If you’ve ever tried searching for ways to attract more positivity and wealth into your life, you’ve likely come across the term “abundance mindset.”
Just by typing it into Google Trends, you can see the explosion of interest and popularity.
But unlike many trends, this one isn’t a fad.
It’s very similar to the Law of Attraction in that by changing your mindset, you adopt different outlooks, which attracts new opportunities.
Your mindset can have a significant impact on how your life turns out. For example, the simple act of positive thinking and mindfulness can lead to an increased lifespan, reduced pain levels, better cardiovascular health, and a lower risk of death from cancer and respiratory conditions, among many others (according to Mayo Clinic).
But what is an abundance mindset, and how can you develop one?
The term “abundance mentality” was coined in 1989 in Steven Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. These are mentalities and habits that Covey believes successful entrepreneurs and business owners carry with them throughout their lives.
At its core, it’s the belief that there are enough resources and success in the world to share with other people. So it won’t ever run out.
On the other hand, a “scarcity mentality” is the belief that if someone wins, you must lose something.
These two opposite ways of thinking can change your whole perspective. People with a scarcity mentality focus on unmet needs, what other people have and what they don’t. As a result, they tend to think short-term and likely have unfulfilling relationships.
On the other hand, individuals with an abundance mentality focus on things they already have. As a result, they don’t live in fear, allowing them to experience the benefits of being appreciative and better decision-making.
Instead of seeing others as competitors, an abundance mentality means you see peers as prospective collaborators and partners.
This is because it’s based on a deep-seated belief that the world is filled with opportunities and possibilities and that helping other people achieve their goals will assist you in achieving your own.
From the basic concept that there’s enough success and opportunity to go around and that you must seek it out, a dynamic and powerful system of professional and personal growth arises.
Think about it: when you believe the world is filled with opportunities, you instantly become more receptive to new ideas. As a result, you are ready to engage with the opportunities the universe provides.
The term “abundance” makes many people think of wealth and making money, but in reality, it can be that and so much more: simply overall happiness.
Image Credit: Photo by Jeremy Bishop; Unsplash; Thank you!
An abundance mindset helps you understand that the world is filled with unlimited possibilities. Therefore, you won’t worry about missed opportunities, closed doors, and failures.
You’re secure in knowing that in the next month, week, or year, there will be better and more exciting opportunities at your disposal.
People with a fixed, scarcity mindset typically fear the unknown. They fear the worst in the future yet don’t know what it holds for them.
With the abundance mindset, you can embrace the future because you know there are plenty of chances to go around, meaning you won’t miss an opportunity. This leads to more excitement in both your professional and personal life!
When you know there are enough resources in the universe to go around, you’ll give to others without thinking twice.
This isn’t limited to money—you can share your knowledge, advice, and time. And as we all know, a ripple effect comes with giving; the more you give, the more you receive.
The right mentality can help you become more appreciative of every experience in your life, making sure you never take anything for granted and allowing you to live in the moment.
An abundance mindset also helps you fall in love with your work and life, even if things aren’t working out at the moment.
As humans, we must understand that change is essential to life. Without change, there’s no growth. Therefore, developing an abundance mindset assists you in becoming more receptive to life changes when they inevitably come.
When they do, you’ll be optimistic that they’ll lead to positive outcomes, even when the change is challenging to navigate.
People with a scarcity mentality always have something negative to say.
With an abundance mentality, you always know what to say and when to say it since you understand the language you use shapes your reality.
You subconsciously end up complaining less while saying more of the words that inspire, motivate, build confidence and indicate to those around you that you value them.
Limitless doors open when you switch your thinking from “this is terrible” to “this is an opportunity to learn something.”
You avoid developing a victim mentality and pessimistic outlook on current circumstances, allowing you to focus objectively and clearly on what’s not working and what is.
Being appreciative is essential in every aspect of life. Once you start being grateful for everything, you’ll notice that your communication style will also improve. And as soon as you start being appreciative, people around you will, too.
An abundance mentality means not feeling guilty over what you have and what others don’t. Instead, you focus on being happy with who you are and what you already own.
The best way to start practicing gratitude is journaling.
Start writing at least 5-10 things you’re genuinely grateful for. It can be anything simple as beautiful weather or having clean sheets.
Image Credit: Photo by Gabrielle Henderson; Unsplash; Thank you!
You need to believe you can achieve something to develop an abundance mindset. This means you must make a literal shift in your brain pattern.
Establish the areas you already succeed in and what your overall strengths are. If you have difficulty determining this, think back to moments in your life when you experienced achievements or reached goals.
Don’t think about your weaknesses, as this signifies having a scarcity mentality. Instead, you have to acknowledge that you’re capable and expand on the things that have contributed to your success. Then, it’s as simple as improving those strengths by just 1% daily.
At some point in life, we’ve all said one thing but meant something else.
The words you use to communicate with others are the key to living in abundance, and they should do that rather than scarcity. The people you talk to pick up on your language, whether you’re aware of it or not.
Always be active in every conversation, and make it a point to avoid using words like “impossible” and “can’t.”
Shifting your mentality can be difficult when you focus only on the big picture. Instead, you have to acknowledge the little things that contribute to it.
It’s easy to get caught up on the overall goal when you don’t acknowledge the effort that goes into it. This is an excellent way to shake off the dust in your mind. It allows you to loosen up, let go, and expand your brain to the little things.
Find a quiet and peaceful spot to spend time daily. You can begin with just 5 minutes and gradually increase the time as it gets easier.
If you want an abundance mindset, you can’t have one derived from scarcity. So it would help if you got rid of it.
Living in abundance is intertwined with having self-awareness and focusing on individual growth. To develop an abundance mindset, you must search for things that expand feelings of abundance and build positive habits.
Signing up for email newsletters that make you feel thankful and grateful are steps in the right direction. Here are some sites full of good news, helpful tips, and little things to help you work on your abundance mindset.
In addition, you should cut out anything that fosters a scarcity mindset. This will help you feel more motivated and positive. This way, you’ll be able to build more meaningful experiences and confidence in your life.
Look at what you love doing and ask yourself whether it’s worth sharing with others and if you care enough to share your thoughts or opinions.
If they aren’t worth sharing, you probably should cut them out. Instead, you should share your passion online or offline, or both. First, create a checklist of items you want to share and people you want to work with.
Sharing with others about what you love will help you add value to other people’s lives, and this will create a sense of abundance. This will increase your happiness and motivate you to look for ways to grow further. It’ll also help you look for breakthroughs in your life and others.
Even though surrounding yourself doesn’t warrant an actionable item since it’s actionable in itself, don’t overlook its importance. You can’t cultivate an abundance mindset if you surround yourself with people who don’t feel the same way.
The people around you should have a positive outlook, too. This way, you’ll uplift and encourage each other, thus fostering an abundance mentality. If you want your life to support your growth and success, you have to build a network of like-minded individuals.
Positive-minded friends upgrade your thinking, cheer you on, and hold you accountable when you make mistakes. And as a result, they’re committed to growing and will appreciate your experiences.
Having an abundance mindset can make you more confident, empowered, and positive. In addition, an abundance mentality builds clarity around your goals and gives you the motivation to achieve them.
On top of that, you’ll have the confidence to improve your existing strengths.
Although developing this mentality isn’t natural initially, it’ll help you lead a fulfilling and meaningful life. But with these 8 tips, cultivating it is much easier.
Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Thank you!
Freya is the founder of CollectingCents – a website that teaches readers how to better manage their finances. She is a quoted contributor in several online publications including Business Insider, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, the Huffington Post, BankRate, and GoBankingRates.
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