from money, there’s a whole other world where money exchange plays no part. This is the world of the Spirit. It doesn’t mean there can’t be money – it’s just that it flows like a river beside whatever we are doing, and doesn’t need to have any attention or focus given to it.

It’s not a bartering tool, a case of “I’m giving you this, so you need to give me that”. That’s applicable in the human world where we go to buy food and pay rent, or pay for a service (from gardening to childminding to massage). But it doesn’t apply in the world of Spirit when we are called to help another.

There are a lot of really good people here on our Planet, and many of them are struggling right now. As I look around me, I see so many of these light bearers moving through personal crisis.

It’s tough for them. It’s been tough for me too.

We are each other’s lifelines.

When we see someone in need, it’s so beautiful to be able to reach out to help them, in a way that is truly unconditional, ie. no strings attached, no expectation in return.

I know that by doing good in this world, money will flow to me. It may flow to me from those people I do good for (ie. from an energy exchange), but more often I give in one direction, and receive in another.

As I give, so shall I receive.

Just as I’m there offering help to others in need, so too do I have those around me who offer help to me when I’m in need. Some of those people are in physical embodiment, and some are beyond the veil and unseen, yet their actions are felt.

If you read my blog on ''The Calling'', you will know that I received a calling that was beyond this world. It didn’t originate from my personal self, nor did it originate from the animal in question…it was something higher, something greater, that called me to go back and help this animal in need, even though it appeared to be dead.

The more grateful we are, the more we can give to others from a truly sensitive space.

I’ve spoken in my blog ''The Money Tree'' about the difference between “unconditional” love and “Universal” love. Universal love is when we give because something higher guides us to give, and not because it’s an automatic response.

Sometimes giving is not what’s needed, even if we see someone or something in need.

Sometimes an animal needs to be allowed to die in peace, rather than being brought back from the edge of death. Sometimes a person needs to hit rock bottom, rather than being rescued (which could perpetuate an unhealthy cycle).

So when we are giving, it’s important to be grounded and attuned.

When we are in a state of gratitude, it’s easy to achieve this state. Step back from the “need” to help others as part of your own identity. Instead, allow it to be something you do because you are called to do it in that moment.

Then you will help when it really is needed, and allow someone to help themselves when that’s what is needed.

So I invite you to pay it forward this festive season, with an act of kindness to someone in need. Together, let’s create a tidal wave of love and positive energy across our Planet, so that it touches not only the people we’ve directly impacted, but indeed the whole world.

If you want to foster these qualities within yourself, there are three essential oil blends from Young Living that I love to use.

One is Gratitude oil, which is part of my 7 Oil Ritual. It is my anti-resentment oil. A drop on the heart is a great way of dispersing resentment and an empty-cup outlook, and replacing it with gratitude and a cup-overflowing outlook.

Another is Abundance oil, which is also part of my 7 Oil Ritual. I put a drop on my wrists each day, and it allows me to be in flow financially.

The third oil is Awaken oil, which I put on the two edges of my pillow at night (left side and right side). This is a Master Blend, comprising the energy and blends of Joy, Forgiveness, Harmony, Dream Catcher and Present Time. As a blend, its beautiful aroma helps us to receive the many gifts of love and abundance that surround us, as it carries us into our highest consciousness.

Contact us for assistance and advice around the best essential oils to help you and your loved ones