I wasn’t born and raised with an abundance mindset. I had never heard this term until I hit rock bottom in 2022 and desperately wanted to change my life. I knew my mindset needed expansion and transformation to get myself out of the rut. That was when I learned about manifestation and the abundance mindset. By recognizing that there’s always an abundance of great things to access in life, I stopped whining about my past circumstances and started to spot new opportunities. After two years of hard work, my life transformed completely. I was energized to pursue my goals and often achieved them. Tuning into an abundance mindset can be easy; I will share 25 abundance mindset exercises below to help you get started on this life-changing mindset shift.
What is Abundance Mindset?
Mindset is a way of thinking about the things in our lives. It is essential because how we think affects the type of actions we take.
If we think with abundance, we see a world full of chances and good things. Abundance isn’t just about having money. It’s about feeling good and happy, having healthy relationships, enjoying life’s moments, and being healthy overall. It’s a perspective that views life’s possibilities as limitless even within limited circumstances, encouraging us to approach situations and challenges with optimism, creativity and generosity.
Scarcity vs Abundance Mindset
A scarcity mentality is a poisonous state of mind in which people believe resources are limited and opportunities are few. This leads to constant stress, as one believes they have to compete with others for what they want.
As Stephen Covey, the author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, said, “A scarcity mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a scarcity mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit – even with those who help in the production.” The reluctance to be grateful and give back to the community often leads to a life filled with greed, resentment, and constant dissatisfaction.
The infographic below shows that having an abundance mindset benefits yourself and everyone else more. If you find yourself thinking with a scarcity mindset, stop and start the abundance mindset exercises below. There are 25 exercises in total, so you’re sure to find one you can start with!
25 Abundance Mindset Exercises
An abundance mindset focuses on a limitless supply of good things in life: love, wealth, health, a cozy environment, etc. You define what abundance means to you. These abundance mindset exercises are designed to train your ability to look for opportunities for growth and improvement, cultivate gratitude, build your resilience, and motivate yourself through positive self-talk.
1. Wake up being grateful every day
It is easy to wake up grateful and energised if we have a rest day ahead or after a good night’s sleep. But what about those bad days when we are tired from yesterday’s work or dreading an upcoming meeting and exam? We must remind ourselves of what we take for granted, like the gift of another day of life. While it might not be easy, we can make it fruitful by making a small or big change today, helping someone, and spending time with loved ones.
2. Say thank you out loud
Take every chance to say thank you. It doesn’t just make the people who help you happy, but it also builds your habit of being appreciative of things as small as someone helping you hold the door.
3. Know your privilege
If you are reading this, you are probably privileged in terms of:
- Having access to Wi-Fi or mobile internet
- Owning devices such as phones, tablets, or computers
- Proficiency in English and literacy
- Awareness and exposure to personal development and manifestation
- Open-mindedness about new ideas and a willingness to challenge existing beliefs about scarcity and abundance
Knowing your privilege helps you recognise the abundance you already have in life. Check out the famous privilege walk if you need another reminder of how privileged you are. If this has happened to you, imagine what better things are coming their way!
4. Rephrase your narrative
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”
– Walt Whitman
To live an abundant life, train yourself to seek the good things in every situation.
I once had the opportunity to study for my undergraduate degree overseas, but the government downgraded our batch of scholarships to local universities. Instead of feeling bitter about it, I maximised my experience by making lifelong friendships, joining clubs, and participating in business competitions. By rephrasing my narrative, I stopped feeling sorry for myself and turned my local university life into a fulfilling experience. In fact, many people I meet at work assume I studied overseas due to my personality and proficiency in English. 🤷🏻♀️
My experience proves that maintaining a positive attitude will help keep your vibrations high to attract greatness and eventually change your reality.
5. Build your self-confidence from the outside
When you are very low on self-confidence, start with the outside-in approach. Share your talents and skills with people. If you have none, start by learning one or two. For example, I picked up iPad watercolour painting by taking courses online. Then, I practised in public by showing my progress on Xiao Hong Shu (@shanyi1023 is my username).
Eventually, I improved, and my work received more likes and comments on social media. This is how confidence starts accumulating from your work validations and achievements. Then, when your self-confidence is boosted, you will view your self-worth positively and start thinking about life optimistically.
6. Curate what you consume
We are what we consume. Consciously curate those foods of thought–newspapers, articles, social media, shows, documentaries, opinions, etc. Stay away from pieces of stuff that perpetuate a scarcity mindset, such as messages suggesting it is a dog-eat-dog world, and you must hurt other people to stay ahead. Instead, balance your intake with materials that challenge your perspectives, widen your exposure, and make you a lifelong learner.
7. Detox your environment
Other than conscious consumption, you also have to remove yourself completely from people and environments that are toxic and not serving you.
