How to create an abundance mindset
{no matter your income}
When you’re paying off debts, when money is tight, & when you’re living paycheck to paycheck, it’s easy to develop a scarcity mentality.
You know, this idea that there is never going to be enough. That you’ll never be in the place that you want to be, & that happiness & success is only something other people enjoy.
Though I’m a generally optimistic person, as I take time to be introspective, I’ve realized I’m guilty at times of having a scarcity mentality.
To see what I mean, let’s look at both mindsets, & see if you can relate to either. I know I experience both sets of thoughts on a daily basis–the goal is to primarily be in the abundance mentality zone, most of the time anyway.
→Scarcity mentality:
There’s never enough money.
I will never have money.
Success is reserved for only a select few, not me.
I won’t able to ever afford ________.
I’m always going to be in debt.
I’m always going to be poor.
That’s nice for so-and-so to pay off debt, but I could never do that.
I’m going to be in debt for the rest of my life.
I’m just a shop-aholic, there’s no hope for me.
I’m never going to earn enough money to pay off my debts.
I will never be rich.
I have nothing to offer.
I will never be good enough.
I don’t have enough time to do what I want.
I don’t have the energy I need to do what I want.
A decidedly dour & limited perspective, no?
In contrast, an abundance mentality is based on the idea that your success is my success, that there is more than enough goodness to go around, & that I have everything I need to be happy now.
Let’s take a closer look.
→Abundance mentality:
With hard, smart work, I can earn as much money as I choose.
I will be debt-free.
I know I have so much to offer to others.
I know I can be successful at whatever I set my mind to.
I have so much to be grateful for.
There are so many people that need me, & need my help.
Money is a tool to help others, as well as a tool to facilitate the kind of freedom & life I want to live.
I cannot do everything, but I can prioritize & do all of the things that are most important to me.
I can create the kind of life I want.
I am grateful for all the good things in my life.
I can find joy in this moment.
I have more than enough energy & passion to do the things that are most important to me.
A much nicer place to be right?
Yesterday I mentioned that this weekend I read Tell Your Time (affiliate link) by Amy Andrews.
As part of her ebook, she includes several worksheets to go through, one including a roles & goals worksheet.
Though I’ve been a goal maker since I could write, it’s been awhile since I’ve put pen to paper & written specific, intentional goals–specifically, goals related to each one of the many roles I have.
One thing I like about her worksheets is that they’re simple.
I wrote mine out in about 5 or 10 minutes.
Even though we’re paying off our debts, & we still have over $20K in credit card debt, student loans, our car, & other debts, & though there is nothing left in our checking account at the end of the month, & we currently have no long-term savings, I can have an abundance mentality.
This doesn’t mean I’m going to go buy whatever I want & do whatever I want because I believe I’m entitled to have an abundance of things.
It means I can take the worldview that right now, I have everything I need, & more.
Further, it means that I can have all the drive, ambition, & desire I need to learn, grow, & work to get to a place where I can enjoy a greater sense of freedom & even more financial/emotional/spiritual abundance.
Right now I have a loving husband. We both enjoy excellent health. We have five healthy, happy, intelligent, creative kids. Joseph enjoys working in a career that not only provides financial stability for our family but is a career path for which he is passionate. His job gives us the income we need to meet our needs and work towards our goal of becoming debt-free.
We are able to live in a beautiful, spacious home in a safe neighborhood. My kids attend an awesome school. We enjoy freedom & democracy. We never go hungry, & in fact, we’re able to buy fresh, wholesome, delicious food pretty much any time of year.
I’m able to work hard, to gain knowledge, to increase my skills set & learn & in doing so can help provide for my family while also helping others (this blog!).
I’d say I’m in a pretty good place.
I’m sure if you took a few moments to list all of the good things in your life, you’d be able to say the same.
//
For some awesome no-fluff time management/life purpose guidance,
check out Amy Andrew’s ebook, Tell Your Time
↓ It’s a quick read (only 30 pages) & comes with several printable worksheets. ↓
(&, it’s only $2.99!)
other related bring joy posts to check out:
debt-snowball update & getting real with a budget
5 steps to getting out of debt
♥
Do you ever find yourself succumbing to the scarcity mentality? Why do you think that is? Do share your thoughts!
FYI: This post contains affiliate links. You know I only promote those things I can only 100% endorse. You purchase anything via these links, I earn a commission. Thanks for supporting bring joy!
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