10 Simple Effective Ways to Develop a Abundance Mindset While Living with Chronic Illness

Mindset is a potent tool in our journey of entrepreneurship and living with chronic illness. It is the driving force behind the actions and behaviors which will set us up for success or keep us fearful and unsure about the future. Depending on which mindset we adopt, our perspectives will be very different. And let's face it, living in constant pain, whether physically, emotionally, or both, makes seeing things in a brighter light more challenging. But the path of Abundance can have us looking at the world through a lens of optimism and gratitude. However, with a scarcity mindset, all we see are obstacles, problems, and no way out.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is deeply rooted in scarcity. People live in fear, blaming their circumstances, completely sure that every aspect of their situation is permanent. I talk about how my mindset shifted from being stuck all the time to seeing the light of hope and learning to see the Abundance with a little grit. The good news is, this doesn't have to be the end of the line. You have to make a decision. You have to decide that you aren't going to settle for a life of scarcity anymore but rather move forward in Abundance no matter what.

You can begin taking steps today to develop an abundance mindset, and it's easier than you might think. Here are ten simple things you can incorporate into your daily life that will have you on the life-changing path of Abundance in no time. Let's dig in!

Mind Your Thoughts

The mind is constantly buzzing with thoughts that dictate our perspective on the world around us. These thoughts do run our lives, and it's essential to be aware of them when transitioning from scarcity to Abundance. Pay attention to the things going on inside your head. What thoughts monopolize your time? Are they positive or negative? Take one day and track as many thoughts as you possibly can. Write down anything that comes to mind. What message are you telling yourself through those thoughts? I'm not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough. I can't. What if I fail? Who am I to do something big in this world? Your thoughts have been holding you back in a big way, and if you want a more Abundant life, that is one of the first things that has to change. Once you become fully aware of what is going on, you regain control, and those thoughts lose their power over you.

Eliminate Toxic People

One of THE best things you can do for yourself and your future success is to eliminate toxic people from your life. Identify those relationships weighing you down and decide to stop sacrificing your own needs and happiness for those who don't value you. Put yourself first. Take a long, hard look at who you've allowed into your circle. Do they build you up or bring you down? Toxic people will keep you stuck in a cycle of drama and negativity because it suits them and their selfish agenda. They don't want you to do any better than them and won't allow you to grow and flourish into the person you are meant to be. Make an effort to distance yourself from those who make you feel 'less than' and seek out those that are more Abundance minded. Find a tribe of like-minded people who will celebrate your wins and encourage you to be the best possible version of yourself.

Practice Gratitude

One of the most powerful things you can do to attract Abundance is to practice gratitude daily. Be purposeful. Decide that you will look for and seek out the good every day. Notice even the smallest blessings as you go through your daily routine. Instead of dreading the day when you wake up, immediately think of a few reasons you are excited and grateful to jump out of bed. Smile more. Complain less. Spend quality time with people who help you see the blessings in life. Start a journal. Before you go to bed, reflect on the good things that happened that day and write them down. Life is unpredictable, and life won't always be filled with happy moments. However, when you make an effort to see the good and be grateful for what you have, it is much easier to get through those tough times.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

We live in a society that pushes perfection and plays off of our insecurities – it's no wonder our comparison game is strong. The problem is, when you compare yourself with another person, most of the time, you're placing their strengths against your weaknesses. You're looking at their highlight reel and comparing it with your mess behind the scenes. This is a recipe for self-destruction and the quickest path to feeling depressed, resentful, and unworthy. Stop the madness and take steps to eliminate comparison from your life. Do a social media detox or spend less time online. Embrace your quirks and imperfections – they make you, YOU. Keep in mind that there are 7 billion people on this planet – not one of them is perfect (no matter what Instagram says). Turn the tables and let others inspire you with their strengths, wins, and accomplishments. Rather than feeling like you don't measure up, appreciate what they have to offer while knowing that there is plenty of space for you to shine.

Be Intentional

If you want to develop more Abundance in your life, the key is to be intentional about how you live. Where are most of your time and energy being spent? Are you working towards something you are proud of or just counting the days until Friday? Make time for self-reflection and get clear on what you want out of life – what are your values, goals, and dreams? What really lights you up inside and makes you want to jump out of bed every morning? Until we know what is truly important to us, it's hard to be intentional with our time and effort. Be mindful of the people you allow into your circle and the information you consume through social media, television, etc. Make time to do things that bring you joy, and choose to be kind to yourself and others. Take small steps to start embracing life on your terms.

Learn Something New

One of the very best gifts you can give yourself is that of knowledge. A person who lives in Abundance will make every effort to explore new ideas, learn new skills and broaden their perspective to see things in a new light. There is always something new to be discovered. Decide that you will be a life-long learner and take full advantage of all the resources you have at your fingertips today – podcasts, Ted Talks, online courses, audiobooks, etc. The list is endless and will provide you with a world of new ideas, thoughts, and possibilities that keep the juices in your brain flowing. Consistent learning allows you to continuously grow and change into a better version of yourself while gaining a better perspective about the world around you.

Be a Giver

There are billions of people on this planet, but we are all connected when it comes to giving and receiving. When you add value to someone else's life, it will always increase the Abundance in yours. Become good at being an unconditional giver of your time, energy, money, and resources. Don't expect things in return when you give - just let it be. There are so many ways to be of value to another person. Go through your house or garage and donate things you don't use anymore. Give away bags of clothing or toys that your kids no longer play with. You get to help someone else and de-clutter your space simultaneously – that's a win-win in my book. Buy groceries for a family in need or pay a bill or two for someone who is behind. Keep in mind, it doesn't always have to be about money or material things. Pray for someone or offer a helping hand when they are struggling. Lend your ear to a co-worker who is going through a hard time. Be friendly to a stranger and offer them a smile or a few kind words – you never know what someone is going through. It might be the one thing that gets them through the rest of their day. Don't take that for granted. Just love people without judging whether or not they deserve it.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to allow countless opportunities to pass you by because you refuse to be uncomfortable. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is tough. It means pushing yourself to do things you're not used to. It means going into unfamiliar territory. You fear getting hurt. You fear failure. I get it. It's so much easier to shrink back and stay hidden than take a leap of faith into the unknown. But staying hidden isn't helping you grow, and it's not challenging you to reach your full potential. Up until now, you've been blind to all the possibilities life offers. Developing an abundance mindset is about taking off those blinders and waking up to all the things you've been missing. It doesn't have to be complicated – reach out to someone you admire to ask them questions. Make a phone call about that job you've been eyeballing. Write that blog post - and then hit publish! Once you start taking baby steps outside your comfort zone, a world of possibilities will begin to open up.