Welcome to the first Personal Effects of 2016……this month I am excited to announce launch my newly accredited NLP Master Practitioner programme in March…..and some interesting thoughts for the New Year from my friend Christina-Stavroula Spyropoulou in Athens……..

Abundance Thinking V Crisis Thinking…some learning from Greece !

Christina-Stavroula Spyropoulou
Lawyer
Master NLP Coach, Athens

Finding myself in the middle of an economic crisis for the last five years, I kept wondering how we were led in that situation. And it’s not only the economic facts, numbers and global systems I am referring to. It’s our own mindset and thus the way we think that are suffering from a serious crisis.

According to my perspective, we are not dealing with just a financial crisis that guides us to lack of development and consequently to lack of money. We are dealing with something bigger than this; A personal, national or even universal value’s crisis.

We are usually raised up by our families and within societies, with a certain set of beliefs about financial security, such as: “Set yourself in a steady and secure job”, “steadiness and security are more important than a higher and more risky income”, “avoid professional risks”. So, young people adjust their actions and energy to seek for a steady income putting aside their self values and talents. And this kind of mindset justifies the reason why so many young and talented people pursue low income jobs, neglecting their passions, dreams and creativity.

Moreover, it’s not the financial crisis that forced people into this way of thinking, but the thinking itself that directed to certain actions and choices as part of a general crisis.

Furthermore, we are raised up believing that we have to save money for case of an urgent necessity. But did we ever truly weigh the consequences of such a thought pattern? Being preoccupied with worries and helpless feelings before the unexpected, keeps us static and weak. In addition, the financial environment itself comes to reinforce our fear for any kind of evolution or personal development. Investing to our biggest and most important asset, our self value, is something we were never taught. Being capable, therefore, of handling any kind of situation (financial/social/personal) that occurs, and creating anything out of nothing, is not a familiar process. So, moving forward, recognizing and opening ourselves to new opportunities seem like latent attributes. Eventually, we are stuck in the middle of a financial, and more important, a personal dead end crisis.

This kind of mentality and mindset justifies the lack of entrepreneurship and development. A ‘hydrocephalus’ state has been created, with no opportunities to young entrepreneurs and start-ups. On the other hand, a complete different value’s system structure could be formatted from a brand new mindset and behaviour. For instance, gifted people finding opportunities and jobs away from this limited set of beliefs, do brilliantly!

To put it in a nutshell, it’s not the financial crisis that led us to a fearful and limited mindset. It is our own limited thinking, standing far away from any kind of financial creativity and freedom.

It is our own value system that should be totally reset in order to lead us to a totally new reality.

And this would be my wish for 2016. Adopting new beliefs based upon emotional, thinking and financial abundance!

Re-Think for Prosperity and Abundance in 2016

“As a man thinketh, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

It’s a widely shared belief that changing our thinking to a mindset of Abundance and Prosperity rather than from a paradigm of Poverty and Scarcity, will change your life and relationships………So how does that work then…….read on…………

Our thoughts provide the blueprint for our lives….just a physical blueprint determines what a building will look like when it is finished.

First of all, thinking from Abundance means thinking – believing – that wealth, success, and prosperity are possible for you.

Thinking Abundantly, though, isn’t just about “us” – nor is it just about money – a prosperous Mindset also embraces the idea that there is enough for ALL.

…for many of us, we may go through the day thinking “I didn’t get enough sleep” or “I don’t have enough time.” Whether true or not, it often goes unquestioned and we spend time worrying and complaining about what we don’t have enough of….scarcity is the underlying assumption.
You may know the Parable of the Talents where a wealthy man goes on a journey and entrusts 3 of his servants with his assets. The first two invest wisely and the third is fearful of loss and buries the money. On his return the man is furious with his cautious servant having made no good use of his opportunity and promptly gives his share of the money to the one who earned the most !

A scarcity mindset leads us to handle our money fearfully, timidly, and ineffectively. It leads us to cling tightly to every pound, thinking that we are keeping it safe. But in reality, our tight hold eliminates growth, prevents profits, and even takes opportunity out of our hands. Thinking abundantly increases the flow of our money by allowing us to use it in multiple ways, not simply “bury it” or lock it up to slowly accumulate interest.

Signs of a poverty mentality:

  • Belief that you are a victim of others’ decisions and choices.
  • Fear of spending money on non-essentials.
  • Constant search for cheapest alternative, even if a discomfort.
  • Obsession with getting “deals” and free entry.
  • Belief that you’re lucky when you succeed, incompetent when you fail.
  • Feelings of guilt when you have more than someone else.
  • Fear of being seen as boasting when you describe a simple accomplishment.
  • Never feeling you have enough reserves or resources
  • A belief you can “lose it all” despite everything you do.

Here are a few tips to help create and reinforce your own abundance mentality.

  1. Focus on the abundance, not on the lack.
    We find what we focus on – our reticular activation system will highlight the things we focus on. For instance: instead of thinking of lack of money, focus on the possibilities to make it. Have you noticed what happens when you become interested in a particular type of car or a holiday destination?
  2. Be Appreciative.
    One way to change habits quickly is to appreciate and be thankful for what you already have. This will not only turn your mood into a more positive one but also help you notice possibilities you have missed or forgotten. Get into the habit of appreciating every day.
  3. Get an abundance vibe from other people.
    Put yourself on a negativity ‘diet’ ………….cutting out or down on watching the news/TV shows etc. Instead actively seek out the company of people with an abundance mentality. Read success stories and have a positive attitude to the success of your friends, family and colleagues. Above all be selective with what you expose your mind to !

  4. Remind yourself on a daily basis.

    Keep this new thinking front of mind by putting ‘reminders’ around your home and office. Remember this new thinking is creating new neural pathways in your brain………..and your unconscious mind responds beautifully to repetition.
  5. Invest in You and Your Future
    This might be a good time to think about how else you will develop yourself and your career in 2016………….?

You might be interested in…………

For NLP enthusiasts and those curious to know more I am recommending

Fran Burgess’s Book “The Bumper Bundle Book of Modelling”

Her style is clear, straightforward and engaging…. a great book to find out more about the origins of NLP as well as how to create models for yourself !

This month take a look at ‘The Psychology of your Future Self’. In this thought provoking 7 minute TED talk, Dan Gilbert asserts “Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they’re finished.” Click on the link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_gilbert_you_are_always_changing?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button__2014-06-03

Thank you to my lovely friend and associate Steven Cartwright of for this recommendation!