Amanda, the pick-me girl? Adam, who objectifies women? Your boss who discriminates against races? Your colleagues who are nosy and love to spread rumours?
Once you recognise those people who are intoxicating your life and making you feel bad about yourself and your life, get rid of them as soon as possible. You don’t have to be apologetic, as we are responsible for our mental health and general well-being.
8. Surround yourself with supportive people
We are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Find yourself in a tribe filled with supportive people. They will cheer you on when you succeed but will also be your daredevil, keeping you in check.
I have met people who turn sour when I achieve my goals. Trust me—you don’t need them. Gladly, I have many friends and family who genuinely support me in pursuing my goals. They are my anchor and my cheerleaders.
9. Develop a growth mindset
A growth mindset helps cultivate an abundance mindset by encouraging you to look for opportunities for growth and improvement. It empowers you to learn and keep improving.
Here are a few tips on how to develop a growth mindset:
- The power of “yet”: Instead of saying, “I cannot do this”, say this to yourself instead: “I cannot do this yet.” Then, identify what you need to master it and take steps toward that goal.
- See challenges as adventures: Growth always comes with challenges. Be adventurous and try out new things and approaches. You cannot expect things to be different if you do things the same way.
- Reflect on past mistakes: Every experience, whether good or bad, offers a lesson. Reflect on the mistakes and learn how to be better at it. This is the mindset that turns a setback into a comeback.
- Engage in Positive Self-Talk: When you catch yourself thinking with a fixed mindset, stop and reframe your thoughts. Remind yourself of your ability to learn and grow. There are always limitless ways to reach your goal.
The success of a growth mindset is not about perfection but personal improvement. You are only in competition with yourself, so strive to be your best version!
10. Be a curious learner
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”
– Anthony J. D’Angelo
An abundance mindset focuses on growth. Constant curiosity makes you wiser and keeps you young at heart. Staying excited about life and learning, your appreciation will lead you to a life abundant in blessings and purpose.
11. Be compassionate to yourself and others
Abundance is a flowing river of love that never runs dry. Embody it by being compassionate to yourself and others. You can start by accepting your body.
Find a mirror and look into your reflection, observing every beauty and flaw that you have. Compliment the parts you find beautiful. Apologize to the features you find unacceptable. Remember, they exist to keep your body functional and healthy. Thank them and learn to see them in a positive light.
With wholehearted acceptance of your own body, you can gradually become more compassionate towards yourself as a whole and extend this kindness to the people around you.
12. Celebrate when others succeed
When people achieve their goals, be happy for them. Having an abundance mindset means there’s enough room for everyone to succeed.
If you don’t get the promotion this round but your colleague gets it, be happy for them. Your efforts are not wasted. Learn from your mistakes, and you will surely get good news soon. Sometimes, things arrive as expected, but sometimes, it takes a little longer to make sure we are ready for them.
13. Dream BIG
With unlimited opportunities available, why not think big? Scrap the goal of getting a job at XXX if you want to be an entrepreneur! You have to challenge your beliefs and fears to imprint the belief that you deserve to reach the big goal that you secretly wish to.
Ignore naysayers’ noise, especially when they have never been on your path. Focusing on your big goals will help you expand your perspective on what you deserve, cultivating an abundance mindset.
14. Strengthen your faith through abundance affirmations
Affirmation quotes are powerful tools to shift our mindset. Constantly talking to ourselves in positive affirmations can help us to think more optimistically and instil the concept of abundance within us–all good things are reachable.
Sample abundance affirmations:
- “I am worthy of all the abundance I desire.”
- “Every day, I am becoming more and more prosperous.”
- “I am a magnet of great opportunities and experiences.”
- “I am grateful for the limitless, overflowing source of my abundance.”
- “Abundance flows to me effortlessly and continuously.”
The key to affirmation success is the repetition and complete faith in it. You can repeat the affirmations to yourself in the mirror every morning. If you have a digital planner, you can use these beautiful positive affirmation quote stickers to help remind you to love and care about yourself and empower you to realize your dreams.
15. Vision board
Visualization helps strengthen your belief in abundance. Google or look for images on Pinterest that represent your version of abundance. If you like a digital version, you can make your vision board using Canva or Google Docs, then use it as wallpaper or paste it into your digital planner.
I craft mine every December and print it out to hang with a frame in my bedroom. It works perfectly for me as I can look at it when I wake up, go to sleep, or feel demotivated.
16. Role-playing
If you find it hard to adopt an abundance mindset, try role-playing a character that you look up to and has what you want. It can be anyone in real life or fictional characters from dramas, movies, and books.
During role-play, let your imagination run wild and truly embody the character. Imagine a situation and act according to how you think he/she will act. This might open doors to different life experiences and perspectives. With the epiphany, you can unlock the pathway to an abundant life.
