Expanding Abundance (Blog)

[Savage]

Use this thread to discuss the following entry from Steve Pavlina's blog:

Expanding Abundance

[Dev]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. It is a major paradigm-shift for me. Need to do this exercise soon & explore the possibilities.

[Ekb]

I tried this with three things and blow me down found a pattern by comparing my lustrous hair!

Thus;

Abundance

In Hair - periods of growth. Dormancy. Then falling out. Then regrowth

In Clutter - clutter growing. clutter still. Cleaning. Clutter growing

Parenting-discovering enjoying overcoming new problem Discovery

Obviously the clutter is the abundance I don't want, it really should be this -

cleanliness growing. Cleanliness still. Clutter. Cleaning

The equilibrium slowly shuffling toward higher brackets of clean!

It seems in my abundant timeline, the over all outcome is increasing due to the focus 3/4 of the time on what I want. Seems to make sense to me - as abundance wouldn't matter without scarcity. Clutter wouldn't matter without cleanliness. Not sure if these are the right words to convey but yay, realizing this shall help propel me! (?)

[Pequod]

Great article Steve! Short & sweet. I like to see it boiled down to the essentials.

Can you expand on how to identify limiting beliefs? The proces is still somewhat puzzling to me. In the early days you talked about 'context' etc, but I never really got this part of the proces.

And how do you eliminate limiting beliefs? Just change them with Lefkoe's method or do you use other methods too?

[jpletting]

It's been my experience in the past that socially abundant people are generally unwilling to hang out with people who aren't already themselves socially abundant or have a social vibe already going. Nobody likes a tagalong. I guess I have an abundance of solitude!

[escapeplan]

This "abundant" minset wasn't something I'd come across before encountering it in LOA material. Is the mindset as useful without belief in the LOA?

I guess I'm simply challenging whether the abundance mindset actually works in practice. If so, is this based on any more than subjective analysis and how do we know we are critically assessing our own beliefs? Are we paying equal attention to when adopting an abundant mindset doesn't produce the desired outcome? Are we also seeing positive outcomes that occur without an abundant mindset? How critical are we being?

"Why does it matter- surely if it works for some, that's great???"

Agreed- but would they get faster and better results by taking other positive action instead.

For example with financial abundance, instead of adopting a mindset before taking action, why not simply learn about business or stocks and shares or investments etc and then allow the mindset to naturally follow?

Sure you have to take action- but is adopting an abundant mindset really necessary? Or are we actually potentially slowing our progress by throwing in a red herring instead of focussing directly on gaining the required skills and knowledge?

Not sure we can prove it one way or the other- it comes down to individuals experiences and beliefs. But I am concerned that those who query this may feel in a minority and end up wasting valuable time.

However I thought it was good that the article itself actually gave some tips on how to develop the mindset in the first place. With all these ideas it's great when they come with an instruction manual as well!

[aelle]

Originally Posted by jpletting

It's been my experience in the past that socially abundant people are generally unwilling to hang out with people who aren't already themselves socially abundant or have a social vibe already going. Nobody likes a tagalong. I guess I have an abundance of solitude!

Is this your experience as a socially abundant person or as a tag-along? My experience as a, let's say, socially growing person is that it is precisely the most socially abundant people who are the most welcoming to lonely people - to everyone, actually. Then they click or not (and, yes, socially awkward people may project a bas vibe that doesn't help), but people with rich social lives are open and welcoming by default, and often do the first step to approach others.

[jpletting]

Originally Posted by aelle

Is this your experience as a socially abundant person or as a tag-along? My experience as a, let's say, socially growing person is that it is precisely the most socially abundant people who are the most welcoming to lonely people - to everyone, actually. Then they click or not (and, yes, socially awkward people may project a bas vibe that doesn't help), but people with rich social lives are open and welcoming by default, and often do the first step to approach others.

As a tag-along, but I didn't think of myself that way at the time. I was placing myself in deliberately difficult situations (for me) to overcome my social anxiety--when in doubt about how to go about a thing, just jump right in. It's possible I chose the wrong people with whom to try and connect but they were the social butterflies I knew and I was trying to learn. I have not found that they are always open and welcoming. In fact, they really did not want a social inept around--it made them uncomfortable, and in turn, made me want not to bother.

I would still like to increase my social abundance and I still grew a LOT from those experiences--I'm much better at it now, you'd never know I used to be shy! I just don't get out nearly as much anymore.

[Savage]

This week I'm tagging along with an old friend who's visiting Vegas as he teaches me fashion abundance -- an area in which I've previously been experiencing quite a bit of scarcity but where he enjoys abundance.

I'm learning quite a lot, and he seems to be having fun teaching me -- and watching me squirm at times.

One thing he taught me yesterday was how to notice the subtle details of each article of clothing. I never paid attention to such details before since I'm so used to focusing on the big picture. Now I can never look at a shirt or jacket the same way.

[cacheborn]

I am starting a journal.
I had one few years back, then I stopped. But that was a different kind, one where I just noted down what happened each day.
Thanks for the useful tips.

[escapeplan]

This week I'm tagging along with an old friend who's visiting the UK as he teaches me toilet paper abundance -- an area in which I've previously been experiencing quite a bit of scarcity but where he enjoys abundance.

I'm learning quite a lot, and he seems to be having fun teaching me -- and watching me squirm at times.

