Breaking the Poverty MindSet
“True poverty is not what you have in your hand but what you have in your mind.”
--Dr. Raphael Spiller
I can tell you why you are living from paycheck to paycheck. I can tell you why you settle for a job that keeps you Just Over Broke. I can tell you why you went through foreclosure on your home or had your car repossessed. I can tell you why there is no money in your savings account. I can tell you why you take trips instead of vacation, if you don’t know the difference it is simply, when you take a trip you still come back tripping. I can tell you why opportunities always seem to pass you by. It’s because you have been infected, infected with the disease called poverty!
“Poverty mindset is a virus, consuming those who remain complacent.”
--Dr. Raphael Spiller
Here is a test to first check and see if your mind is contaminated with the virus of Poverty.
The Poverty Mind-Set Test
- Have you bought into the idea that “making money is hard?”
- Have you bought into the idea that success and wealth is a matter of luck or that it is reserved for those that are already privileged, were born with a silver spoon, or they were lucky enough to know the right people or to be at the right place at the right time?
- Do you have a scarcity mindset? (Do you believe that money and resources are limited and there is only so much to go around or Do you believe that those who have much take from the rest?)
- Do you believe that life is happening to you?
- Do you let fear of loss or the unknown guide your decisions?
- Do you decide what you purchase based on price or always find yourself asking how much does it cost?
- Do you find yourself saying the word “can’t” often? We can’t do that; we can’t afford that, etc.
- Do you believe you have to work hard to have what you want in life?
- Do you think in terms of either/or? Ex: either you buy the new car or you take a vacation, either you give to the poor or you buy the new watch, either you get a job or you build a business…etc.
- Do you believe that high levels of success always come at a high level of cost? In other words, do you believe you have to sacrifice important things for the sake of success?
- Do you find yourself looking forward to the end of the day or the end of the week so you can finally have fun and enjoy your time?
Okay, so if you found yourself answering yes more than no to the above questions, you are stricken with a poverty mindset. The poverty mindset is one that comes from lack, limitation, and negative perceptions.
You took the poverty MindSet test… well how did you do? If you score an “100%” you are in need of a make-over. Fret Not I have just the thing for you. Today you are breaking out of that Poverty Controlled Mind!
What develops the Poverty MindSet
"We become what we think about all day long."
--Ralph Waldo Emerson
Environment - If you were raised in a household filled with negative reminders about lack and limited resources or criticisms of the wealthy, you will have carried your learned beliefs and behaviors into adulthood. These learned responses are embedded in your brain and repeat themselves like an old, broken record; a constant reminder of your limitations.If we cannot erase this ingrained internal "knowledge' that tell us that we can never succeed then we are doomed to failure - no matter how hard we try.
What destroys the Poverty Mind-Set
"Change your thoughts and you change your world."--Norman Vincent Peale
Exposure–(People Component) Start connecting with new people who inspire rather than limit you. People with a positive, uplifting attitude about success and wealth.When you are around these people for long lengths of time you will begin to absorb unconsciously their oral and body language, mimicking their tone and posture. When you are around these people for long lengths of timeYour thinking will expand allowing you to think outside the box and allowing your creative juices to flow. Because in the end your greatest asset is YOU.
(Places Component) Start going to new places. You would be surprised to known that the poverty mindset can be reinforced by living in certain places, being entertained in certain places and working in certain places. In order to break the poverty mindset you have to exposure your mind to different places that speak wealth. You must awake you mind to wealth by exposing it to a wealth. Whatever you expose the mind to it will desire.
Education–You grow into what you know. If you want to defeat the poverty mindset you must invest in a wealth of mind. A wise man said, “I don’t just want to die and leave my children money; I also want to leave them a wealth of mind so that that won’t blow the money I leave them. Education is a critical component in conquering the poverty mindset. Commit to reading books and listening to CDs that will empower you intellectually. Remember the only reason people are truly broke is because they don’t know any better.
How do wealthy people think? Good question. In this next piece I will chronicle several thought patterns of the wealth, if you begin to implement these you will be well on your way to becoming wealthy. Remember money is a matter of the mind.
The Mind-Set of the Wealthy
Let’s look at the wealthy mindset. Pay attention because this is how you get past the poverty mindset.
- Wealthy people believe they are happening to their lives, not that their lives are happening to them. They direct their path; they live out each day on purpose.
- Wealthy people move forward in spite of fear, and use past experiences as catalysts. This is where courage (Cou-RAGE) comes into play. They are so mad at their condition that it motivates them to never quit!
- Wealthy people believe we live in a world of abundance. Money is infinite and there is plenty to go around and they are making things happen so that it can come to them.
- Wealthy people don’t ask how much does it cost, they ask how much can I make? They seek opportunities to increase.
- Wealthy people don’t say I can’t; they ask how can I? Then they find a way.
- Wealthy people make their money work hard for them. The poverty mindset says you have to work hard for your money…see the difference? The wealthy mindset works where the odds are for them, not against them.
- Wealthy people don’t think either/or, they think both. They know they can give to charities and buy the new car. Instead of making an either/or decision, they go after what they want. This is a matter of living in abundance so you don’t have to choose between one or the other. If they want more than one business, they do it. The wealthy mindset doesn’t just buy, they invest. The wealthy person doesn’t choose between giving and taking, they give and live the way they choose.
- Wealthy people know luck has nothing to do with success. They think success is a choice that you make at any time.
- Wealthy people seek opportunity, not entertainment. Wealthy people build a lifestyle so they can enjoy their work; they build a career and a future doing what they enjoy. Do they work? Absolutely, but they work smart.
- Wealthy people see the cost of not succeeding instead of the cost of success.