Wealth and Making Money
I have received a number of emails from people who wanted to know what they can do to stop feeling afraid of recession, of losing jobs, of being unable to provide for their families, of feeling hopeless, powerless, depressed because there is not enough money.
Money may not buy happiness, but it surely makes life in the physical realm more comfortable, and people who have all of their needs met are most certainly happier than those who are constantly worried about where can they find money to pay the bills.
Regardless of the economic situation in the world, some people always seem to prosper, and others always seem to struggle just to pay the bills. The difference between these two extremes is not in what is happening in the outer world, but what is happening in the person’s mind. The difference is in the people’s mindset.
Our thoughts, our worldviews, and beliefs influence the actions we take, and the actions we take influence to the results we experience.
Here are some key differences between those who tend to prosper most of the time and those who tend to struggle with their finances:
What do you identify with?
Creator vs. Victim mindset
People who are doing financially well see themselves as a creator, or at least a co-creator of their circumstances; people who are struggling see themselves as a victim of the circumstances.
Your sense of identity will influence your beliefs, and the next question is …
What do you believe about yourself?
“I have the power to change my life” vs. “I am powerless”
People who prosper live by the motto "If it’s to be, it’s up to me " and if there are no opportunities, they create them. People who struggle financially, look at the economic situation, shrug their shoulders, and say “Well, what you’re gonna do? You just have to suffer through it.”
What are you abilities?
“I can … because …” vs " I can’t … because …"
People who prosper have a long list of reasons why they can , even why they must succeed regardless of any adverse situation. People who struggle financially have a long list of reasons why they are stuck in a situation, and why nothing can be done unless something in the external world changes to more favorable conditions.
Having a talent and an inclination for what you desire to do in life certainly helps and you should do that which you are passionate about, something that fits your natural affinities, but researchers have discovered that no matter what talent anyone has, those who excel invest an enormous amount of time in developing their skills and abilities, and this brings us to the following question …
How are you investing your time?
Prosperous people are committed to learning and growing and to constant and never-ending improvement. If they don’t know how to do something, they seek help and information from those who have already achieved success they are looking for. Keep in mind that you can learn just about anything you set your mind to learn, and on account of that enormous amount of time - researchers have estimated that it takes about 10,000 hours on average to become world class expert on a topic, so be prepared to roll up your sleeves and dig into learning and mastering the abilities you’d love to be able to do really well.
What are the questions you ask yourself?
When financially successful people find themselves in challenging situations and face set-backs, they ask themselves " What can I do to turn this situation around? " They brainstorm possibilities and solutions.
People who struggle financially tend to get fixated on the problem, which begins to look larger than life, paralyzing them into inaction.
What is your relationship with money?
Money as Friend or Foe
People who prosper financially have a positive relationship with money. They appreciate it. They see it as as useful and convenient and they learn all they can about it.
People who struggle financially tend to look upon money as a necessary evil and they tend to repel it both through their mental attitudes and through their actions. When opportunities come their way, they may sabotage them because the opportunities create a conflict with their inner values and beliefs.
What kind of action are you taking daily?
Unless you have set up a system where either other people or machines are taking care of your financial needs, changing your financial situation will require some investment of your time and energy. The more time and energy you invest in learning what you need to know and in doing what you should be doing, the faster are you likely to experience a positive change in your life.
