Achieving Unlimited Abundance And Prosperity

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

Like everything in life, how we view our reality is what we will experience.

There is a universal attitude towards abundance and prosperity that is incorrect. Many who are struggling financially feel those who are affluent or wealthy have achieved this state due to some crookery on their part, or that wealth changes people for the worse. For centuries abundance and prosperity has been looked upon with disdain, a sin in some respects (wealth equals greed and wickedness). While it is true that greed can overcome a person and become paramount, the flaw isn't with the abundance and prosperity achieved, but rather with the person who is using incorrect principles.

It is time to change our attitude regarding abundance and prosperity. To change our attitude, we must first start with changing our thoughts. Our thinking determines how we feel. If we constantly feel a sense of lack, we will believe that we can never get ahead, which in turn will cause us to always be chasing the dream of abundance and prosperity. On the contrary, if we change our definition of prosperity, and believe we will have all we need, the same will manifest to us.

It's All About Choices

Do you ever wonder why the rich get richer? It is because the rich are always thinking of wealth. They live a rich lifestyle, buy expensive things, and expect that their riches will continue indefinately. They do not worry about where the next paycheck will come from, but rather they work to ensure their job is done right. They know that money follows a mind-set dedicated to it.

Whatever you give out, you get back. It is the basic concept of the Law of Attraction, and the "secret" that every self-help guru promotes. It is actually nothing more than simple law. A concept that successful people have understood since the dawn of time.

If this concept is true, it makes sense that the more you give, the more you receive, therefore you become prosperous by giving. Abundance and prosperity then, is determined largely by the choices you make in giving to others.

You may be asking why, then, are there people who seem to have riches without them having to work for it. The bottom line is they will reap what they sow, no matter what. At some point, what they have given in life will reflect back to them. There is always justice, for it too, is law.

So, whether you are rich or poor, there are always choices to be made. Being rich doesn't necessarily mean you will make the right choice. It all boils down to who you are as a person. You decide what choices you make in any given situation and whether they will be honorable or deceitful. If your desire is to be happy and prosperous, it is important to make good decisions, for there are plenty of those who have seem to have it all, and yet are unhappy and unfulfilled. This is not true prosperity.

Gratitude Brings Abundance

The dictionary defines prosperity as "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition..."

This not only means with money and material objects, but also as a perfect state of being. Good health, a happy life, friends and family, and peace of mind are a few examples of overall abundance and prosperity.

From a simple point of view, you could say almost everyone has abundance and prosperity that has a roof over their heads, clothes to wear, food to eat, a chance for education, and all the basic necessities of life. But there are many who have all that, and yet are ungrateful.

You can not achieve what you desire if you are not grateful for what you already have.

Gratitude is the force behind every great achievment and success.

Using choice and gratitude, we can begin to change our beliefs and actions in our lives to create abundance and prosperity. While reading about the following categories, take a look at your life and decide what your views are regarding them.

Money

When most people think of abundance and prosperity, they think of having a lot of money. Of course, being prosperous doesn't always equal having a large amount of money, but learning how to attract money is an important part of the big picture.

Also, learning how to handle money in a responsible manner is crucial to being successful. It can create problems for us if we don't know how to manage it correctly.

It is important to remember that money is a commodity. It is meant to flow in and out of your life, while assisting you with the things you need. We run into problems when we hold on too tightly or let go too freely, thereby interrupting the flow.

So, when it comes to your money, you must look at the way you treat it. Do you see yourself giving and receiving it freely? Do you value what you own by taking care of your things? Do you trust you will aways have enough? Do you take responsibility by paying your bills and debts on-time? What are your views concerning money and happiness? All these things reflect your views and opinions. If you find you are not using your money to its full potential, then it is time to change the way you think about it.

Instead of limiting thoughts...

"I can't afford that."

"I never have any money."

"I just can't seem to get ahead."

create positive ones...

"I can afford whatever I want!"

"I have all the money I need!"

"There is more than enough for me and everyone else!"

There are plenty of ways to put your money to good use (besides spending!) Once per week, try to implement one new positive thought or action about money. Start making your money work for you!

Savings

Believe it or not, it is our savings rather than our checking account that can tell us the most about ourselves. When you are willing to put a portion of money into savings and not touch it, it tells several things: You are not worried about not having enough, you feel worthy of giving to yourself and you are responsible enough with your money that it is easy to put some away. Having this kind of outlook and attitude will attract more abundance and prosperity to you.

Try this experiment:

For the next 3 months, put 10% of each paycheck into savings. OK, don't panic. It really isn't that hard. Just take it out first thing and don't give yourself the option of spending it. If you can't trust yourself, a good approach is to have the money automatically deposited into your savings account. Most companies offer this feature. This works well for most people because it is easier to adjust to the amount they actually have when they don't see the extra money. Don't worry if you have to pull it out for an emergency, just get back on track with your next paycheck. Over time you will begin to see some amazing things happen.

Creating a habit of saving has many benefits. Among other things, it...

