Embracing An Abundance Mindset Could Change Your Life. Here's How

If you’ve heard of the Law of Attraction, you might be familiar with the concept of an abundance mindset, or a growth mindset. It’s the idea that a total surrender to and trust in the abundance of the universe to provide what we need… will bring us exactly that. It is often talked about in terms of money and wealth, but it can relate to all areas of life, such as love or work. The Law of Attraction states that the energy we put into the world is what we will receive back: that positive thoughts bring positive experiences. So with that in mind, if we are consumed by fear and a belief that there is “not enough” – in what is known as the converse idea of a “scarcity mindset” – we will continue to experience a lack of what we want or think we need. So in theory, to have all of life’s riches rain down on us, all we would have to do is start believing that there is more than enough to go around, and trust that we will get an abundant slice whenever we need it. Sounds easy, right?

The trouble is, many of us are brought up to believe there truly isn’t enough. We get wired or conditioned into thinking that there will never be enough, and as a result, many of us tend to focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have. Systems of oppression actively prevent many people from receiving what they need, and these systems survive on fostering a culture-wide scarcity mindset. This is where adopting an abundance mindset is particularly difficult – when we see others around us with so little, it feeds into our own guilt, fear, and feelings of scarcity for ourselves too. But the idea that there isn’t enough for everyone is a belief system that limits our imagination for what is possible. For instance, what if the world’s billionaires shared their wealth? What if the food waste crisis was solved and the global food surplus was evenly distributed? What if everyone could be equally as happy, with everything that they need?

If you often feel like you are in competition for the same metaphorical slice of pie in life, you’re likely locked into a scarcity mindset. This is when you forget that there are plenty more slices, or that you have all the ingredients you need to make your own pie. Because the funny thing about abundance is that we receive it when we already believe, truly and deeply, that we already have it. When we feel positive about the things we do have in life – however insubstantial they may seem – our experience of life is one of abundance. When we experience life abundantly, we have more trust, courage, and imagination for the possibilities of life, rather than being afraid of limitations. And these three traits or qualities are some of the most important ingredients for success in whatever area you pursue it.

The concept of an “abundance mindset” was coined by Franklin Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, and it is supported by research in positive psychology. We have to believe that there is more than enough space for each of us in the world in order to truly succeed – not just financially, but also in terms of life satisfaction and happiness. Gratitude is one of the tenets of abundance. As Oprah Winfrey puts it: “Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Another is generosity, because abundance is about flow – giving at least as much as we wish to receive. Inviting money, or love, or knowledge, or whatever you wish for more abundance in, to flow into your life is about trusting that you are safe to share what you do have already. Ultimately, an abundance mindset is about living with courage. It’s about committing to living life with an open heart and mind, rather than being limited by fear. It can be difficult to begin to trust that the universe has your back, but if you can, the rewards are, indeed, abundant.

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Start shifting your focus on what you "do" have with this gratitude meditation today!

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All of the content on our website is thoroughly researched to ensure that the information shared is evidence-based. For more information, please visit the academic journals that influenced this article: A Scarcity Mindset Alters Neural Processing Underlying Consumer Decision Making; Positive Affect And The Complex Dynamics Of Human Flourishing.