10 Ways to Build Abundance Mentality
One of my ongoing goals is to practice more of an abundance mindset. Like most goals, I believe that having some concrete steps to reach it will be helpful. So, I did a brainstorm of concrete ways – I like to think of them as games – to build an abundance mindset. Read on:
1. Tip more. Make it a rule to tip 20% at restaurants, and even more when your server is having a bad day. Yes, that’s exactly the opposite of what most people do. If your server is unhappy, slow, or forgetful, he/she is probably going through a rough patch. Cheer her up with a 20%+ tip. You’ll cheer yourself up too (after bad service), thinking about how you’ve changed her day and worked towards your goal of abundance at the same time.
2. Serve yourself (or order) only the food you need. Mindfully think about how much would fill you up, how much you want to eat – and order or serve yourself just that. This is an especially great thing to try at buffets – try putting on your plate only exactly what you expect to eat. When your server takes your plate, see how well you did by how much is left.
3.Take only the number of napkins, condiment packets, etc that you need. At restaurants, take only the napkins you need. Take note of how many packets of ketchup or hot sauce you really use, and only take that many. Yep, I’m used to getting a fistful of Taco Bell or ketchup packets, too – I’ve been making it a game to guess (and take) exactly the number I really want to use.
4. Clean out your closet. Give away all the clothes you haven’t worn in the last year.
5. Donate to charity. Randomly, or when friends ask. Especially when you’re feeling bummed and need a boost.
6. Let other people in front of you while driving. Instead of getting mad when people keep cutting in front of you, just let people in. Think about it as an opportunity to grow your abundance mentality – which it is. Then, you get to feel good instead of agitated. 
7. Park at the farthest end of the parking lot. Don’t hunt for a parking spot – just immediately drive to the back and park. Not only do you save hunting time, but you save any frustration that comes from not finding a good enough spot, and the decision fatigue that goes along with choosing a parking spot. This stress grates on us more than we realize. Bonus: you get a little more exercise walking farther.
8. Buy only what you need. Instead of getting three different-colored shirts that are all the same, or five rolls of paper towels because they’re on sale, just get what you need. Sales and cool-looking shirts will be there when you need them, and the abundance mentality that comes from taking only what you need is priceless.
9. Do small random acts of kindness for others. Give your time, or your money – and then be proud of yourself! This is you telling yourself: I have enough, I have enough to give. Acting as if that’s true now will help you more and more believe it!
10. Use a smaller amounts of household products. Including toilet paper – seriously. Okay, this isn’t something I’ve particularly discussed with many people, but I know myself – I have a habit of taking probably twice the toilet paper that I actually need. See if you can cut back on the amount of shampoo, dish soap, and hand soap you use in a single use, too. Bonuses: your products last longer, making it easier on your time, your wallet! And it’s a little greener, too.
What are your creative ideas for how to build an abundance mindset? Please share in the comments below!
*Photo credit: myself. I’ve found that photography is an awesome way to become more mindful! See the rest of my work – and learn how to build your own photoblog – at k8ee.com.
Also – thanks for the reminder about the abundance mentality!
Alexis! Hi!
Great point – I listed possible actions to try here, but it definitely depends on what mindset you approach each with. I think actions feed mindset, and vice-versa – and maybe depending on the thing, one approach is easier than the other.
This blog post is more of an actions->mindset approach. A mindset->actions approach might be more appropriate for #10. For instance, you could have so many different mindsets when using less shampoo, here are two:
1. I must use very little shampoo, because I can’t afford much and have to save money.
2. I’m going to consciously use just as much shampoo as I need. I want to use my and the Earth’s resources efficiently by using just what I need, because there is always enough.
If you’re approaching using less with mindset 1, then the action probably will encourage that negative cycle. So the mindset definitely matters! If I start to think about it too much, it gets all twisty and chicken-and-egg.
I think the reason this works is that there’s room for a little fake-it-til-you-make-it. For instance, when I started #1, I didn’t really always want to give my server 20% – my scarcity would kick in and try to tell me to save. Having enough strength to ignore that voice just long enough to tip 20% anyway gave me that good feeling the rest of the day – the abundance mindset – a positive cycle. 
Great points to think about. Thanks.
I really like the tipping suggestion. I wonder how that would turn out if I implement it.
I like this post and it correlates rather well with my experience, but I am not sure about the direction of causality..
When I start from a mindset of abundance, I require less things in my life. I suppose that making it a habit to require less things in my life, may also result in a positive feedback loop to the mindset of abundance. I don’t know how true that is though, maybe you can comment more about that.
The only thing that I cannot do is #10. I notice that if I actively limit the amount of household things that I use, or even limit the amount of groceries I buy, it changes my mindset from one of abundance to one of scarcity. However, this may tie back to the whole “I need to start from the mindset of abundance, then comes the ability to reduce the amount of resources used”.
Admittedly, starting the habit of reducing the amount of resources used is easier than starting the habit of meditating to have an abundance mentality every day.
I definitely know a lot of people in my previous workplace who just park at the same spot every day (usually at the highest level of the parking lot) just to reduce the stress of finding parking lots. It works very well indeed!
Thanks, Keith! Haha, I’ll admit I don’t either – I can still feel myself tensing up in those situations. Though, the last few times, I’ve thought of this list – and it does help turn a tense situation into a positive experience!
Ah, so excited for your move to Italy, how wonderful!!
PS – I have always enjoyed that you’re a fellow smiley-face addict! Cheers! 
Hi Katie,
It might help when I’m in Italy, too — I am sure the extra dollop of patience will be quite useful!
Cool blog! I liked all of your suggestions, especially the one about driving. I have to say I don’t always let people in (*embarrassed*), so I’m going to try that one this week and see what happens. And I am sure there will be some grateful people around town, too!
Oh, very cool! This seems like an example also of the idea that people tend to take to heart whatever you say about them. When you tell your waitress you know she’ll be a great server, aside from the tip itself, with your kind words she’s more likely to play that out! More reason to compliment and truly believe the best about each other.
Thanks for sharing this post, Steve! Really interesting to see the measured results there.
I did it at regular sit-down restaurants. I don’t go to them very often, but here is the story about the three times I’ve done it over the last few months:
http://www.stevetheowl.com/2011/09/30/applying-the-lessons/
I go into a little bit more depth, including comparing how long it usually took and how long it took after I started applying the lesson and insured promptness.
Hey Steve, thanks!
Ooh, that’s interesting, I like that – that would be nice to put your server at ease like that right away. Did you do this in a regular restaurant? Hmm, I’m curious to try that now, too!
Great post, Katie! You are so right about the importance of tipping no matter what. That being said, did you know that “tip” is actually an acronym that stands for “to insure promptness”? I read in The Five Pieces to the Life Puzzle by Jim Rohn that it actually started in the country club, and it is supposed to be done in advance. I’ve tried it in I got faster and better service, and the wait staff seemed a lot nicer knowing that they didn’t have to perform because they already had their money.
Thanks Amy – gosh, you’re so kind!
That’s awesome that you already do this since you’ve been there. Haha, I started appreciating fine art so much more after trying (and failing miserably) to draw and paint in my college years. Having all these different experiences helps us understand others better – a bonus of our addictions to new experiences!
Excellent post, Katie!
You have some really good tips here! The one I identify with most is tipping the server extra on bad days. I used to be a server so I inherently have a lot of server guilt when I ask for things and always make sure to tip 20%. I like your idea that you could turn around that server’s day just by giving a little more. What a wonderful, selfless act of kindness.