Mindset can make you or break you in business and in life in general. In general, I think it is safe to say that mindset rules your life. When I say mindset, I am referring to your belief (thoughts and feelings) and whether or not you are open-minded or stuck on robotic behavior.

Of course, if you keep doing things the same way, you will keep getting the same outcomes. I’m not finished reading Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, so I want to reserved my full opinion, but so far, I’m not clear if he is saying the we are just victims of circumstances or if the Universe plays dice with the lives of people – what?

I don’t see it this way at all, and I fully believe that there are no coincidences. While being given extra advantages and being born during a certain era affords unique opportunities, whether or not we take advantages of these opportunities is a choice we make based on our mindset.

Our way of looking at life will determine what we see. In the book, Gladwell references a sociologist by the name of Robert Merton who coined a term called the “Matthew Effect” which references the book of Matthew in the Bible chapter 25 and verse 29 which is as follows:

“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him”.

When I was a kid I use to take this literally and think that somehow it was not fair or that it was saying, “the rich get richer and the poor gets poorer”. This is what I was taught. I don’t see it this way now at all.

My understanding of Merton’s take on it was that those who are already prominent in their status are more likely to get more attention than those who may be just as capable, but less recognized. These different interpretations are all examples of HOW we look at something determines our interpretation and application to our lives.

MY take on it these days is this: If you have an abundant mindset and you are not fear driven, but feel that you have plenty and expect to multiply instead of contract, you will put out to the universe a “vibe” to attract more.

If on the other hand you are afraid and worry about losing what you have all the time, you build a lack consciousness and lack begets more lack. When you read the parable to this conclusion in the Bible, you will see that the servant you had less and “was afraid” of losing his little, not only lost it, but experience torment as well (I would say anxiety and worry are forms of torment alright).

Here’s my overall point – focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want. I use to talk about what I didn’t like, didn’t have or repeat the problem on the table over and over in conversation. Then I finally realized one day that the more I talked about it, the worse I felt.

Talking about your problems solves nothing, nor does it make is go away. Worrying about losing your money only torments you and actually makes it more likely to happen as you are actually sending a message to your brain to focus on it and make it happen! Worry is a mindset! Here is my suggestion:

1. Once you see the challenge, take your attention away from it and get really clear about what you want instead.

2. Imagine and feel gratitude, happiness for what you want, as if you already have it.

3. Yes, put your head in the sand and do your best to ignore the problem. The more you acknowledge and look at it, the stronger your negative vibe is and the more you worry. Ignoring it actually takes the brain’s attention away so that the neuro-nets will not become strengthened even more.

4. Discipline your mind to stay tuned to what you want as much as possible. In other words, keep your “mind-set” on success instead of misery.

5. If you talk about anything, talk about how happy and excited you are about receiving your desired outcome

6. If you don’t get it, trust that the universe has something better in store. So think, “this or something better”. Learn to stop getting so attached to what you want. Desire it with an open mind. BE happy now. Outcomes or effects cannot really “make” you happy anyway. Happiness comes from within.

So, bottom line, expect the best and discipline your thoughts and feelings to look for abundance and gratitude as much as possible. Abundance is a mindset! Whatever you focus on expands. You don’t get what you want – you receive what you believe! What is your opinion or experience?

Tags: Confidence, Empowerment, Happiness, Mindset

This entry was posted on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 5:00 am and is filed under Money and Career. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.