One thing he taught me yesterday was how to notice the subtle details of each sheet. I never paid attention to such details before since I'm so used to focusing on the big picture. Now I can never look at a toilet the same way.

Sorry.
Meant in good fun

[James81]

Curious question for you Steve....

You know how when a certain stock starts snowballing and doing well, it splits and then doubles in value?

Do you think the same sort of principle works with abundance? Have you ever had that happen to you or seen it happen?

[ballhit2]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

This week I'm tagging along with an old friend who's visiting the UK as he teaches me toilet paper abundance -- an area in which I've previously been experiencing quite a bit of scarcity but where he enjoys abundance.

I'm learning quite a lot, and he seems to be having fun teaching me -- and watching me squirm at times.

One thing he taught me yesterday was how to notice the subtle details of each sheet. I never paid attention to such details before since I'm so used to focusing on the big picture. Now I can never look at a toilet the same way.

Dude if you're wiping the toilet and not your ass, you're doing it wrong.

[AHAInterestingTimes]

I've been studying personal development for many years, and I already use the stuff in Steve's post. I have one major sticking point towards abundance, though: I have some philosophical doubts as to whether it's even desirable. I have this picture in my mind of everyone being drooling zombie-hippies who go around loving everyone and there being nothing to fight for since money, sex, friendship, etc, can be gotten in infinite quantities. Guess I'm too darkworker, eh?

I always try to remind myself that RIGHT NOW I sure could do well to move towards abundance

Nevertheless, it is a sticking point, and if I could find a way to reconcile abundance with my model of the world, ie without giving up aggression, struggle and competition, I would be set to go

[joylangtry]

Fascinating.

Abundance happens when I inject love and passion into what I'm doing.

Good to recognize!

Edited to add: Wow! I just moved on to Erin's article next, and it would seem that this is the key. Nice dovetail, folks!

[bluedragon]

I guess the only kind of abundance I am experiencing is abundance of enthusiasm and faith in myself. And maybe abundance of ideas. But no practical abundance for now - not financial, not abundance of opportunities, nor social abundance. Sometimes I feel I just don't know how to act, practically, to make this happen.

[alexb5784]

I have been experiencing a positive shift in my finances simply because I started valuing my life and aligning with my purpose. I've even attracted a situation where I can work 2-3 days a week at my hospital and still make enough to cover my basic needs. I've been devoting my extra time to working on a business and writing/shooting a documentary.

Social abundance is extremely easy for me. Talking to strangers is a complete turn on and I love it. My new business is about connecting people of different mindsets together and them helping them reach a common ground. The whole concept is really aligned with my greatest desire, which to help people and myself become less judgmental. I'm so happy to have found various mediums that are helping me share myself freely with others.

This article really helps me understand how I can transfer more of my social abundance into the financial area of my life. I can see myself transforming my finances into my "new" social life. They are becoming one and the same. No longer do they feel separate. More money will allow me to spend more time with others, thereby helping them create even better results than I'm experience.

The idea of turning my finances into my social life seem so cool to me right now. I feel like I want to do better financially because it will allow me to better connect compassionately with other people. I truly get it now

[Cochonette]

Another tip that can accelerate your progress significantly is to bring people into your social circle who are already enjoying abundance in the area of life in which you’d like to experience abundance too.

What you describe in this article (social abundance, financial scarcity) is exactly my situation right now. I took a semester off college, and now I'm broke. Most of my friends are college students... so how could I bring people into my circle who have financial abundance, and how would that help me significantly? Perhaps I need to just get a job first before thinking of leveraging others to help my abundance.

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Cochonette

What you describe in this article (social abundance, financial scarcity) is exactly my situation right now. I took a semester off college, and now I'm broke. Most of my friends are college students... so how could I bring people into my circle who have financial abundance, and how would that help me significantly? Perhaps I need to just get a job first before thinking of leveraging others to help my abundance.

I doubt you'll be the only one struggling to put it into practice- but the article presents a nice theory anyway

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Cochonette

What you describe in this article (social abundance, financial scarcity) is exactly my situation right now. I took a semester off college, and now I'm broke. Most of my friends are college students... so how could I bring people into my circle who have financial abundance, and how would that help me significantly? Perhaps I need to just get a job first before thinking of leveraging others to help my abundance.

In practice this is very simple.

Start by leaning in that direction. Spend more time with the most financially abundant people you know (including your college friends), and spend less time with those who are stuck in scarcity. Through your most abundant friends, you'll meet others who enjoy even greater abundance. Use your social skills and social abundance to befriend those new people, and spend more time with them. Learn from them, including how they manage their money and create value for others. Keep shifting your social circle in the direction of abundance as it feels good to do so.

There's no need to use people along the way (i.e. Evita style). Simply know what kind of people you want to be around, and kept shifting in that direction little by little.

The more you focus on attracting such people, the more they'll show up on your radar.

Also, when you drop the scarcity-minded friends, you'll find it a lot easier to attract more abundant people. Such people will come to you. Abundant people generally love hanging out with other abundant people and tend to avoid scarcity-minded people.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

I doubt you'll be the only one struggling to put it into practice- but the article presents a nice theory anyway

Actually as explained above, applying this idea is quite simple and straightforward. It takes time of course, but it certainly isn't difficult to create financial abundance if you already have the social abundance thing going.