Do you collaborate with the universe or make it your enemy?

“I have no purpose for today except to look upon a liberated world.”—A Course in Miracles

Ask any physicist. We live in an interactive universe. Physical forces respond to how we think, what we expect, how we behave.

That’s the cool news. The not-quite-as-cool news is that most of us, instead of collaborating with this awesome force that spins worlds and expands galaxies, wage war against it. We literally put up our dukes and dare it to fight when it just likes to say, “chill, dude. Have a lemonade.”

Believe it or not, the universe has a thing for you. It wants to guide you. Bless you. Lead you on riveting new adventures.

So if you’re wondering whether you’re engaged in the most effective collaboration with the universe, here’s a guide:

Collaborators high-five their riches. They know they’re heirs to incredible wealth.

Combatants says things like “Riches? You’ve got to be kidding me. Can’t you see I’m struggling here?”

And to them I’d like to say–Look the hell up. Notice the sky’s ever-changing masterpieces for starters. It’s a veritable art museum up there and, baby, nobody’s charging admission.

Collaborators inhabit every moment. They gobble up “the now” with the same rapt interest as departing airplane passengers staring at their phones. What did I miss? Who called? Who texted? Every moment has just as much new intel as any smart phone once we commit to paying attention.

Combatants live everywhere but in the moment. They’re buried in their phones, in yesterday’s disgruntlements, in tomorrow’s worries.

Collaborators zero in on possibilities. They know nothing’s set in stone, that change is exciting and they celebrate all the ways any situation can go.

Combatants cuss. They’re mad as hell and they’re not going to take it anymore. Instead of realizing that every person, every situation offers a plethora of fascinating opportunities, they build a monument to their woe is me!

So to summarize, my fellow collaborators, today we’re going to high-five our riches, inhabit every moment and zero in on the infinite number of possibilities the universe dishes up today and every day.

Pam Grout is the author of 19 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality and the just-released, Art & Soul,Reloaded: A Year-Long Apprenticeship to Summon the Muses and Ignite Your Daring, Audacious, Creative Side.