Gratitude: Shifting Your Mindset from Lack

We all know that our attitude and mindset can significantly affect our perception and experience of the world. We tend to attract more desires, opportunities, and happiness when we approach life positively. On the other hand, a negative mindset can make it difficult to see the good things in life and limit our ability to grow and prosper.

One powerful way to shift your mindset from one of lack to abundance is through the practice of gratitude. But what does it mean to have an abundant mindset, and how can you cultivate this perspective in your daily life? In this guide, we’ll explore the concept of gratitude and provide practical examples of daily gratitude exercises that can help reprogram your thinking and attract more abundance into your life. 

Understanding Gratitude and the Abundant Mindset

Your subconscious is a powerful force, and by consistently focusing on the good things in your life, you can train your mind to see abundance, even in challenging situations. This puts you in a position to stop attracting all the lack and negativity you keep focusing on. The opposite is also true. 

“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.”

Henry Ford

First, I want to ask you if you have ever watched or read Rhonda Byrne’s 2006 Documentary “The Secret?” Today is the first day I have actually watched it. I thought it would be great to take this time to research what one of my favorite manifesting movies was based on. “The Secret: Dare to Dream” emerged in 2020, but I didn’t have the pleasure of watching it until about 5 months ago. It had a profound effect on the way I viewed my gratitude and the way I was bringing things into my life.

But from my perspective, there is one thing that most people leave out of their manifesting and giving up after not getting what they want. 

At the end of this blog post, I will tell you the one thing many abundance teachings either leave out or don’t put emphasis on, Or worse, the student doesn’t realize the importance of it. Keep reading or skip down, and discover if you’ve missed it in your manifesting and gratitude mindset shifts.

 So let’s dig in…

Gratitude is acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives, both big and small. When we express gratitude, we focus on the positive aspects of our life, which can help us cultivate a more optimistic outlook. 

An abundant mindset focuses on the limitless possibilities and opportunities available to us rather than dwelling on what we lack. By practicing gratitude daily, we can train our minds to recognize the abundance that already exists in our lives and open ourselves up to even more blessings and opportunities.

“Your thoughts and feelings create your life.”

Lisa Nichols- The Secret

But where do we even begin to shift our mindset from one of lack to abundance? 

Daily Gratitude Practices for Shifting Your Mindset

Here are some simple but powerful gratitude practices that you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. Keep a gratitude journal: Keeping a gratitude journal helps train your mind to focus on the positive aspects of your life, improving your overall well-being and fostering a more optimistic mindset. This consistent practice can increase happiness, reduce stress, and stronger resilience in facing life’s challenges. Try this: Write down three things you’re grateful for every day. These can be big things like accomplishments or small things like a good cup of coffee. Writing them down helps solidify them in your mind and focus your thoughts on the positive aspects of your life.
2. Express gratitude to others: Make it a habit to thank the people in your life for their kindness, support, and love. This not only strengthens your relationships but also reinforces your own sense of gratitude. Try this: Make it a habit to thank the people in your life for their kindness, support, and love. This strengthens your relationships, reinforces your sense of gratitude, and raises your energy levels.
3. Practice mindfulness: Take a few minutes daily to be present and aware of your surroundings. This helps bring your attention to the present moment and away from worries about the past or future. Try this: Close your eyes and focus on your breath, taking slow, deep breaths in and out. Observe any thoughts that arise without judgment, then gently bring your focus back to your breath.
4. Reflect on positive experiences: Reflecting on positive experiences can be a powerful way to reinforce feelings of gratitude and abundance. Try this: Each day, take a few minutes to reflect on a positive experience or accomplishment and write down why you’re grateful for it. This can help you shift your focus away from what you don’t have and toward what you do have.
5. Create gratitude affirmations: Affirmations are positive statements that can help reprogram your thinking and shift your perspective toward abundance. Try this: Create a list of gratitude affirmations, such as “I am grateful for all the abundance in my life” or “I attract positive opportunities and experiences every day.” Repeat these affirmations to yourself throughout the day, especially when you start to feel negative or anxious.

In conclusion, cultivating an abundant mindset is a powerful way to attract positivity and abundance. Spend a few moments each day thinking about positive experiences you’ve had, no matter how small. This will help you better appreciate the good things in your life and improve your overall outlook. 

Overcoming Obstacles to Gratitude and Abundance

It’s normal to encounter challenges and setbacks as you work to shift your mindset. Here are some strategies for overcoming common obstacles:

• Practice self-compassion: Be patient with yourself and recognize that change takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results; celebrate your progress and keep moving forward.
• Reframe negative thoughts: When you dwell on what you lack, try reframing the viewpoint more positively. For example, instead of thinking, “I don’t have enough money,” focus on how you can make the most of your resources.
• Surround yourself with positivity: Seek out friends, books, podcasts, and other sources of inspiration that promote gratitude and an abundant mindset. This will help reinforce your new way of thinking and keep you motivated.