17. Make sure you look good
“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” – Austin Kleon
A person’s outfit can change his/her demeanour and personality. If you look good, you feel good; if you feel good, you do well.
By dressing up appropriately and confidently, you prepare yourself to welcome new opportunities. This is what the abundance mindset is: recognizing blessings and opportunities are everywhere for you to grab!
18. Meditation
To open our eyes to receive the vast blessings around us and lean into the abundance mindset, we can meditate regularly to affirm ourselves and shift our perspective from scarcity to abundance.
Check out this 10-minute abundance meditation. It is beginner-friendly and comes with a script you can familiarise yourself with and customize for your needs.
19. Holistic fitness
Create a routine of exercises and practices to build holistic physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social fitness. Yoga is ideal for reaching all fitness goals in one exercise, and there are so many variations: Hatha, vinyasa, yin yoga, yoga nidra, and more.
Feel free to change your routine to suit your body situation and keep it fun. My current routine includes yoga, pilates, and cardio workouts like boxing and tennis. When I feel weak or during my period, I do less cardio and focus more on indoor low-impact exercises.
20. Journaling
What’s good about journaling is that it makes you write down your thoughts. Seeing those words on paper made you realise the significance of your thoughts and uncover layers of hidden minds beneath. This helps us rewire our brains as we reflect and explore ideas or thoughts we have never considered. Often, we can find surprising information after journaling for a few minutes.
To build an abundance mindset, you can start by understanding what it means to you and revealing blockers to thinking with an abundance mindset. You can also check out these 7 journal prompts for an abundance mindset to get started with.
21. Planning
I love planning! It is how I get to where I am. I plan, review my progress and iterate this process until I achieve my goals.
Planning is where you can train and apply your abundance mindset in real-time. Your plan should be based on the belief that unlimited opportunities exist within limited circumstances. When circumstances change, and obstacles arise, you should see challenges as learning adventures and act resiliently.
My favourite planning methods are quarterly and weekly planning. Check out my quarterly planning archive and this guide if you are interested in starting weekly planning.
22. Laughter therapy
Genuine laughter is the quickest way to elevate your vibration. When you are happy and fully immersed in the moment, it is easier to embody abundance. You can read a light-hearted book, watch a cheesy romcom, attend a comedy stand-up show, and giggle with your dearest and nearest. If you are feeling spiritual, you can also engage in laughter meditation!
23. Experiential travel
Experiential travel is not about travelling to every nook and cranny of the world. It’s about visiting places and meeting people who expand your knowledge horizon and fill your heart. Leave some time in your trip to connect with the locals and hear their stories.
24. Help others
This world can only improve if everyone is kind and generous with each other. Share your wisdom, time, energy, and resources with those who need them. You don’t have to wait for people to initiate or ask for help.
I recently joined a high school student mentorship program, where I guide a mentee for two years to help her secure academic and life goals. Witnessing her growth throughout the months fills me with pride.
Initiating help and creating a positive cycle of generosity where everyone can benefit is a beautiful experience that everyone should have. If everyone is willing to pay it forward, it can last very long.
25. Community building
Engage in activities that help bring a community together. If you are an introvert but still want to help build a community, you can start from support roles. See if any communities and clubs within your current study, work environment, or living neighbourhood exist, and volunteer to help at their events.
When you feel you’ve learned enough from your previous volunteer experiences and have ideas for forming a new community, you can start by hosting small events and gradually build the community.
How to Ensure the Abundance Mindset Exercises Work
- Have a daily gratitude practice: Create a daily routine to cultivate gratitude for what you have now. It can be as simple as listing three items you are grateful for daily. Abundance stems from appreciation–if you can’t be grateful for what you have now, you’ll never be thankful for what you’ll have later.
- Watch what you say: Just as we need to be aware of our thoughts, we must be aware of our words. You will continue to lack money if you think you can never be rich because you don’t come from a wealthy family. The language we use shapes our reality. When you catch yourself saying things out of scarcity, stop and turn your words into stories of abundance.
- Track your progress: You can use a notebook or application like Notion or Google Sheets to track your progress and note down your reflections and learnings. Observe how your mindset shifts over time. Progression is usually not linear, so be compassionate when you have a slip.
- Accountability check: Engage peers to review your abundance goals and keep you accountable, leveraging collective wisdom and insights.
Growing an Abundance Mindset Can Be Easy
With all the exercises listed above, some extremely easy to start with, I’m sure you are now equipped to tune into an abundance mindset.
When limiting beliefs get lifted and replaced with positive ones, you will feel freer and more creative to pursue your goals. Embracing an abundance mindset opens the door to countless blessings and opportunities for growth and improvement. May you live a fulfilled life, abundant in both happiness and achievements. ❤️
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