When you hear the word ABUNDANT what do you think? Similar words include plentiful, copious or rich. So when talking about an abundance mindset it sounds pretty good doesn’t it!

In life, our mindset impacts so much. It determines the path we travel on. Some of those paths will lead us on a journey filled with scarcity, while others will be filled with abundance at every turn. Living in abundance means seeing the limitless potential in both yourself and others, appreciating that there is enough to go around for everyone. People with an abundance mindset tend to move forward in life with fulfilment and confidence in what they have and what they’re capable of having because they have belief that they can create what they want.

So what do people with an abundance mindset look like?
– They think big, rather than limiting themselves.
– They live in a growth mindset, believing that intelligence and skills can be improved with effort.
– They’re optimistic, focusing on what they have, rather than what they don’t have.
– They know there’s enough to go around.
– They feel genuinely happy rather than resentful for other people and their success.
– They truly embrace change, rather than resisting it.
– They are proactive and take action
– They are open minded
– They know their strengths (and weaknesses)

A scarcity mindset on the other hand breeds scarcity because where you only focus on what you don’t have, you will only have less. Focusing on what you do have and showing a little gratitude for it will open the door to more than you can imagine. People with a scarcity mentality often fall into a cycle of negativity that not only pushes people away, but also holds them back from achieving goals. A scarcity mentality causes people to compete rather than work together and means that people look out for their own interests, rather than seeking opportunities to help others. This doesn’t sound like a mindset with great opportunity.

The minute you chose to step out of a scarcity mindset and into an abundance mindset your future becomes brighter, but how can you develop an abundance mindset?
– Focus on what you do have rather than what you don’t. We have more than we know but rarely take the time to consider what that actually looks like.
– Appreciate all that you have – your food, your life, your home, your friends and family etc. This can make you feel more positive within minutes, while also helping you notice opportunities you have missed or forgotten about.
– Hang out with those people who have an abundance mindset, it will soon rub off on you. Spending time with people who have more of an abundance mentality and less of a scarcity mentality will help you to create your own environment of abundance.
– Create win-win situations. People with a scarcity mentality tend to see every outcome as win-lose, ‘It’s either you or me.’ People with an abundance mentality, on the other hand, try to create mutually beneficial outcomes where both parties can win. Instead of competing, they collaborate.
– Recognise and accept your weaknesses. By embracing your weaknesses, you can forgive yourself when you make mistakes and learn from them.
– Nurture your strengths. Understand what they are and use them for good.
– Visualise your potential. Visualisation is a powerful tool. Through visualisation, you can imagine yourself living in abundance.
– Recognise, reframe, repeat. Recognise the negative thoughts in your mind and understand what triggers them before reframing them into more positive thought patterns. Replace the cycle of self-doubt with an abundance mindset and then repeat. You will find yourself thinking this way naturally after a while.
– Give back. You can cultivate an abundance mindset by finding ways to give back to others. Activities like donating money or volunteering your time will get you into the habit of helping others or indeed the environment, rather than hoarding resources to yourself. Essentially, the more you give, the more you receive.

Changing the way you look at the world isn’t always easy. It may not happen overnight. Sometimes people get too caught up in their own heads and need an outside perspective to move forward in life. I hope this has given you some food for thought.