Hey y’all, welcome back!
Let’s talk about abundance.
Not the cute social-media version.
Not the “think positive and a million dollars will magically appear in your account” version.
I’m talking about real abundance.
Because it’s easy to say “I live an abundant life” when everything is working.
Money in the bank? Abundance!
Business booming? Abundance!
Everybody healthy? Abundance!
Marriage good? Abundance!
Opportunities everywhere? ABUNDANCE!
But what happens when you are trying to keep your mind focused on abundance while lack keeps showing up with receipts?
You check your bank account. Lack.
You look at the bills. Lack.
You expected the business to be further along by now. Lack.
You thought you’d already have the promotion, the house, the debt paid off, the healthier body, the successful investment, the thriving relationship, or whatever your thing is.
And suddenly somebody telling you to “just think abundantly” makes you want to say:
“Okay…but have you seen these bills?” 😂
I get it.
So let’s have a real conversation.
First, What Is an Abundant Life?
As a woman of faith, when I think about abundance, my mind goes to John 10:10 and the promise of having life abundantly.
But somewhere along the way, many of us translated abundant life into having a lot of stuff.
I don’t believe they’re the same thing.
Money can certainly be part of an abundant life. I absolutely believe financial freedom matters.
But abundance is bigger than money.
Abundance can look like:
Peace when you have every reason to worry.
Purpose when you’re still figuring out the plan.
Health you’re actively improving instead of taking for granted.
A marriage you’re intentionally nurturing.
People who genuinely love you.
Ideas that won’t leave you alone.
Wisdom you didn’t have five years ago.
The courage to try again after something didn’t work.
The ability to bless somebody even while you’re still building.
And let’s not forget this one:
Waking up with another opportunity to do something differently.
That’s abundance too.
But Let’s Be Honest: Lack Is Loud
Abundance whispers.
Lack has a megaphone.
😂
One unexpected bill can make you forget twenty things that are going right.
One rejection can make you forget five opportunities.
One business setback can make you question the entire vision.
One bad week can have you reevaluating your entire LIFE.
Why?
Because your brain naturally pays attention to threats, problems, and negative information. That tendency is often described as negativity bias.
So when something feels scarce, uncertain, or threatening, telling yourself to “just stop thinking about it” isn’t always effective.
That’s why I don’t believe abundance requires pretending lack doesn’t exist.
Abundance says:
“I see what’s missing. But I refuse to let what’s missing become the definition of my entire life.”
Come on somebody.
Abundance Is Not Denial
This distinction changed things for me.
There is a difference between abundant thinking and delusional thinking.
If I have $700 and a $1,000 bill, abundance isn’t me walking around saying:
“I have plenty of money!”
No.
My calculator knows better. 😂
Abundant thinking says:
“I’m $300 short right now. That’s the truth. But being $300 short is a problem to solve, not an identity to accept.”
Now my mind can start asking better questions.
Can I generate additional income?
Can I negotiate the bill?
What expense can temporarily change?
What resource haven’t I considered?
Who knows something I don’t?
What skill can I monetize?
What opportunity have I overlooked?
Do I need a longer-term financial strategy?
That’s abundance.
It’s not denying reality. It’s refusing to believe your present reality is the only reality available to you.
So How Do You Train Your Mind for Abundance?
Here’s where I want this to become practical.
1. Practice Gratitude Without Using Gratitude to Avoid Reality
Gratitude isn’t:
“Nothing is wrong.”
Gratitude is:
“Something is wrong, but everything isn’t wrong.”
BIG difference.
Try writing down three specific things that are good each day.
Not generic statements.
Instead of:
I’m grateful for my life.
Try:
I’m grateful my body carried me through today’s workout.
I’m grateful I had a real conversation with my spouse tonight.
I’m grateful someone purchased something from my business.
Specific gratitude forces your brain to notice evidence that lack isn’t the whole story.
2. Change the Question
When we’re afraid, our questions tend to sound like this:
What if this doesn’t work?
What if I lose money?
What if nobody buys it?
What if I’m too old?
What if I fail again?
But watch what happens when you change the question.
Instead of:
Why can’t I get ahead?
Ask:
What is one decision I can make this week that improves my financial position?
Instead of:
Why isn’t my business growing?
Ask:
What would create one additional customer this week?
Instead of:
Why does this always happen to me?
Ask:
What can this situation teach me that makes me better prepared next time?
Your brain starts looking for answers to the questions you repeatedly give it.
Ask better questions.
3. Keep an “Evidence of Abundance” List
I love this one.
Create a note in your phone called:
Evidence That My Life Is Expanding
Then document things that are moving.
New connection.
New business idea.
Debt paid down.
Unexpected opportunity.
Great conversation.
Weight lost.
Strength gained.
Prayer answered.
New skill learned.
Customer received.
Boundary established.
Money saved.
Money earned.
Problem solved.
Someone helped.
Someone helped you.
Every time something progresses, document it.
Why?
Because when life gets hard, emotions have a funny way of developing amnesia.
Your list becomes evidence:
“Wait a minute. Things ARE moving.”
4. Stop Measuring Abundance With Somebody Else’s Ruler
Social media can make a perfectly good life feel inadequate in about seven minutes.
Somebody bought a house.
Somebody made six figures.
Somebody retired early.
Somebody’s traveling internationally.
Somebody lost 50 pounds.
Somebody’s business supposedly made $100,000 while they were asleep.
