I recently found this blog post in my drafts and loved the concept. Although I’ve grown and changed since I wrote this a few years ago, I kept it the same and added updates instead of changing the content. It feels like a sweet reminder of my growth! Enjoy:
I remember when I first learned about abundance and scarcity. At that time, I had all the evidence of not enough-ness. So I thought it was low-key wacky to tell myself I had everything I needed, when that felt like the furthest thing from the truth.
An abundance mindset is not just about money. It’s about your mind’s ability to see solutions instead of problems. It’s about training your mind to be resourceful instead of threatened. And in that state, you can indeed change your mind by training your mind to filter for abundance instead of scarcity.
Shifiting from scarcity into abundance for me is about having resources or tools in my mindset toolkit to help me switch gears. So, as you read these tips, try them, notice what works for you and, comment below if you’ve got a good tip that works for you! (read the 7 signs of a scarcity mindset here)
Abundance Mindset tip #1: Create your morning routine
Call it the Miracle Morning like Hal Elrod does, if you will, but the point is that you create a series of rituals you always follow. Rituals that promote abundance. Rituals you don’t skip. For me, this means spending time with God (reading, gratitude, prayer), journaling, and reading for my business. Good ideas flow and I stay focused when I follow this routine.
UPDATE: since I originally wrote this, I’ve been diagnosed with C-PTSD and my morning routine has changed to focus much more on nervous system regulation. But here’s what remains true: A morning routine is about keeping your promises to yourself and creating a trusting relationship inside yourself. Focus on that more than the actual elements of your routine.
Abundance Mindset tip #2: Practice gratitude
Spend time being grateful for the beautiful things and people in your life. In addition, be grateful for the things to come-welcoming the potential for good things to have room in your life is a powerful tool to actually realizing them. For me, this looks like prayer time thanking God for the beautiful life He’s provided me. It often brings me to tears and is such a beautiful way to begin a day.
Abundance Mindset tip #3: Call someone on your abundance list
I recently heard Garrett Gunderson, author of Killing Sacred Cows share this idea on this podcast. It’s new to me, but caught my attention. He recommends making a list of people you know who practice abundance. When you’re really stuck, call someone from that list, asking them about progress they’re seeing, what they are seeking for success, and even asking how you can help and support them. I thought for sure he would then recommend sharing the issues nagging at you, but he didn’t! Why not? Because scarcity is a taking mindset and this simple exercise reenergizes us to give instead of take! Simple, free, and genius!
Abundance Mindset tip #4: Be near high net worth individuals
Go sit in a 5 start hotel lobby, pull up a stool at a bougie bar, casually browse through Chanel, or any other activity where you can surround yourself with wealth is key for this activity. I want you to notice 2 things:
First what are the people like? And does this match your conception of wealthy people? The simple concept with this technique is to surround yourself with the people who have what you now desire. Listen to how they talk about their life and money, look at the things they have, and just observe them. Chances are you will notice that, despite having luxury material goods, these people have their eyes set on bigger things. Having nice things is just a perk, not a driving force.
Second, I want you to pay attention to your thoughts about YOURSELF in relationship to high net worth individuals. Do you feel like a fraud shopping in a luxury brand store? Do you feel resentful or unsafe around high net worth individuals? Do you notice feelings of inferiority? Yearning? Fascination? Notice your thoughs about yourself and what’s possible for you.
Abundance Mindset tip #5: Write it out
I’ve found that my mind has limits to what it can process. And if I’m spending all my precious brain energy on things of the past or worries for the future, there won’t be much mental energy left to actually strategize for my business. So I journal. The act of journaling gives me the chance to write out everything swirling around in my brain without order or explanation. Just doing that allows those thoughts crowding my mind to live elsewhere so I can free up space for the really important thinking tasks.
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Abundance Mindset tip #6: Brainstorm
Nothing snaps me out of the scarcity blues like a brainstorming session! I sit down with a notebook and pen, write my problem, then write all solutions I can think of. ALL solutions are welcomed-this isn’t a time to exclude or narrow them down. I regularly brainstorm solutions to blocks, topics to write about, ways to market, etc.
Why this works
A scarcity mindset is essential an unresourceful mindset. Brainstorming is an effective way to get resourceful. This means you’ll begin noticing solutions and opportunities instead of problems and threats. And when you notice solutions and opportunities, your mind will draw into your life more of the same.
Abundance Mindset tip #7: Give to others
As I mentioned before, scarcity is largely a taking type of mindset. So, practicing generosity is the perfect way to banish scarcity. Someone who lives abundantly both receives abundantly AND gives abundantly, so get giving to keep that abundance flowing through your life. Whether you write a thank you card, give money, time, expertise, or attention with someone else, sharing your energy with someone else is a vital part of an abundance mindset
Abundance Mindset tip #8: Exercise
I used to work out for 1.5 hours a day, 5-7 days a week. I loved working out and missed it if I couldn’t. Over the past few years, however, I have learned a lot about running a business, hustled hard, and felt like one of the natural sacrifices was giving up regular exercise. As I took on extra weight, I started to see that that was a huge mistake. Not only was I unhappy with myself, but I was taking away my body’s powerful ability to produce endorphins, a natural mood booster! I’m reintroducing regular exercise, but now I think of it as necessary self-care, not a luxurious bonus if I worked hard enough.
UPDATE: I almost changed this section completely…but this represents a former version of myself so I’ll keep it here. My current view of exercise: I move my body daily and joyfully. I do so not to change my body, but to expend pent up anxiety. I move for mental health, not so much physical health. I now view movement as self love and physical health and fitness as a byproduct of self-love.
Abundance Mindset tip #9: Screen-free time
Scrolling leads to comparison, desperation, and frenetic energy. I noticed that the simple act of taking my phone downstairs with me when I began my morning ritual would completely derail my day nearly EVERY time. I know that now, so on Sunday evening, I plan my social posts for the week (or more when I can!), wake up, publish my instagram post, then leave my phone upstairs for the first few hours of my day. I use Later to schedule my social posts and have heard good things about Planoly, Hootsuite, and MeetEdgar too.
UPDATE: Since I originally wrote this, I have educated myself on trauma and recognize mindless activities like scrolling, over/under eating, drinking, risk taking behaviors and more as potentially dissociative coping tools. I work with my nervous system to come down out of dissociation into a calm, regulated state now as my first move when I notice I’m scrolling.
Abundance Mindset tip #10: Start your day with a daily intention and plan.
Each morning, I spend time setting my day’s intentions and action steps. I made myself a planner sheet that I use on occasion, or just a journal as I find that it helps me remember my life’s calling, prioritize important tasks over to-do lists, and remove reasons to procrastinate. When I do this, I find that I can actually measure the increase in how much money I make and, more importantly, how well I serve my clients.
Conclusion
Shifting gears from scarcity into abundance takes some resources. Try out these tools and make a list of the resources that help you tap into that feeling of “I’ve got more than enough! Life is good.”
Comment below and tell me what helps YOU shift from Scarcity into abundance?
Ready to binge read?
An abundance mindset is not just about money. It’s about your mind’s ability to see solutions instead of problems. It’s about training your mind to be resourceful instead of threatened. And in that state, you can indeed change your mind by training your mind to filter for abundance instead of scarcity.