What comes into your mind when you think of “infinite abundance”? Maybe it’s a pile of cash or a table creaking under the weight of food. Perhaps it’s a gloriously free weekend with no responsibilities. Abundance means different things to everyone. It’s sometimes considered a selfish thing to want in your life and, consequently, it’s not often associated with a spiritual path. When you start to dig a bit deeper, however, it becomes clear that there’s more to infinite abundance than just wanting it all for yourself.

To follow a spiritual life is often seen to be a lonely path of deprivation, harsh mental discipline and delayed gratification. Some spiritual doctrines, such as Buddhism, view wealth negatively because of its capacity to create desire and attachment. It’s much more important to be emotionally free.

This is laudable but we all need money to live. The problem is when money is prized above everything else rather than being a tool that allows you to do good, for yourself and for others. Imagine being able to equip the local school with computers or getting a set of toys for the children at the women’s refuge.

To have infinite abundance in your life means being fully independent in all areas, including health and happiness. Most of us are so tied up living from paycheck to paycheck that we forget this.

One of the best ways to ensure abundant health and happiness is to meditate. Deepak Chopra maintains that this creates a connection with the Universe and allows you to fulfill your potential. By meditating on what you want in your life you’re focusing your goals more clearly. A vision board like the ones shown in “The Secret” will help this process.

Don’t wish for the money to make these things happen – it’s just the means to an end. Focus on the goal and the theory goes that whatever resources you need to make it happen will become available.

The Universe works with energy and flow. One of the most important aspects of that flow is to be able to give to others. This is where the material and spiritual paths converge and what fuels the idea that the spiritual path involves giving selflessly. In order to give selflessly, however, you have to possess the means in the first place.

There’s also no point in giving if your sole aim is to achieve more for yourself. The act of giving must be done with love and without a selfish motive. Just do it and forget about it. This process is helped by working within the context of the universal laws that help focus attention on a larger scheme.

You can give in any way that’s within your means. Some people tithe, which means promising 10% of your income on a regular basis to a charity, and others give a stranger a kind word or a greeting. Have you ever noticed how the shop clerk lights up when you take the trouble to say hi and ask how their day is going? Sometimes it’s as simple as that to keep the love flowing.

If you can invite infinite abundance into your life then you’ll find it has very little to do with money. The most important thing we all need in our lives is an abundance of love to help us grow and develop. It needs to be constant like the rays of the sun. When you give that love away in the form of kind actions, materially or emotionally and without any thought of reward, you’ll receive it back one hundred fold in the form of coincidences and opportunities in your life.