Woo Hoo! We made it to 2021!! Happy New Year! As I reflect, 2020 was a year of highs and lows, but for me, it was a year of deep personal growth, and for that, I am grateful. I have been thinking about abundance, and for me, part of that is changing my mindset from a scarcity to abundance.
This is one of the hardest things I’ve written about because I’m actively working through this and allowing space for the feelings to arise. I feel raw and vulnerable about this topic, especially from a financial standpoint.
I reviewed my debts and looked at how many purchases could be deemed frivolous. I saw how far off budget I was for the year and started to look at areas where I can tighten my spending.
Honestly, I have tried every technique available for financial abundance, I have purchased different apps, created spreadsheets, and spent countless hours pouring over my finances. I have manifested, prayed, and even played the Lotto a few times. I have been successful at times and other times not so successful.
A scarcity mindset believes there will not be enough, or there isn’t enough to go around. For me, this results in feelings of fear, stress, and anxiety. I have experienced abundant times in my life, when I embody an abundance mindset and life flows from a deeper place where I feel safe and worthy.
Although I started writing this from a financial perspective, the abundance/scarcity mindset is not just about money or finances, and is also reflected in everyday life. Thoughts like “Why does this happen to me all the time?” Or “Why couldn’t I have found a great deal like that?” bubble up; which leads me to feeling sorry for myself, which leads to more scarcity thoughts.
Although I am aware I have that type of mindset especially at this time of year, I wasn’t aware of how scarcity thoughts are affecting my everyday life. My eyes were opened when I went to The Bright Blog Space and read the examples of a scarcity mindset vs an abundance mindset written by JessicaDW.
JessicaDW states:
When someone gives you a gift that you don’t particularly like, scarcity says, “They know I don’t like this, I don’t know why they got this for me!” Abundance says, “Wow, that was so nice! I can’t believe they remembered my birthday.”
When you get the email from the recruiter letting you know they’re moving on to other candidates, scarcity says, “I didn’t get this job, I’m not good enough, I will never get a job!” While abundance says, “That wasn’t the right fit for me. My dream job is still out there waiting for me. I’ll keep looking.”
Sounds like reframing, right? It is! However, it’s more than just reframing; it’s feeling into the scarcity and then coming out of it with gratitude and compassion.
I took my dog for a walk earlier this morning and passed a lovely 4 bedroom home with a big yard and I thought, “Man if only I could afford a home like that!” I started to daydream about how I would use the space and even wanted to put a work pod in the backyard. As I started to sink into the “poor me” routine, I heard my inner voice ask “Do you really want a place that big?” As I felt into it, I knew that I really didn’t. Surprisingly, I started to feel gratitude for my little abode. When we returned home, the sun was shining through the windows and as I opened the sliding glass door I heard the most beautiful birdsong. My heart and soul burst open with pure love and joy. I felt the abundance of my perfect little home.
How do you shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset? In my research, I found many different techniques to shift to an abundance mindset but here are the main commonalities I found:
GRATITUDE - Be grateful for what you already have. It isn’t always easy, especially when it feels like something is lacking, such as money. But keeping a gratitude journal helps me see the abundance I already have. A gratitude journal does not need to take up much time. I use an iPhone app named The 5 Minute Journal. Shortly after waking, I list 3 things I am grateful for and list 3 things that I will do to make the day great, and just before bed, I list 3 amazing things that have happened to me. It helps me feel a sense of gratitude for my life.
REFRAMING - Look and feel for the positives when unwanted situations arise and you find yourself entering a scarcity mindset. Feel into your truth and look for the golden nuggets of wisdom. It’s been a couple of days since the dog walk and I still have much love for my tiny home.
YOU ARE ENOUGH - “Really? Come on! I may be enough but it isn’t going to pay my bills!” was my first reaction but it was also key as to why I have this financial pattern. My feeling of self-worth ebbs and flows. When it ebbs, I try to fill it with possessions, food, nights out on the town. Anything to give me a sense of self-worth even if it is external validation thus keeping me stuck in the pattern. This is a tough one for me to work on. However, I realize this is a daily practice of truly feeling my self-worth.
I could end here but I would be remiss if I did not emphasize this:
As you shift to an abundance mindset you also need to be open to receive.
Abundance comes in all shapes and forms, it can come in the form of a person offering to pay for your coffee or picking up your groceries. It is so much easier to be helpful than to receive help from others. This is one of the deep-seated limiting beliefs I continually work to overcome.
Abundance can even come as an intervention from the Divine Source. I recently read the book OUTRAGEOUS OPENNESS Letting the Divine Take the Lead by Tosha Silver.
I have always believed in something greater than myself and her, Abundance Change Me Prayer reaffirmed that sometimes we need help from others even if it is from the Creator. Here it is:
“Divine Beloved, Change Me into someone who can give with complete ease and abundance, knowing You are the unlimited Source of All.
Let me be an easy open conduit for Your prosperity. Let me trust that all of my own needs arealways met in amazing waysand it is safe to give freely as my heart guides me.
And equally, please Change Me into someonewho can feel wildly open to receiving. Let me know my own value, beauty, and worthiness without question. Let me allow others the supreme pleasure of giving to me.Let me feel worthy to receive in every possible way.
And let me extend kindness to all who need, feeling compassion and understanding in even the hardest situations.
Change me into One who can fully love, forgive and accept myself… so I may carry your Light without restriction.
Let everything that needs to go, go.
Let everything that needs to come, come. I am utterly Your own.
You are Me. I am You.We are One.
All is well."
Happy New Year, Lovelies! May 2021 bring in love, light, and joy. May we all recognize and experience the abundance in our lives.
Be Well, Be Radiant, Be Abundantly You!
P.S. Love!
Life is full of synchronicities and beautiful blessings!!
An hour after I completed writing this blog, I went to Target. There I was in the self check out line rummaging through my huge backpack frantically looking for my wallet. It wasn’t in my bag. I thought, no problem I’ll pay with Apple Pay. As I opened up my digital wallet I only had $9 which was not enough to pay for my purchase.
So I called for the attendant and I asked if she could hold my items because I forgot my wallet at home. As she explained to me that she could not hold any items, I had a forlorn expression but was prepared to leave, come back and peruse the store again for the items. At that moment, a gentleman next to me said "I got it." and put his card into the reader. My first reaction was to say “No thank you I am okay!” But I couldn’t speak! It was as if the universe and my body were working together to remind me what abundance is and to be open to accepting.
All I could do was to meekly say thank you as the attendant and I looked at each other astonished. As tears of gratitude welled up, I bagged my items and stopped to ask the gentleman his name and gratefully thanked him. His act of kindness is one of the greatest gifts I have received and little does he know how much of a ripple effect his one gesture has on the vibration of the collective. 💖
Also, here is a link to the book Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the Lead by Tosha Silver is amazing! I actually listened to this book on Audible and it was life changing for me!
Comments