Meanwhile, you’re thinking:
“Well dang. I folded laundry today.” 😂
Stop.
You don’t know their entire story.
Abundance gets much easier to recognize when you stop requiring your life to resemble somebody else’s.
Their harvest isn’t evidence of your drought.
Somebody else’s blessing does not mean God ran out.
5. Separate “I Don’t Have It” From “I Can’t Have It”
Those are two completely different statements.
Read them again.
I don’t have it yet.
Versus:
I can never have it.
Lack describes a current condition.
Scarcity turns that condition into a permanent prediction.
Be careful.
“I don’t currently have the money.”
That’s information.
“I’ll never have enough money.”
That’s a conclusion.
“I haven’t built the successful business yet.”
Information.
“I’m just not good at business.”
Conclusion.
Watch the conclusions you attach to temporary circumstances.
6. Create More Than You Consume
Want one practical way to move from scarcity toward abundance?
Create something.
Create the plan.
Create the budget.
Create the workout routine.
Create the business offer.
Create the content.
Create the relationship.
Create the opportunity.
Create the application.
Create the conversation.
Create the strategy.
Create the solution.
Scarcity constantly asks:
“What am I going to get?”
Abundance also asks:
“What can I create?”
That’s powerful because creation moves you from spectator to participant.
7. Guard What Gets Repeated Around You
If every conversation is:
Everything is expensive.
Nobody’s hiring.
People don’t have money.
Businesses are failing.
Dating is terrible.
The world is horrible.
Nothing works.
Everybody’s struggling.
Eventually you’re going to wonder why you feel defeated.
This doesn’t mean surrounding yourself with people pretending life is perfect.
I need people around me who can say:
“Yep. This situation is hard. Now what are we going to do about it?”
That’s different.
Choose voices that acknowledge reality without worshipping the problem.
8. Give Even Before You Feel “Rich”
And I’m not only talking about money.
Give encouragement.
Give knowledge.
Give somebody a connection.
Give your spouse attention.
Give your children time.
Give someone grace.
Give mentorship.
Give praise.
Give somebody an opportunity.
Give God thanks.
Giving reminds you:
“I still have something valuable to contribute.”
That mindset matters.
You may not have everything you want.
But that doesn’t mean you have nothing to give.
9. Pair Prayer With Movement
This one is personal for me.
I absolutely believe in prayer.
But sometimes we’re praying for doors while ignoring the doorknob. 😂
Pray.
Then move.
Pray for better health.
Then walk.
Pray for financial freedom.
Then look at the numbers.
Pray for business growth.
Then market the business.
Pray for opportunity.
Then submit the application.
Pray for a stronger marriage.
Then have the conversation.
Pray for direction.
Then take the next responsible step you already know to take.
Faith and action don’t have to compete.
In my life, I want them working together.
10. Build an Abundance Routine
Here’s something simple you can actually do.
Every morning:
Gratitude:
What are three things already good in my life?
Vision:
What kind of life am I building?
Priority:
What ONE action today moves me toward it?
During the day:
When scarcity shows up, catch yourself.
Instead of:
“I can’t afford anything.”
Try:
“This isn’t a priority for my money right now.”
Instead of:
“Nothing is working.”
Try:
“This approach isn’t producing the result I need. What needs to change?”
Every evening:
Ask yourself:
What went right today?
What did I learn?
Where did I see provision?
What did I do that moved my life forward?
Ten minutes.
That’s it.
You’re teaching yourself to recognize progress.
And Here’s the Biggest Thing I’ve Learned About Abundance
Maybe abundant living isn’t waking up every morning feeling rich, fearless and completely confident.
Maybe abundance is knowing:
I have enough faith for today.
Enough strength for this decision.
Enough wisdom to take the next step.
Enough experience to know I can recover.
Enough humility to ask for help.
Enough creativity to find another solution.
Enough courage to try again.
And sometimes…
Enough sense to know when something simply isn’t working anymore.
That’s abundance too.
Lack May Be Present, but It Doesn’t Have to Be in Charge
This is where I land.
There may be areas of my life right now where I want more.
More financial freedom.
More health.
More business growth.
More time.
More experiences.
More impact.
More opportunities.
And I don’t believe wanting more automatically makes me ungrateful for what I already have.
I can appreciate where I am AND believe there is more available to me.
Both can be true.
I can say:
“God, thank You for what You’ve already done.”
And in the very next breath:
“Now show me how to properly steward what You’ve given me and prepare me for what’s next.”
That, to me, is the abundant life.
Not pretending problems don’t exist.
Not chasing stuff to prove I’ve made it.
Not comparing myself with everybody else.
But building a life where peace, purpose, faith, health, relationships, generosity, growth and yes, financial prosperity have room to exist together.
So when lack starts getting loud again, remind yourself:
Lack may describe something I am experiencing.
It does not define who I am.
It does not determine what’s possible.
And it certainly doesn’t get to write the ending of my story.
Take inventory.
Give thanks.
Make the plan.
Take the step.
Trust God.
And keep moving.
Because sometimes abundance doesn’t arrive looking like everything you wanted.
Sometimes abundance begins when you finally recognize:
“Wait a minute. I already have something to work with.”
And baby…
that’s where we start.
A mantra for this season
I will not deny what is lacking, but I will not overlook what is present. I will be grateful for what I have, responsible with what I’ve been given, intentional about what I’m building, and faithful about where I’m going. My current circumstances are information, not my identity. I have something to work with, and I will use it.
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