• Teaches you to make smarter choices with your money
• Tells the Universe "I'm worth it!", therefore creating a belief system that supports abundance and prosperity
• Creates a back-up fund in case of emergency
• Helps you learn and apply self-discipline
• Teaches responsibility and organizational skills by having to budget

At the end of the 3 months, look back over what you've learned. You will usually experience one or more of the following:

• Your income will increase to accommodate the savings
• Your expenses will decrease to adjust to the new budget
• You will feel more in control of your life and finances
• You discover you can actually survive just fine without the extra money

Saving your money is a good way to make a statement to yourself. This is a big issue for most people. They don't think they can allow any amount to be saved or they will not have enough for everything they need. Therein lies the problem. They aren't thinking correctly. You are in charge of this thinking. It's time to change! Money does not control you, you are in control of it! As soon as you realize you have this power within yourself, it makes all areas of life flow much easier and it automatically brings abundance and prosperity. This realization is the start of a more confident and financially sure you.

Spending Your Money Wisely

See if you can relate to the following...

You've been shopping all day and are ready to call it quits, when you see this beautiful cashmere sweater (or something that really appeals to you). You think, "That would look terrific on me!" Then you glance at the price. "Uh oh, a little over budget. But it is 25% off. I really shouldn't, but I'll probably NEVER find that color again. What the heck, I'll take it! After all, I'm worth it, and I still have some credit left on this card..."

We have been deceiving ourselves by an image of "something for nothing". When did it start being OK to spend what we don't have? Living this way is living a lie. Credit can have its place in a very controlled and responsible environment, but as soon as you feel you can have whatever you want and then worry about the consequences later, it turns into trouble. Remember, we reap what we sow.

American spending habits suggest that money (and therefore spending) equals happiness. However, much of the money spent is not really ours. Are we being honest with ourselves by spending money on things that doesn't truly belong to us?

Not only is honesty the best policy for life, but it applies especially to finances. There is nothing worse than to be living under the assumption that you have earned all you have, and have all you want, yet own none of it. To be subject to minimum payments for the next 50 years of your life. To basically be a slave to your "things". Are they worth it?

Like many overindulgences, overspending usually boils down to core issues of low self-worth and self-esteem. Buying things makes us feel good about ourself and showing them off gives us confidence. Finding better ways to improve ourselves will help curb those urges to overspend. And getting control of overspending will definately help us take charge of our life.

If abundance and prosperity is your goal, you must find ways to make your money work for you, instead of you working so hard for it. You do this by making smart decisions about when and where your money goes, and how much control you give to other sources (credit cards).

Smart Money Strategies

If you want to get ahead with your money, it's time to start applying some simple strategies. Check out the following suggestions. Are any of them doable for you?

Write A Budget

A budget can humble you very fast. You really get a good perspective of where your dollars are going every month and it shapes up your spending. Ask any rich person, they will usually tell you they know where every cent goes. Mindless spending is one thing you want to weed from your life. If you are taking ATM withdrawals a couple times a week and you don't know where the money is going, it's time to stop. Here is a basic budget outline.

• Start by sitting down and listing every expense you have in a single month. Be honest and complete, even down to the cup of coffee you buy on the way to work. You have to know how much you spend.
• Next, put each expense under one of four categories: Home, travel, food, miscellaneous.
• After you've delegated everything, look down each list and determine whether the expense is a necessity or a luxury. No cheating! Necessities are your basic shelter, food, clothing and transportation. Luxuries are entertainment, mall-shopping trips and high-end restaurants. Characterize each item by putting a N or L next to it.
• Now look at what you earn in a month. Write it at the bottom of the list.
• Write the amount you spend on each item next to its name on your list, starting with the necessities, and in order of importance.
• When your monthly income is used up, you are done. If it doesn't cover any luxuries and you feel you have to have them, then you'll need to cut somewhere else on your list. What necessity can you go without?

You can see why budgeting can be so helpful and yet so intimidating. It's extremely honest with you. But if you are willing to do it, you will not have the financial problems so many people have today, and will be well on your way to abundance and prosperity.

Use Credit Cards Sparingly

Credit cards have their place in society. But most people think they have to have a credit card in order to build long-term credit or to improve their credit rating. While having a card that is used wisely and paid in full each month will indeed contribute to a positive credit report, the real power comes from just paying your regular bills on time. Your well-kept house and car payments can be a huge asset to your credit report.

Go through your wallet and pull out any credit card that you do not pay in full each month, and cut it up. Yes, it is extreme. Yes, you eventually will be glad you did.

There may be some exceptions where you have to use a credit card to buy a large item that is needed right away. If this is the case, simply make a plan to pay it off by a certain date, and add the monthly amount to your budget.

With every purchase you can question whether you really need it or not. Most of the time, it is a luxury, and you can do without until you can earn the money to purchase it outright. Credit cards just mask the fact that you are paying much more in the long run for what you want. Take back the control. Use your money to benefit you!

Plan For Your Future

It is important at some point, to set up retirement, insurance and investment plans. These can be worked into your budget after you've gotten the hang of it. There are many good programs available to help with this. If abundance and prosperity are part of your goal, planning for your future is one of the best investments you can make.

Keep On Keeping On

Our lives are like a never-ending road filled with decisions to be made at every turn. Abundance and prosperity comes through making the controlled and disciplined ones. Ones that might not necessarily be the easiest way. However, every good decision leads to success in some degree. The road to abundance and prosperity is paved with hard work, focus and dedication, but it is worth every step. In whatever way we define this journey, we always have control of where we are headed.

Want to learn how to obtain money beyond belief? Click here for some great info from Dr. Joe Vitale on how to tap into your resources!

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