What Is Prosperity Consciousness? Part 1 by Dr. Ralph Huber

We know that actions speak louder than words and that now is the time to put feet on our faith. As Rev. Brendalyn would say, it's WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD time! Our Annual Pledge cards are available and we are so deeply grateful for each and every one of you and for your continued support which enables us to keep our doors open to nourish, inspire and welcome all people.

Some may ask, "What is Prosperity Consciousness?". Our Board President, Ralph Huber. has written a 3-part series in which he will share some passages about prosperity consciousness from Eric Butterworth’s book "Spiritual Economics" as well as related passages on prosperity consciousness from Charles and Myrtle Fillmore and other teachers of prosperity. The words below are Ralph's.

First, let me say that I’ve never been as clear as I’d have liked about what exactly was meant by prosperity conscious.  I knew that when Charles and Myrtle Fillmore were experiencing lack of funds their first move was to look to their consciousness. Eric Butterworth writes that the Fillmores believed that.

When we establish ourselves in the consciousness of God, the whole Universe moves to flow into us with its abundance of life and substance [and] that there is no such thing as a purely financial problem unrelated to false attitudes and emotions that caused it or a healthy attitude or emotion that can cure it. (pp. xii-xiii, emphasis added)

In other words, prosperity is an inside job. Truly, as Louise Hay asserts, “Your prosperity consciousness is not dependent on money; your flow of money is dependent upon your prosperity consciousness. (p.118, You Can Heal Your Life, emphasis added).

In explaining the nature of prosperity consciousness, Butterworth writes: Take a close look at the challenges you are facing: a possible layoff, an important career decision, the inability to make ends meet on your current income. If you identify these as your ‘‘problems,” there is a tendency to see them as static and burdensome and with a feeling of resentment and self-pity [along with feeling of worry and anxiety].

However, see the challenges as “projects,” and you tune in on a whole different flow of consciousness.  You are faced with some opportunities to grow, but you feel secure in the awareness that, in the main, the answers will unfold from within.

There is a sense of lightness, of clear horizons, and of confident expectancy.  It is the same so-called “trouble,” but your attitude is different.  And according to your thoughts, your faith, and your feeling, it will be done unto you. It is a mystic [Oneness with God] teaching that is ages old but amazingly relevant. (pp. 125-126, emphasis added)

So in prosperity consciousness—a oneness with God consciousness--there is no room for worried or anxious thoughts, rather there is a fully present confidence that the answers will come from within ourselves—from who we truly are…our GodSelf.  Charles Fillmore speaks directly to this point by writing that Jesus advised his followers not to be anxious.  And that we are to “refuse to let thoughts of worry, anxiety, or other distraction act in [our] minds.”(p. 81,  Jesus Christ Heals). Instead we are to “establish an inner quietness that finally merges into a great peace. This is the ‘peace of God, which passeth understanding’ When this peace is attained, the individual gets inspirations and revelations direct from Infinite Mind.” (p. 82, Jesus Christ Heals, emphasis added)
 
In like manner, Myrtle Fillmore says that…
 We are to cease worrying and being anxious, thinking and speaking of the past and of apparent lack….We are to concentrate all our attention upon the Truth of God [as Source], and the truth of our own being [as children of God],upon the very things we would see taking place in our life. We cannot do this so long as we have negative thoughts in our heart. (p. 232, The Story of Unity, emphasis added)

Butterworth advises us to mindful of the thoughts we hold when “trouble” appears to strike:
If you brood over the letdown, the disappointment in a job, or some complete collapse of a financial involvement, you simply magnify it out of all proportion. It is like taking a pebble off the beach and holding it close to your eyes. It may be a small stone, but held close enough it can completely screen your view. Hold it at a proper viewing distance and it can be examined and properly dealt with. (p. 126, emphasis added)

And so we may find it helpful to ask ourselves, What do I focus on when I experience a lack in my life? What feelings do I have?  Am I continually nursing anxious and worried thoughts, not having any real measure of faith that I have the answers within me if only I keep my attention on God rather than on the pebble of “trouble” that I hold in my hand

By asking these questions, we open ourselves up to the realization that we have a choice about how we respond. As Butterworth observes…You are always responsible for the way you accept things that happen to you. The incident is external; the reaction is always your own….All that really counts is what is happening within you. How are you reacting to the experience?  Where is your faith?  Within you is a limitless, unborn potential of creativity and substance, and the present experience can be your great opportunity to give birth to it. Thus, if you will, the tragedy can become a blessing, the disadvantage can become an advantage, the failure can become an opportunity, and the disappointment can become “God’s appointment….Shakespeare had this in mind when he said in As You Like It: “Sweet are the uses of adversity.” (p. 127-129, emphases added)