WealthWeek

Are you of the school of thought that there is not enough to go around (team scarcity), or that there is plenty for everybody (team abundance)?

Whether you know it or not, we are generally conditioned to be on team scarcity and it is often a struggle for many to switch over to the side of abundance. Ask an athlete about the concept of success, and he/she will tell you that in order to win somebody must, of course, loose. Ask a student about scoring good grades, and he/she will tell you that only a small percentage of students in a college-level class will ever get the handful of A-grades available… In the world of academics, this reality can define what careers one can get into (or, miss out on). In business, many are fighting (or, competing) for market share - all in efforts to be the one to win that all-mighty dollar.

In looking at the phrase ‘may the best man win,’ I question: does one really have to loose in order for the other to win - or, can both parties come out ahead?

THE FREEDOM WE CAN ALL HAVE

Every so often, I think about the very question I’m posing here in this article. Perhaps it’s during those times when I’m not feeling so powerful in my life, or at moments when I have to call up on some inner strength… And then, slowly, I start to remember what it is like to be on team Abundance. Slowly, the memories start to build up in my mind and soon enough, the inspiration lost that originally set me free finds me once again.

The financial freedom (and, other forms of wealth)
that you desire may just be right under your nose - and, you’d
be able to see it, if only you would choose to
play on a different team!

You have a lot to gain from choosing team abundance, irrespective of what your current conditioning is or where you are in your life right now. When you put on your ‘yellow glasses’ as I call them, suddenly, you begin to see your world differently. As if by some magical transformation, problems start to present as worthy challenges. Failures are easily forgotten in favor of perseverance. And, a sense of happiness that was missing before returns. While some may look down upon such optimism (criticizing it or calling you unrealistic for having it), the truth is, such optimision is at the very root of many great successes - stories that we applaud, in fact!

EXAMPLES OF ‘YELLOW GLASSES’ SUCCESS

How do you suppose people turn their greatest challenges into spectacular triumphs?

Donald Trump went from being billions in the negative to billions in the plus… He could have viewed his situation as useless but instead, he threw on his yellow glasses and identified all the resources that were available to him at the time in order to pull himself out of the wreckage he found himself buried under.

Some of the greatest movies (the ones we love to watch and hold in high regard) are of stories where the main character wins against all odds - largely in part due to optimism, hope and perseverance. And, there is no mistaking it: box office data indicates that we love these stories! So, why then do we fail to practice these simple principles in our own lives? Even worse, why are the attempted efforts to be optimistic often criticized?

WHAT YOU FOCUS UPON EXPANDS

What you focus upon expands… This is a concept that I have heard so many times in my life and from so many different people (those who are succeeding today and even from those great visionaries form yesterday). If many different people - form different walks of life - vouch for this idea, there must be some truth to it. Now, I sure do have my slumps from time to time, but as soon as I turn my cheek to scarcity, doors just fly open and opportunities that were once invisible to me suddenly hit my radar, full throttle!

You may not realize it, but the financial freedom (and, other forms of wealth) that you desire may just be right under your nose - and, you’d be able to see it, if only you would choose to play on a different team!

The fact is, wealthy people look at problems and failures as opportunities. I see this all the time! Sure, they experience hardship just like the rest of us… Life can get messy, after all. But, what do you suppose is the reason that most people crumble in the face of adversity, leaving only a small group of people to claim success? The answer is that while most choose scarcity, the select few often choose to focus upon abundance. Consequently, it is these very optimistic attitudes of the select few that end up serving them very well in the face of adversity.

Start paying attention to wealthy people (or, those in your life who deem as successful). You will notice that these people are in the company of many other successful people who are all following the same path as they are and everybody wins. It is the scarcity-minded folks who seem to stay out the game and watch from the sidelines, typically. Another example: explore various industries and you will notice, that while there may be perhaps three major leaders, you will find many other smaller-sized businesses contributing to that industry and these business owners all succeed in their own way, at their own level. In a world of abundance, there is something for everybody. The point is, there is abundance everywhere, if you believe it… To benefit from it though, you have to be willing to see it and accept it.

TRY IT

At first, as you venture to form this habit of choosing team abundance and putting on your yellow glasses, you will find it cumbersome to consciously do it. However, after two to three weeks of practice, it will become second nature to you and this is what you want!

The next time you have a problem in front of you, choose to look at it with your ‘yellow glasses’ on instead of the usual way you approach your problems. Just wait and see what happens… If you track the problem from the start to finish, you will notice a different outcome (one more appealing compared to what you typically experience).

QUOTES FROM A VERY SMART MAN

“… Things in life don’t change. We change the way we look at them …”

~ AND ~

“… Things turn out best for those people who make the best of how things turn out …”

– Jared Martinez, Author (10 Essentials of FX Trading)

Very true! So, how do you plan to view your world and unique set of circumstances - through scarcity or abundance? The choice is yours.

To Your Success,

EffJay