I'm not sure where to begin, but I felt compelled to write this. In the past few years, I have read a lot of material on mindset. That includes Mindset by Carol Dweck, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, I Can Make You Rich by Paul McKenna, and The Power of Consistency by Weldon Long. I've also read books that have nothing to do with money like the Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown, and Self Compassion by Kristin Neff, yet they still espouse the same importance of having the right mindset in life. What I've come to realize is just how powerful a role the subconscious plays. It's our driving engine in life, and yet so few of us are really aware of that fact. Ignorance has its consequences. Many will never reach their dreams, hate themselves, and even attempt suicide because of their subconscious messages. Most of us will live life on autopilot, acting on the programming we've received for better or for worse.
It's been hard for me, but I've been unearthing a lot of the subconscious messages I've often held about money, and happiness in general. My dad was a jack of all trades, and before he left my mother, he was a real estate agent at the height of the housing boom. He was obsessed with making money. He talked about it all the time. But he was also verbally and physically abusive. He even took us to a church that taught the "word of faith" doctrine, the belief that God wants us all to be rich, and all you have to do is "speak it into existence." I hated going to that church. So I was resentful of money, wealth building, or anything remotely related for a long time. I just didn't want to think about anything that reminded me of my dad.
It's also been hard for me because I currently live in an African country. While I live in a capital city where there is a lot of modernity, poverty is still everywhere. The government minimum wage is a sickly $2.50 a day. Sometimes I feel fortunate that I have the means, knowledge, and drive to work online, make a good living, and live anywhere in the world I want. Other times I feel guilty over it. Other times I know the store owner or the taxi driver is over charging me because I'm a foreigner, but I just let it happen. Because even though I don't have much, I know I have more than they do. I've even sabotaged myself out of contracts because of my subconscious limiting beliefs.
At the same time though, I see the mindset effect at work here. A lot. It's human nature to live on autopilot and do what you were programmed to do as a child. People here talk a lot about how the government is corrupt and screwing them over, yet I see little action being taken in changing the way things are done. When talking about freelance writing, my local friend told me, "It's hard to do something that no one in your family has ever done." That friend now works at a pizza place for a pittance, when his writing skills could be earning him much more. This country could be so different if the people's mindset would change. Am I any different?
I've decided, put it firmly in my mind, that I want wealth. Eff all the negative messages I've received about wealth and prosperity growing up. I've been surrounded by people who want to be rich and always talk about it, but they barely do anything to attain that goal. I've been told that "money doesn't buy happiness" and "money isn't everything" by people who have limited outlooks on life. I've decided I won't be like my dad. I won't say that I want to be rich, then blow my money on clothes and cars. I have my "why," and that's financial freedom so that I can do what I want in life, contribute positively to business owners, and be a blessing to the people around me. My dad is now a gym assistant at 24 Hour Fitness. I've promised myself that I will do what it takes so that my story is different. And it all starts with transforming my mindset.
It's been hard for me, but I've been unearthing a lot of the subconscious messages I've often held about money, and happiness in general. My dad was a jack of all trades, and before he left my mother, he was a real estate agent at the height of the housing boom. He was obsessed with making money. He talked about it all the time. But he was also verbally and physically abusive. He even took us to a church that taught the "word of faith" doctrine, the belief that God wants us all to be rich, and all you have to do is "speak it into existence." I hated going to that church. So I was resentful of money, wealth building, or anything remotely related for a long time. I just didn't want to think about anything that reminded me of my dad.
It's also been hard for me because I currently live in an African country. While I live in a capital city where there is a lot of modernity, poverty is still everywhere. The government minimum wage is a sickly $2.50 a day. Sometimes I feel fortunate that I have the means, knowledge, and drive to work online, make a good living, and live anywhere in the world I want. Other times I feel guilty over it. Other times I know the store owner or the taxi driver is over charging me because I'm a foreigner, but I just let it happen. Because even though I don't have much, I know I have more than they do. I've even sabotaged myself out of contracts because of my subconscious limiting beliefs.
At the same time though, I see the mindset effect at work here. A lot. It's human nature to live on autopilot and do what you were programmed to do as a child. People here talk a lot about how the government is corrupt and screwing them over, yet I see little action being taken in changing the way things are done. When talking about freelance writing, my local friend told me, "It's hard to do something that no one in your family has ever done." That friend now works at a pizza place for a pittance, when his writing skills could be earning him much more. This country could be so different if the people's mindset would change. Am I any different?
I've decided, put it firmly in my mind, that I want wealth. Eff all the negative messages I've received about wealth and prosperity growing up. I've been surrounded by people who want to be rich and always talk about it, but they barely do anything to attain that goal. I've been told that "money doesn't buy happiness" and "money isn't everything" by people who have limited outlooks on life. I've decided I won't be like my dad. I won't say that I want to be rich, then blow my money on clothes and cars. I have my "why," and that's financial freedom so that I can do what I want in life, contribute positively to business owners, and be a blessing to the people around me. My dad is now a gym assistant at 24 Hour Fitness. I've promised myself that I will do what it takes so that my story is different. And it all starts with transforming my mindset.
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