Henry Ford famously said “If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right”
One of the keys to creating financial success is your mindset about money. I can create the most comprehensive financial strategy for someone but if they have a negative mindset or attitude to money, they will still struggle to find success.
Your money mindset is the overriding attitude that you have about your finances. It really drives the financial decisions you make every day so having negative beliefs will really drive negative results.
Our thoughts about money drive our actions and those actions performed consistently become habits. Bad habits drive bad results!
Our thoughts about money come from our subconscious beliefs which we have developed over many years, starting way back when we were children. We all grew up with different financial backgrounds and family environments which developed our beliefs around money.
Some examples of negative money beliefs are:
- I’m just not good with money
- It’s easier to spend than save
- I just can’t seem to get ahead
- Money is the route of all evil
- Spending makes me happy
If we are currently saying things like this in our minds, our mindset is negative, and making any progress will be incredibly challenging because ultimately, we don’t believe we are capable of doing so.
By shifting to a positive money mindset, it means:
- You look for opportunities rather than seeing obstacles
- You believe every financial situation is fixable
- You ask for help rather than suffer silently
- You believe you can have success
- You are excited for your financial future
According to a survey from Ramsay Solutions of 10,000 millionaires, 97% of them said they are millionaires because they believed that it was in their control to become one. Not because of an inheritance or fancy education.
So, how can you develop a positive money mindset?
- First, you need to understand your current money mindset
- Think about how you grew up and ask yourself.
- What did I learn from my parents about money?
- What do I tell myself about money?
- When thinking about money, do I feel excited or anxious?
Your answers will help you understand if you have a positive or negative mindset.
- Forgive yourself for past mistakes
Don’t hold on to things of the past. Everyone makes mistakes but holding on to that regret forever is not serving you. Start fresh and new and focus on the future and all the wonderful things you plan to accomplish.
- Educate yourself
If you really want to make a change, turn off Netflix and do some research. Having knowledge will motivate you on your journey and help you stay accountable.
- Stop comparing yourself to others
Comparison is a fool’s game. No matter how happy someone looks or how successful you perceive them to be, you have no idea what is really going on with them. They may very well be, but the truth is you just don’t know. Making comparisons will just drive negativity and keep you in your scarcity mindset.
- Plan your spending
Having a budget can be empowering. Think of it as planning how you spend your money, to ensure you spend on the things that make you happier, rather than thinking of it as something limiting you. There is no reason you can’t enjoy yourself now and plan for your future, you just need to plan.
- Practice gratitude
You will never find success without gratitude. You need to be grateful for what you have rather than focussing completely on the future. If you are constantly chasing happiness, you will never find it because there will always be something else you think you need to reach that happiness. Be grateful for everything you have now, and you will feel happy and fulfilled always. It doesn’t mean you can’t desire and plan for more.
- Stop complaining
If you are constantly talking about the negatives you will never get out of your scarcity mindset. It’s true that what we think about, we bring about and what we focus on, we achieve. Monitor your thoughts and conversations and build the habit of being positive. It will take work at first but eventually it will become a habit that will forever serve you well.
Ultimately, your mindset is an important tool to achieving success so give it the priority it deserves.
