Hiya, Pinkies! Three PINK cheers for our newest Less Stress, More Life Mojo Mentor team, Lakenda Wallace and Simone Da Rosa (aka Good Witch and Bad Witch). Lakenda posted a beautiful post in response to one Pinkie on the Pink Posse forum who was having a hard time surrendering to the Universe in the midst of so much financial uncertainty. Lakenda's gorgeous comment in response to this post inspired me to reprint it here, for all you Pinkies who might feel tempted to buy into the fear that accompanies an economic downturn. Not to diminish the real concerns you Pinkies face. I know you're losing jobs, struggling to pay the bills, and wishing you could pleap fearlessly, knowing the money would flow in. But I've come to think a slower economy can be good for our souls. It gives us an opportunity to turn inward, assess our prioritize and learn to live in gratitude for all the abundance that surrounds us, even in the face of financial distress. Remember, your pink diamond lies within. No one can ever take that away from you.

But enough from me. Let's me introduce you to Lakenda, a very very GOOD witch, indeed. Let's hear it for Lakenda!

If you are feeling the crunch of tough financial times, you are SO not alone. Many people are struggling to make ends meet as the usual sources of income dwindle. This, however, does not mean it will always be this way or has to stay this way for you for any length of time.

In truth, we are moving into a new stage of our planetary evolution. The Age of Aquarius is almost upon us and with it the turning of the Great Year to the Golden Age. But in order to shift into this new cycle of higher evolution, we must first recognize and change the ways of being which are not working. What we are shifting right now is fundamental to how we live our lives. We are changing up how we spend and receive our money to better align with our true values.

We are moving away from defining ourselves by the designers we wear and the status cars we "need" to drive. In this economic stress, we are learning the value of where we spend the few dollars we do have. I believe this is why we are beginning to see emerging fields, like Wellness and Green industries, which offer balanced karmic accounts—ones that contribute to the health of the planet, as well as the practitioners and clients.

I know this big picture view can sound like nice, pie in the sky rhetoric when you are trying to keep your life afloat with less. But it is about opening up to the larger picture, which in turn opens you to opportunities and possibilities you may not have seen before. What do you enjoy doing? Can you start a side business following your bliss? Look for the places where you can make in roads to gain more per hour so you can take the 10 clients down to 6 or 7. Where can you reduce expenses without cutting out the things that make life worth living? Can you switch your phone or email services? I even called my cable company and talked them into reducing my monthly bill with no change in programming. In many cases creditors would rather work with you than lose your business to a competitor.

Right now, those of us working—even if for 10 clients at low pay—are better off than some who can find no work at all. Stay positive, because really, we are blessed. Maybe not as blessed as we'd like to be right now, but blessed all the same.

Here's an easy exercise to keep your outlook optimistic. Start a Gratitude Journal. Allow yourself to recognize daily what is working in your life. As you really feel the joy and thanks for what you have now, you allow yourself to appreciate your current situation. This acceptance of where you are in the present will help you define where you want to go in the future. It also fuels that wonderful Law of Attraction to bring more of what you want into your life. So, go ahead and be grateful for the work you have now. Then ask the Universe for more. Feel the joy of doing whatever work comes your way now and then place a more specific order from the Universe of how you would like your work life (and income) to look in the future.

Remember, in the Chinese characters, crisis and opportunity are the same. In this crisis, you have the opportunity to better define what you enjoy in your life now and what you'd enjoy for your life in the future. Then, just listen to those nudges and reminders (thoughts that show up 3 or more times) and follow through. Remember, some people made family fortunes during the Great Depression. This crisis may be our opportunity to do the same.

I wish you good luck and blessings for a prosperous future filled with love, joy and abundance.
With Pink love and plentiful happiness,
Lakenda

PS. Check this out, Pinkies. India Arie reminds us that There's Hope: