Believe it and achieve it

I’ve lived for most of my life with a lack mindset.

I went through school, subconsciously believing that there were only so many good marks given out. If too many other people got As, there wouldn’t be any left for me.

In fairness, the bell curve method of marking is built on this idea, but for most of my school experience, this wasn’t the system used. If you did well enough for an A, you got one.

I also believed there was only so much success to go around. One person’s victory meant one less opportunity was available for me.

Viewing the world like this makes it difficult to work co-operatively. It’s hard to root for someone else if you believe it lessens your own chances to achieve the same. It encourages you to see everyone as competition.

I had the same type of lack belief around money. There was only so much to go around. If I spent some, it might never be replenished.

These beliefs hid in my subconscious mind, planted by my upbringing and experiences.

It wasn’t until I began my quest to live more consciously that my lack mind-sight came to light.

I wasn’t conscious of making a decision to adopt this philosophy and I definitely wasn’t aware that there was an alternative way to think.

It’s important to know what your beliefs are, because your mind will search tirelessly for evidence to support them. Situations don’t change, but how you interpret them does.

If you believe your family is always criticizing you, you will construe everything they say as being judgmental and critical. If you believe they love you and are trying to be helpful, this is how you decipher their words.

I’ve been dealing with water and sewer issues in my house for the past few months. The costs continue to mount. My outgoing finances far exceed my incoming ones.

You can probably relate to my situation. Life throws curve balls. Unexpected expenses arise. You can’t control the situation, but you can manage your response.

I realized last week that a conscious conversation with myself was overdue. How did I want to interpret the things that were happening? Did I want to live in abundance or lack?

If you live in abundance, you believe that everything that is happening to you will work out and serve you in some way. Money flows. It is going out now, but it can just as easily flow back in.

That isn’t to say you should sit around and wait for a lottery win. Look at your finances and see if there is anything you can do to help the situation. Perhaps it is time to live more simply.

Create avenues so money can come to you. Offer a new service or product through your business or take on an additional job. You never know what unexpected connection can appear that changes your life completely.

I believe there is an opportunity or idea that this challenging time will help me find, as long as I am open to it.

A lack mindset means you believe there will never be enough for everyone, and you need to fight to get what you can. It is easy to fall into a pit of despair and inactivity if you look at life this way.

Rather than believing you have any power to turn life around, you may think you are just unlucky. Life is happening to you rather than for you.

Trust isn’t easy. It comes in part from your level of self-esteem.

I believe I am resilient and strong enough to handle whatever arises on my journey through life. I know I will be fine.

I’m not sure what fine will look like. I’m hopeful it will allow me to travel the world in business class, but I’m willing to accept it might not. Whatever it looks like will be perfect for me and I’ll enjoy it.

How do you want to live your life? Do you want to feel abundant, or are you willing to settle for a life of lack?

You have a choice.

Happiness research shows that having money and material goods doesn’t bring happiness. The happiest cultures are in third world countries. Places you might think are lacking in abundance.

When life is challenging, you aren’t helpless. There is always something you can do. Decide whether you want to worry that you won’t have enough, or to trust that you will be fine?

If you believe it, you will achieve it.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.