An Abundance Mindset

It's easy to see the negative in a situation. It seems that social media and the traditional media outlets nowadays sensationalize it. We naturally seek out the easy route, but have to train ourselves to sometimes do the things that are more difficult. 

There is always a negative tweet out there with thousands of retweets, likes and comments. Negativity can invoke emotion or opinion, and is a convenient way to engage a user. 

The side effect is the weight of negativity that's carried around with you. It affects your thoughts, words and actions most times, in ways that sometimes you don't realize... until it's too late! 

Thinking in abundance, and positivity can be empowering. It helps you to attract more of the outcomes that you want! 

What is an Abundance Mindset? 

An abundance mindset is a belief that there is no shortage in this world for everyone to win. There is enough for everyone, to be happy and to succeed in some way. It is way of thinking that frames your thoughts, words and decisions towards creating a more favorable reality. 

It is the framework that allows you to create a win-win situation for those that you work... and to be a great asset to a team. 

It is a belief that someone else does not need to lose, for you to win. Whether it be your co-worker, your boss, your employee, or another business. 

We can all win, and we can continue to do so! 

What is a Scarcity Mentality? 

A Scarcity Mentality, is the opposite. It is when your attention goes towards what you don't have.

It sees things as finite, that someone's successes equates to another's failure. It sees things as a zero sum, and comes from a negative place. 

Someone else does not need to lose, for you to win! 

How Can I Start to Practice an Abundance Mindset? 

Here are a some things that I use... 

Search for the Good in a Situation:

• Try to reframe a "problem" as an "opportunity".
• When you "don't feel like" doing something, be thankful for the ability or opportunity to do it.
• Seek out the things that are good, and appreciate them, no matter how simple.. a sunset, a plant, your dog.. anything! 
• Practice finding reasons to be grateful in as many circumstances as you can!
  
  

Create Win-Win Situations: 

• Understand that most things are not a zero sum. It's better to work together than against each other. 
• Know that helping your co-worker or teammate succeed does not take away from your potential successes.
• Remember "If you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together!"
• In a negotiation be smart, but make it good for the other person. Understand that in the big picture, it does not need to take away from you! 

Avoid Negativity: 

• You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with... pick good people to socialize with! 
• Be mindful of the content that you consume, and more importantly don't let invoke negativity. 
• Practice recognizing negative thoughts, and finding ways to overturn them with positivity.
• Realize that you are not a victim, you are in the driver's seat! 

This is in no way meant to tout a "moral superiority", or an attempt to describe an all inclusive perfect framework for thinking. It's not meant for anything of the like.

An abundance mindset is something that's impacted me in the past, and something that I recently recognized the need to be more active with today. 

The past couple of months, I've been "kicked in the teeth" repeatedly, more times than I can count now. I felt myself spiraling into a negative mindset and back-peddling. The self-doubt, and frustration started to kick in.

I started "seeking out" the next issue, wondering "what's next?". 

It wasn't until I realized... the good that was there, that my thoughts started to turn around.. and once my thoughts turned around, things literally started to get better! 

You can attract good, or you can attract bad. It's really... how you look at it! 

More and more, I am thankful that these situations are what I called "problems".. because in reality, they are just opportunities to grow. 

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.”

-Oprah Winfrey