How to Shift Out of a “What Can I Get” Mindset
By: Orianna Nienan
Tags: Self Improvement, Mindset, Consciousness, Giving Back, Life

Use Affirmations

From my experience, there are a few specific affirmations that help shift underlying beliefs of lack. These include:

I have everything I need at all times.

I am the creator of my own experience and everything is available to me.

I give myself whatever I need in each Now moment.

I am unlimited. I am infinite.

I am an unlimited resource.

I am the source of my own comfort.

Any affirmations along these lines are great. Notice that these are not meant to manifest anything specific, they are meant to shift your mindset so that you deconstruct ideas of lack and limitation. This allows you to access the truth — that abundance is your true nature. I have used these and similar affirmations and they have been a huge help in my life.

If you practice mindfulness or some form of awareness by which you monitor your thoughts, pay attention to what comes up when you are paying bills, paying for food at the grocery store, or treating yourself to a massage. The best time to edit a belief is in the moment when the thought comes into your mind.

If you are paying for groceries and the thought comes up, “wow, groceries are so expensive now,” you can choose at that moment to re-write your thought pattern. You can proactively choose a thought such as, “wow, I am so grateful that I have the money in the bank to purchase this food!” Or, to take it a step further, “I am so grateful for this food, I am going to make something and take over to a neighbor to share.” These kinds of thoughts will signal to your deeper self that things are okay and that you are safe and supported. Over time, you may no longer get that thought about the cost of groceries; you may have a spontaneous thought about abundance!

I remember a few years ago I was out snowboarding. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining on the mountain. I had the thought that I loved myself. Immediately I thought, “wow, where did that come from?”. I had never recalled spontaneously thinking that I loved myself before. For me, it showed that this type of mindset work is valuable and that over time, perspectives will change!

Practice for using affirmations

Set aside a couple of minutes in the morning and think about the affirmations above or others you have selected. You can also write them out or read them out loud. (This practice changes our neurology, but I will leave the discussion of neuroplasticity for another article!)

Try setting a phone alarm for a couple of times per day where you just take a moment and consciously think of your affirmations.

There are apps available that support this type of practice. I found an app created by Sandra Ingerman called Transmutation that has inspirational words, phrases, blessings, and photos. You can set the app alarm for whatever intervals you choose to remind you to mentally focus on your affirmations.

The practice of using affirmations is not an obvious way to give back; however, as we focus on our wholeness, our sense of being complete within ourselves, this puts less drain on others and promotes our sense of well being. When we are well, our state of wellness is a wonderful gift to those around us.

While I have experienced the positive benefit of affirmations myself, I am not the only one. A 2015 study found that affirmations “can decrease stress, increase well being, improve academic performance, and make people more open to behavior change.”¹ The study found that affirmations decreased reactivity and negative emotional states. Exactly. I went from being anxious much of the time to now feeling calm and serene as my general state of being. Others around me have noticed, and everyone benefits from the good vibes.