An Impoverished Mind
©Scott Wilson 2015
North America is by all measures a country of prosperity and abundance. Food is plentiful and inexpensive. Economical energy sources of all types abound. Our land is rife with natural resources. For centuries North America has been labelled "the Land of Opportunity." Modern living affords us more leisure time and more entertainments than any of our forefathers could have ever hoped to obtain. Indeed, compared with much of the rest of the world we are living amidst luxury, wealth and opulence.
Why then does it seem that most of us tend to think in terms of deficit? Our society is rife with individuals who feel that they do not have enough money, or possessions, or time. Rare is the man or woman who considers themself to be rich. Our attention is drawn towards that which seems to be missing instead of that which we have already received and currently possess. It would appear that our hearts and minds are truly impoverished. Advertisers profit from this thinking, pointing out how we need their products to genuinely fulfill us.
Perhaps we inherited this thinking from our
parents and grandparents who suffered through the Great Depression. They were
the first generation on this continent to experience a serious lack of
abundance. Their fears seem to have given rise to the general angst and longing
that pervades our present culture. As the speed and reach of our communications
has become instant and global mankind has begun to sense its limitations. We
wonder and worry that our lonely planet may not have the energy and resources
to allow our continued prosperity.
I believe it would benefit us to question this
pervasive mindset of poverty. By all reckoning this universe appears to be vast
and infinite. There is no reason to believe that mankind cannot continue to
advance and improve our use of the unending energy and materials that surround
us. In addition to this physical view we would also benefit by questioning the
relative importance of material wealth in our life journeys.
In my studies of successful people I have
found various commonalities of outlook and thought. One common factor that I have noticed about
those whom we deem successful is that they tend to think in terms of abundance,
not deficit. They see opportunity
everywhere, even in their failures! Motivational
writer and instructor Earl Nightingale described this abundant thinking best
with these words “Don’t concern yourself with the money. Be of service. Build.
Work. Dream. Create. Do this and you’ll find that there is no limit to the
prosperity and abundance that will come to you.” To those with a winning mindset, the world is
rich with success; all they have to do is persevere to obtain it. Successful
people live and act as is there is always enough for everyone and that they
have but to claim their share.
The prosperous build growth upon growth,
strength upon strength. They see and understand
weakness and loss but these are not their primary focus. These positive people remain doggedly fixed
on their objectives. As that old Frank Sinatra’s song goes, they have ‘high hopes.’ It is this outlook that we should seek for
ourselves if we too wish to partake of similar successes in our own lives.
Look at your goals and objectives. Are you lacking cash, time, resources,
information, experience or anything else that you need to obtain what you
envision? Do not let these become
anchors and barriers to you. Look at
what you *do* have and build upon it.
See the areas of success in your own life and amplify them. Understand that the universe is filled with
resources that can become yours to command if you allow yourself to see the very
real opportunities that surround you. If
you truly seek to succeed then you need to lose your impoverished mind!
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” –Winston Churchill
"Some people are so poor, all they have is money." –Patrick Meagher
