“I expect my life to be good and joyous, and it is.”

— Louise Hay

For so long, I would repeatedly hear “no, we can’t have that” or “we have no money,” which is equivalent to the Spanish version “no tengo dinero.”

How that translates in my life is by repeating untrue things like “we are poor,” “we can’t afford that,” and “I never have cash.” I say they are untrue because, unlike my parents, I have a full-time salaried job, I own my own home, I have multiple types of investments and some savings. Yet, unlearning taught behavior is hard.

I have said these things both in my head and out loud — to my kids even. Do you see how the cycle of scarce thinking perpetuates and continues through generations?

The only thing I was taught how to do growing up was spending money and getting into debt. There were a few speeches on the importance of savings from my parents, but that is hard to do when making minimum wage and scraping by to make ends meet.

Our parents had their hands and bodies as resources to make money. My dad was a mechanic, and my mom a cleaning lady and nanny. As first-generation Americans, my sisters and I have our minds to monetize. We are part of the lucky ones who got formal education through degrees and masters, and MBAs. We get to work in corporate jobs versus blue-collar jobs. We have the internet and technology to learn almost anything.

We are becoming the upgraded version of what our parents and caretakers always wanted. We are the reason why our parents work so hard to do better, so we can be better.

You can make a choice today to change your scarce thinking and change your life for good. Abundance is a mindset.

Upgraded Thinking

An abundance mindset is a way of thinking that describes the abundance of the universe. It’s about there being enough, enough for everyone to thrive. This was difficult for me to comprehend, especially when you hear “no” so many times a day growing up.

Let’s think about it through the words of Louise Hay. As she describes it, “the universe is lavish and abundant, and it is our birthright to be supplied with everything we need.” The mind-blowing thought for me was this: “if we were created in the first place from nothing into atoms and cells, by definition, we are products of abundance and the power of unlimited creativity.”

Mindset is powerful and the way we think creates our reality.

By the way, if you don’t know who Louise Hay is, look her up. Some consider her “the mother of mindset.” And, I agree.

“I live in a loving, abundant, harmonious universe, and I am grateful. I am now willing to be open to the unlimited prosperity that exists everywhere.” — Louise Hay

Words Matter

The law of attraction is simple. You attract what you put out. If you keep putting out a scarcity mentality, you won’t get much. If you start changing your mindset towards abundance, you will attract a lot more.

If you want more money in your life and want to live an abundant lifestyle, you have to start acting and speaking as you mean it.

Instead of saying:

• “I don’t have enough,” say “I have everything I need” (because you do)
• “We can’t afford that,” say, “we can’t afford that YET.”
• “We have no money,” say, “we do have money and are saving it up for our dreams/goals.”
• “We are poor,” say, “we are wealthy beyond belief.”
• “I have no cash,” say, “I have plenty of money” (please, please, please start carrying cash).

Seem simple? It is.

But first, you have to re-educate and refresh your relationship with money and wealth.

“You are the master of your destiny. You can influence, direct, and control your own environment. You can make your life what you want it to be.” — Napoleon Hill

Considerations for More Abundance Thinking

1. Think about what is unique about you and what you have to offer. It’s okay if you don’t know yet or you come up with no concrete answers. Just start brainstorming about what you like in life and what you are curious to learn more about.
2. Find a positive affirmation that you can say every day. It can be something like, “I am worth it, I have plenty, I am enough.” Pay attention to your words. What you say and what you think is powerful, and the words you choose are messages to the universe. Be aware.
3. Read or listen to a book or learn more about an abundant mindset. The more you read, the more you learn, and the more you realize unlimited possibilities for happiness, wealth, and love.
4. Practice gratitude for everything you have, even when what you are grateful for is a chore. Sometimes we all have to do things we don’t love.
5. Start analyzing your relationship with money. How do you feel when you have cash in your hand. What does it make you want to do? Do you feel like shopping as soon as you see money? Do you want to spend it, or do you think of your goals and fill up your savings account instead?
6. Find a quiet place, and take some time to meditate, pray, be alone with your thoughts. In a world with ultimate distractions, listening to the voice in your head and what she has to say is not easy. Make time to sit in silence and listen. I love doing this in nature, and it seems like I always get my best ideas in the shower or bathtub. Try it.
7. Be happy for others’ success. There is enough room for all of us. Throw out jealousy and the need to compare yourself to anyone. Remember that you are not competing to become better than anyone else except a better version of yourself.
8. Sharing is caring. Don’t be shy about sharing your knowledge, helping others, and spreading love. If you like someone’s work, art, creation, outfit, tell them. If you can help someone without any reward to yourself, do it. Karma is real. By saying positive things about others and genuinely mean it, you will be putting out what you want to attract.

Final Words

Money isn’t everything, but acknowledging that this world we live in is abundant will help us change our mindset and open up more possibilities. There is money all around you. Start looking for it, and it will find you.

Let’s take what our parents taught us and upgrade it. Upgrade our thinking, our learning, and our creating. We have the power to choose a different attitude and a better lifestyle. Let’s make them proud and start teaching them what we learned.

They have worked hard for us.

Let’s work smart for them.

[Originally published on March 6, 2021 on Medium.com]