6 Practices for Opening Your Mind to Abundance

Feeling Abundant by Overcoming a Scarcity Mindset

How many times have you said, “I don’t have enough time,” “I don’t have enough money,” “I don’t have enough…. love, enough friendship, enough knowledge, enough energy….enough you name it”?

I know I have found myself saying these things, especially about time. I never seem to have enough of it. I’ve been focusing on reminding myself that I have enough time and that I just need to slow down and breathe.

Any time we focus on scarcity, lack, or limitation, we lose focus of our own abundance and actually make things worse instead of better. Stephen Covey coined the term “scarcity mentality” for this principle in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey says, “People with a scarcity mentality tend to see everything in terms of win-lose. There is only so much; and if someone else has it, that means there will be less for me.”

A scarcity mindset can cause feelings of fear, anger, resentment, jealousy, and depression. It can also cause you to contract and go “inside yourself.” When you are contracted, solutions feel impossible and you may lack the creativity to see possibilities. Not a fun place to be.

The Power of Having an Abundance Mindset

An alternative to the scarcity mindset is having an abundance mindset. An abundance mindset is the belief that there is more than enough in the world, along with the understanding that you are more than enough and that you have everything you need to be successful.

Being abundant is about more than having financial wealth. Abundance includes love, good health, happiness, meaningful work, spirituality, and more.

“Abundance is about being rich, with or without money.” ~ Suze Orman

An abundance mindset causes feelings of joy, love, and optimism. You are in a state of “expansion” rather than “contraction.” You are more creative and are more able to see possibilities. An abundant mindset helps you be more happy and successful in your life, work, and relationships.

According to author Deepak Chopra, “The most important thing to understand is that abundance begins in the mind. Choosing a belief system that cultivates abundance is crucial.”

We may all experience feelings of scarcity from time to time, but it is possible to practice an abundant mindset. Over time, you can train your thought patterns and spend more time feeling abundant. Here are six practices to help open your mind to abundance.

Opening Your Mind to Abundance

1. Practice Gratitude

By noticing and appreciating the things we already have, the people in our lives that support us, and the things that are going right, we open ourselves up to finding even more to be grateful about. Practicing gratitude on a daily basis is perhaps the most powerful thing we can do to increase our feelings of abundance. This can be as simple as starting off the day by writing down three things you are grateful for. You may even want to keep a gratitude journal where you can track everything.

I keep a simple journal with a place set aside for writing down the things I’m grateful for each day. This practice has made a noticeable difference in my life. I’ve found that feeling grateful is the fastest way for me to get back on track when I need to.

2. Relax and Expand Your Vision

According to Deepak Chopra, “Expansion is the great friend of abundance. It brings in the light, opening up new possibilities. In a relaxed, open state, your awareness sees farther, and life isn’t so confined.”

You can expand your vision by looking within. Spend a few minutes each day in quiet meditation or just allow yourself to relax by soaking in a warm bath, going for a walk, practicing yoga, or getting a massage. This is one of the most effective tools, but it’s one that is easy to forget when you’re busy. Some of my most creative ideas came to mind during a massage, during yoga, or while gardening. Allowing your mind to relax and become clear provides the opportunity for new ideas to come in.

“Abundance is a process of letting go; that which is empty can receive.” ~Bryant H. McGill

3. Take Responsibility 

Taking full responsibility and reaching a state of acceptance for your life, circumstances, feelings, and future is very empowering. If you feel like you aren’t in control of your own life or that you are a victim, it’s very difficult to have an abundance mindset.

4. Turn Negativity Into Positive Action

If something in your life isn’t going right or is less than ideal, rather than complaining about it or getting caught up in negative emotions, find one positive action you can take to improve the situation. One small step in the right direction can shift the momentum. Positive actions can include researching possible solutions, talking to a close friend or trusted advisor, speaking up, or establishing personal boundaries.

5. Allow Yourself to Feel Luxurious

In the book, The Artist’s Way at Work, authors Mark Bryan and Julia Cameron have a short exercise where they ask the reader to list ten things that cost less than twenty dollars that create a feeling of luxury. As an example, they list buying a new classical CD, a new coffee mug, a bouquet of flowers, and a manicure.

Sometimes allowing yourself to feel luxurious can help you let go of feelings of scarcity. Simple yet inexpensive luxuries are a fun and effective tool in creating an abundance mindset.

6. Use Essential Oil As a Reminder

One of my favorite essential oils is called Abundance by YoungLiving. Just a hint of this wonderfully cinnamony oil is enough to remind me of feelings of abundance. I put the oil on the inside of my wallet and have a pleasant reminder about abundance every time I go to pay for something at the store. It’s a little expensive, but I’ve had the same bottle for several years so it lasts a long time. (Contact me to order Abundance Oil )

What ways do you open your mind to abundance? Let me know in the comments below!