Maintaining a Consistent Gratitude Mindset

Consistency is vital when it comes to cultivating an abundant mindset through gratitude. Commit to practicing gratitude daily, even when it feels challenging or uncomfortable. As you continue to engage in these exercises, you’ll notice a shift in your perspective and an increase in the abundance you experience.

Staying motivated to practice gratitude consistently can be challenging, especially when life gets busy, or you face difficult circumstances. However, there are several strategies you can employ to maintain your motivation and make gratitude a lasting habit:

1. Set realistic expectations: Understand that cultivating gratitude is a process that takes time and consistent effort. Be patient with yourself, and don’t expect immediate grand results. Acknowledge your progress and celebrate even minor improvements in your outlook.
2. Establish a routine: Incorporate gratitude practices into your daily routine, making them a non-negotiable part of your day. This could involve writing in a gratitude journal each morning, expressing appreciation during mealtimes, or setting aside a few minutes each evening for reflection.
3. Create visual reminders: Place reminders around your home or workspace that encourage you to practice gratitude. These could be inspirational quotes, images, or a sticky note saying, “What are you grateful for today?”.
4. Find an accountability partner: Share your gratitude journey with a friend or family member who can help keep you accountable. You can exchange daily gratitude lists, discuss your experiences, or simply check in with each other to ensure you’re staying on track.
5. Mix up your gratitude practices: To prevent boredom, try different methods of practicing gratitude. For example, you might alternate between journaling, verbal expressions of thanks, and mindfulness exercises focusing on gratitude.
6. Reflect on the benefits: Regularly remind yourself of the positive impact of practicing gratitude, such as improved mental well-being, stronger relationships, and a more optimistic outlook. This can motivate you to continue your practice even when it feels challenging.
7. Be kind to yourself: Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or struggle to practice gratitude during tough times. Instead, recognize that setbacks are a normal part of any personal growth journey and use them as an opportunity to recommit to your practice.

By implementing these strategies, you can stay motivated to practice gratitude consistently and experience the long-term benefits of a grateful mindset. Remember, cultivating gratitude is a lifelong journey, and maintaining your motivation is crucial in making it a lasting habit.

The one thing you shouldn’t leave out

So here it is, as promised. 

When we hear about the law of attraction, these are the most common phrases we see and hear: 

Like attracts like.

You get what you give.

You are what you think.

Ask – Believe – Receive.

Now what I want to say on this subject is this: This way of thinking is all well and good, but massive action is what really draws it in along with gratitude. You can’t sit back and not take action on the good things that all that gratitude has brought. Because nothing will change without effort. You will still sit in those same patterns, and nothing will change. 

Update: After writing this post, a dear friend recommended another movie that’s the follow-up to ‘The Secret’, and that movie is ‘Beyond the Secret: Wakening.’ I of course went straight to searching for where I could watch it. I found it on Amazon Prime for rent/buy but I also found it on Vimeo for free here. I also want to note that one of my other dear friends in the UK was able to find it on Amazon for free but that wasn’t the case for me and I even have Prime, but no worries, still watched it and it was valuable companion to the first.

While watching this, my jaw almost dropped, what spirit had given me to write this blog post was so on point. If you’re into manifesting your desires, then check this out and move through the recommendations and learn how to be grateful. It’s for your highest good.

Take those intuitive nudges and lean into the opportunities that arise. Move past the fear because what’s waiting on the other side of that fear is amazing. 

Think it, feel it, move toward it. If it scares you, then you know it’s working. Because our comfortable patterns are often the things that hold us back from achieving our full potential and letting the universe shift us to what we desire.

So, while it’s great to focus on an abundant mindset and be grateful for what you have, it’s equally important to take action toward the things you want in life. Opportunities and success rarely help us if we don’t try to walk into it. Keep this in mind as you cultivate a gratitude mindset and strive towards abundance in all aspects of your life. 

So, embrace discomfort, take action, and let gratitude fuel you toward a life filled with abundance and fulfillment. Remember, an abundant mindset is not about having everything but about feeling grateful for what you have and believing in the limitless possibilities of the universe. With consistent practice, anyone can shift their mindset from lack to abundance and attract positivity into their lives. 

By incorporating daily gratitude practices into your routine and working to overcome common obstacles, you can reprogram your thinking, attract more opportunities, and enjoy a more fulfilling, abundant life. So why not start today? Grab a pen and paper, and begin your journey toward a more productive mindset through the power of gratitude.