As
you look at your year, do you take the time to evaluate
how the year went? Did you accomplish what you set
out to do? What worked and what didn’t? What
do you need to change? How can your life be even better?
One
of the things I noticed talking with people from my
programs and coaching is the difference in the way
we think. We all know people think differently, but
what I noticed is where people focus their thinking.
When people start talking, some talk about and appreciate
what they have in life and think about what they need
and want in life—others talk about what they
don’t have. For example: I was talking with
someone (no names to protect the innocent) and they
were sharing where they were in their life. What I
heard was: “I’m not where I want to be.
This is not where I thought I’d be at this time
of my life.” You could hear in their voice how
unhappy they were. I could feel the negative energy
coming from them.
Now,
not to say that we don’t all have bad days,
or that we don’t need someone to let go with
about what’s going on with us. After all, that’s
one of the functions of coaches. However, the question
is, once you get it off your chest do you now focus
on how to change it? Do you focus on what’s
working, where you’re going, what’s possible
instead of what’s not possible? Or do you continue
to focus on what you don’t have? I think of
this as the difference between abundance thinking
and scarcity thinking.
Abundance
thinkers’ focus on what is possible, appreciate
what they have and yet reach for what they want in
life. Scarcity thinkers’ focus on what they
don’t have, what might be taken from them, what
they don’t have enough of, what hasn’t
worked. Which are you?
I
find that abundance thinkers’ are much happier
and more positve people. They appreciate all the wonderful
things they have in their lives. They realize there
are areas they would like to be different, and then
figure out a way to make it different and focus on
making it happen.
If
you were to keep focused on what’s not working,
what you don’t have, how you wish things were,
how then are you going to be able to make things happen?
It’s like looking backwards all of the time
instead of focusing your energies to the future. Abundance
thinkers think about possibilities and scarcity thinkers
think about how it’s never going to happen.
Which direction or focus will make you happier? Which
is going to allow you to change your situation?
We
weren’t meant to be unhappy in our lives. We
were meant to live full lives where anything is possible
when we believe and are willing to go for it.
I
hope you take time to reflect on where you are and
how you are thinking. Ask yourself if it is working
for you? If not, would “now” be a good
time to change?
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About
the Author, Debra Pestrak:
Debra is an award-winning motivational speaker, trainer,
and personal coach who has assisted her clients, including
Fortune 500® companies, in dealing with corporate
culture change, increased sales performance, improved
customer service and personal development. As a professional
speaker she strives to motivate others and feels a
thrill to hear from people about exciting changes
in their lives and from those who have experienced
the "a'ha" about what they need to do next
in their careers. Debra is the author of the recent
book Playing
with the Big Boys. You may contact her at
debra@debrapestrak.com or visit her Internet
site.
Are
You an Abundance Thinker?