My Bank Account Was Constipated — Gratitude Was the Laxative

Let’s be real — nothing humbles a spiritual entrepreneur faster than refreshing your Stripe account for the tenth time and seeing the same sad number staring back. Did the tapping, the manifestation journal & even adjusted my content to meet the weekly (ever changing) algorithm criteria. But, my income was still just a trickle.

It hit me one afternoon while I was glaring at my bank balance like it had bitch slapped me: my energy was stuck. Not just a little stuck — constipated. I knew from experience that if I didn’t get ahead of this, I was looking at some serious hemorrhoids! (Ok, I’ve already made peace with the fact that this whole article is TMI! We’re rolling with it.)

Turns out, it wasn’t a new content plan I needed. It was a damn laxative. Gratitude — in its raw, unfiltered, quantum form — was the thing that finally got the flow moving again. Oh, sweet relief!

The Gratitude Myth

We throw the word “gratitude” around like confetti at a manifestation parade. The truth is, you can tell yourself you’re grateful all day long & energetically still feel like Darth Vader. You can’t fake emotion – this is what creates energy.

I used to sit in bed at night scribbling, “I’m grateful for the air in my lungs. I’m grateful to have a roof over my head.” (etc), while silently panicking about my next phone bill. That’s not gratitude. That’s gaslighting yourself with a notebook. Maybe it was an old program from the abusive marriage I was in for 18 years (& left). Maybe I just thought I could convince myself, if I write it often enough. Wherever it came from, I was done with it!

Real gratitude doesn’t live on paper — it vibrates in your cells. It’s all about what you’re feeding – the block or the flow.  Are you eating the metaphorical cheese all day (constipation) or are you drinking lots of water & consuming fruits & veggies?? The choice is yours – block or flow. 

The Energetic Truth

When you’re locked in scarcity, your frequency tightens. You hold your breath. You grip. You grind. You try to “strategize” your way out of an energetic blockage, no matter how hard you PUSH.

Gratitude, on the other hand, is the great relaxer. It signals safety to the nervous system. It reopens the channel to receiving. And the second you soften into gratitude, the Universe whispers, “Finally — now I can deliver.” 

Think of it like this: fear contracts; gratitude expands. You can’t manifest overflow from a clenched state. You have to loosen your grip, unclench your vibe, and let the energy move. Gratitude is the fiber that keeps your manifestation metabolism regular.

The Shift

My turning point came in a moment of absolute surrender & trust. I walked to my favorite maple tree in the yard with tears streaming down my face. I removed my shoes, so that I could feel her grounding energy. I got on my knees & bowed my head. “Show me how to live in the state of flow. Let my eyes see what has always been there. Guide my heart to feel the truth. Light the way for my feet, so that I can move forward in peace.” As my heart opened, I wrapped my arms around my Wise, childhood friend. When I let her go, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The bark had parted into the shape of a heart! I love this shit.

Something shifted since that healing with the tree. I finally embodied gratitude. I felt peace before evidence. Joy before results. Gratitude before the goal. And that’s when everything started flowing — new clients, inspired offers, unexpected money, and a deep sense of alignment I couldn’t fake if I tried.

Gratitude didn’t just unblock my income. It unblocked me. I realized I’d always been expecting problems. Now, I always expect flow & can live from a place of gratitude in each moment.

Here’s How

Here’s the simple ritual I teach my clients who are ready to expand beyond stuck. Before you get started, think about 1 Blessing you are ready to allow in your life. (Remember & acknowledge that the Blessings are always available, you’ve just been blocking them.) 

1. Feel it. Close your eyes and take a few, deep rhythmic breaths, in whatever way feels right for you. Repeat 10 times.
2. Allow it. (Set your timer for 10 minutes.) Now that your nervous system feels safe, recall the Blessing you are ready to receive. See it coming to you as golden sparkles from the Universe. Breathe these sparkles, this Blessing into your heart. Breathe out gratitude for this. Breathe in the Blessing. Breathe out gratitude. Keep going. Let your body memorize the feeling of gratitude. With each breath in & out, see the blessing spreading up to the top of your head & down to the bottoms of your feet. Allow your body to become so filled with this Blessing, that it begins to come out through your pores. It expands beyond your body, creating a golden sphere of Light around you. Feel this vibrating in every cell of your being. 
3. Celebrate it. Play your favorite positive song. Sing & dance. Shout, “Thank you! I love you!” Celebrate this vibration & Blessing. Know that it is done.
4. Unclinch. Relax. No expectation. No timeline. Just trust the energy you’ve activated to keep moving. It’ll come when the time is right. Be on the lookout for signs & nudges to create aligned energy towards your goal. 
5. Repeat hourly. To reprogram your energy to default into Gratitude, it’ll take lots of effort, at first. Most people are constantly worried or in fear of lack all day. Set an alarm for every hour & do this entire practice on repeat. The more often you do this, the easier & easier it gets. This is how gratitude becomes your natural state.

The Flow After the Flush

Once I stopped being energetically constipated, everything moved — money, creativity, joy, clarity. I realized gratitude wasn’t a side practice. It was the whole damn strategy.  Gratitude is the bridge between divine purpose and financial overflow.

Because at the end of the day, the Universe doesn’t respond to begging. It responds to embodiment. And gratitude? She’s the frequency of already having arrived.

TAKE ACTION: If you’re a Spiritual or Holistic Entrepreneur who’s ready to step into overflow, a multi–six-figure income, and beyond, you are invited to apply to work privately with Iena for 6 months of Elite, VIP coaching.