Do you have a mindset that attracts money easily or one that repels it? Are you sabotaging your wealth because of your money beliefs? If you are constantly struggling, living pay check to pay check, it’s likely you are not fully aware of how your belief system is contributing to your lack of wealth. Everyone inherits their beliefs about money from generations that came before, but most don’t realize it’s something they have full control over to change. Instead of creating their own belief system around money, they use the same one their parents and grandparents used. Of course it’s not on purpose, it’s the only way they know.
When I was growing up, I heard things like, “money doesn’t grow on trees!” That’s a classic. My grandfather was a big believer that money was the root of all evil. To this day, my dad continues to use that phrase as often as he can whenever a discussion of money or wealth comes up. But he learned it from his dad, and his dad learned it from previous generations, so it’s no big surprise that I adopted his lack belief system.
For many years I worried about my finances because I believed I was destined to follow in my family’s footsteps. I heard phrases like, “rich marry rich,” “family wealth is inherited,” and “you need money to make money.” Well no wonder I was poor! Where the hell was I going to get money to make money, especially since my bank account was constantly in the overdraft. My credit cards were maxed because I was using them for cash advances (no one told me that was a no no!), bill collectors were calling me almost everyday (not answering the phone was not making the problem disappear), and I could not see a way out of my financial dilemma except for a huge lottery win. But even if I had won the lottery at that time of my life, I probably would not have been able to manage it properly because I had not healed my lack mindset. Changing the way I thought about money was my only solution. It wasn’t the quick fix I was looking for, but I persevered and it changed my life dramatically!
The following 3 steps are suggestions to get you out of your lack mentality and into a prosperity mindset:
- Stop telling the story of how broke you are!
Most financially challenged people constantly talk about how broke they are, but if you are going to fix your money problems, you have to change the way you speak and think about your money. Stop getting into conversations about how little money you have. No one cares! And you are perpetuating your lack. It may be difficult at first to tell a new story about your wealth, it may even feel like you are fooling yourself and others, but the saying “fake it till you make it” applies here. It gets easier. Make it a habit to talk positively about your money and wealth. Stop saying you can’t afford something. Stop asking people how much they paid for something. And if you can’t bring yourself to tell the new story out loud, just stop talking about it completely to others and keep the story to yourself. But make a conscious effort to change your self-talk. Your inner dialogue becomes your belief system, so if you can find a way to talk positively about your money situation, eventually it becomes a habit. My new mantra became, “I am wealthy, I have plenty of money for all my wants and needs, money flows easily to me from all avenues.” And be patient with yourself. Find an affirmation that works for you. Just make sure it’s positive and uplifting. If you go back to worrying about money, try to correct that self talk as soon as you can. I promise, the more you practice this way of talking and thinking about your money and wealth, the easier it becomes. I didn’t change my thinking overnight. It took years, but it was so worth it.
2. Practice gratitude everyday, it opens up your world!
I began years ago to get on the gratitude train. I kept hearing this new buzz word from every self-help guru out there, and I thought I may as well give it a try. What have I got to lose? I started writing down 5 things everyday that I was grateful for. Simple things like, my son, my job, my MONEY! I started noticing, that as I became grateful for things already in my life, my life began to change. In small ways at first, and then gradually over time as I continued practicing gratitude, my life took on a whole new direction. Money actually started to “flow” into my life. My credit cards had a zero balance (a far cry from maxed out a few years earlier). I had money in a savings account! What???? I could afford brand name things (that was a big one for me). The more I practiced gratitude, the more grateful I became, and my financial picture changed dramatically. But it wasn’t only my money that increased. I became healthier and happier. I began loving my job that I had wanted previously to quit. My relationships improved. My entire life became joyful. Gratitude had literally transformed my life into one that I had wanted for years! The life I had wished for many years earlier, had become the life I was now living. Gratitude did that! Sounds too simple? That’s because it is!
3. Fall in love with money
When I began changing my mindset around money and wealth, I decided that I was going to begin to look at money completely differently. I didn’t want to fear it anymore, which I was essentially doing because of the family belief system handed down to me by my well meaning parents and grandparents. I put small amounts of money in each of my purses, started a savings account in two different banks (although the amount that went into these accounts started out small, it was still something I could see growing), and I became more generous with my money. When I changed purses for different occasions, it was such a nice surprise to see I had extra money in each one. Most people don’t use cash anymore, however keeping actual dollar bills in each of my purses helped me with the tangible part of money. I like having the cash to remind me what money is. It helps me remember that money is nothing to fear, and that if it leaves my purse or bank account, more will flow back to me. My monthly bills that used to make me cringe when they came in the mail no longer evoked a fearful response. I was thankful for the services those companies provided me. When you realize that money is just energy, and to keep the flow of that energy moving you must give it away, your opinion of paying bills becomes different. Accept and release, allow and let go. Don’t be angry or fearful around the concept of money. That attitude will surely keep it from flowing freely into your life. Love your money and you will change how money comes into your life. If someone had said those words to me when I was going through my darkest, poorest time of my life, I probably would have had a few choice words for them. I get it. Money is a subject that evokes a lot of different emotions in people. For those that don’t have a lot of money, fear and worry take over. But when you start looking at money differently than you’ve been led to, or taught to, your financial situation will change.
When I look back at how afraid I was, how I saw money as something that would never be abundant in my life, that I would be broke forever and never get ahead, I’m so grateful I decided to take the first step in changing my mindset. That’s all it takes. One small change, consistently practiced, will increase your prosperity. I always feel abundant now, in all areas of my life. My self-talk has become more consistent with how I want to feel. That is key! In order to live the way you wish to live, to have prosperity, more money, better health, whatever it is that you are desiring, you must change the way you think and speak in order to change your circumstances. Stop telling the broke story! No one wants to hear it! Start telling your new, prosperous, abundant, wealthy story! Prosperity blessings to you!
Angela Edstrom 