This is my contribution to Blog Action Day 08 – Poverty.
“Prosperity is not just having things. It is the consciousness that attracts the things. Prosperity is a way of living and thinking, and not just having money or things. Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things.”
– Eric Butterworth
Poverty consciousness is about more than money. It arises from the fear of not having enough.
It causes us to deny ourselves material possessions and on the other extreme, we may buy things for ourselves and regret it after. It is about the limiting belief that there are consequences for spending money.
The number of material possessions you have is not reflective of your relationship with money; your attachment to them is.
The best time to challenge yourself and break through poverty consciousness is when you feel the fear of not having enough. Now would be the perfect time if you are experiencing uncertainty during these times of unstable money markets.
Now obviously I’m not suggesting going on a spending spree when funds are lower than the norm, but I do suggest buying that item you would normally avoid buying because of the circumstances.
This scenario has played out a number of times in my own life.
Please continue reading on page 2.
Pages: 1 2
22 comments
Comments feed for this article
October 15, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Lance
Davina, thanks for sharing your views on abundance consciousness. I like that term. It reminds me that I need to make conscious efforts to practice abundance. And when I do, good things will happen. That’s not to say that we’ll see the good things we’re hoping for right away – we may, or may not.
The item on your list I feel very strongly about is paying it forward. I think this is so important. And something we all can do, no matter what our situation. Whenever someone does something for me, with no desire for getting anything in return – it feels like such a selfless gift they are giving. And then I remember – we can all do this, anytime. Powerful!
October 15, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Marelisa
Hi Davina: There is a book called “Seed Money” which explains that if you give to someone need with full expectation that the money will come back to you ten-fold, it will. I’ve seen the phenomenon you describe here play out in my own life: I help someone and a few days later I get a phone call from someone else offering me something that I needed. I think it’s about being “in the flow”.
October 15, 2008 at 3:09 pm
SpaceAgeSage -- Lori
Hi, Davina — I agree we mirror much into the world. Some may call it a “reap what you sow” concept, too. The most blessed and beautiful people I know give out of an abundant heart.
October 15, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Urban Panther
For two years I lived on welfare when my marriage broke up. I had to go back to school full time to retrain, and raise 3 small children. Side note: their dad was excellent with his support payments, but it was not enough. My pet peeve is people who make derogatory comments about people on welfare. The average length of time for being on welfare in Canada is 2 years, which is the length of time needed to retrain and get back on your feet again. I realize there are welfare lifers out there who are the squeaky wheels, but they really are the minority. Even my own dad made a comment one day that set me off. He said he saw on the news (during the recession in the 80s) of people driving up in their mercedes to apply for welfare. I pointed out that it was the car they owned when they lost their job, it’s likely paid for, they can’t afford another car, and they need one to look for and be available for work. My point? I guess it is for people not to curl their lips in a sneer when welfare is discussed and not be so quick to jump in with horror stories about the family down the street who are ‘living off of the system’. It was the most humiliating thing I had to do applying for welfare, and it shouldn’t have been. It was what I needed to get to where I am today, and I am eternally grateful for it.
Whew, big rant, but consider this my contribution to Blog Action Day.
October 15, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Urban Panther
P.S. I have linked to your Core Values post in my post from today.
October 15, 2008 at 6:23 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Lance.
It is so powerful! And it is pretty easy to fall into the unconscious trap of survival and poverty consciousness. Guess our instincts are programed for survival.
Hi Marelisa.
I hadn’t heard of that book but thanks for sharing. It sounds interesting. It’s neat when you’re in the flow and those little miracles happen.
Hi SpaceAgeSage
I believe in the concept that you reap what you sow. It is magic to watch the process. Even better when you are part of the process.
Hi Urban Panther.
Thank you for sharing your story; a powerful one at that! You had your hands full raising your children and training and you made it through. You are a survivor aka Panther!
I hear you about feeling humiliated about applying for welfare. You didn’t use it as a crutch like some people do and they’re unfortunately the ones who have given it a bad name. Thanks for the link, I saw you in my Reader this am and plan to drop over to check it out.
October 15, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Maya
I have no income now either, so your plans work well for me Davina. I am also resolving to expose my children to see poverty in their lives. I have been deeply affected by seeing poverty (of others) up close. I really want to do my bit to give my kids the exposure as well so they can start to build on their sense of empathy and understanding AND be grateful for what they have.
October 15, 2008 at 8:48 pm
veredd
Davina, you are such an inspiration.
Yes, please blog about pushing past your fear.
October 15, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Julie
Hi, Davina. Your different “take” on money, our fear associated with it, is so important to remember. Maybe we could avoid so much angst and grasping if we could become fearless, instead.
I like your #1 and #2 points, especially, as tools for getting past a poverty mindset. Another trick someone shared with me actually works well, too. When writing out our checks for bill payments, instead of cringing in agony at the next precious dollar leaving our hands, we should practice giving thanks for HAVING that dollar to give. Before long, our gratitude overcomes our fears—and somehow, somehow we find ourselves having more cash for some extra nicety.
It worked for me.
October 15, 2008 at 9:49 pm
davinahaisell
Maya,
What a great idea! Start with our children by teaching them about it. Fabulous!
Hi Vered.
Thanks! I will blog about it… as soon as it happens
Hi Julie.
I like your attitude and “trick” about writing out cheques. Thanks for sharing that. Another thing I just thought of is when a person can, they should pay their bills when they come in, instead of letting them sit where they can be seen. Thinking about bills just attracts more and keeps feeding that fear you are talking about. Thanks!
October 15, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Cath Lawson
Hi Davina – these are good points. I think our government clicked on to the tithing thing though and started taxing everyone to the hilt instead. Too bad they didn’t stop at 10%.
I love your story about the taxi fare and the bank – that is amazing that the money turned up just when you needed it most.
October 15, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Stacey / Create a Balance
I do believe that when you give things away more returns to you. This has happened many times in my life. Just last month I boxed up some of my baby books and sent them across the country to a friend that is expecting. Within 14 days, a different friend (who did not know about my box of baby books) brought over a bag of books for my children.
I just smiled and knew the universal law you are referring to was working its magic.
October 15, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Natural
I’m very discouraged by what I see in the world and especially with poverty, so I won’t get into it…
i don’t fear not having. i try to keep my life simple so that if i had to i can pick up and go. i’m not attached to anything in this house (well maybe my laptop).
i try to make giving a way a life
October 16, 2008 at 3:15 am
davinahaisell
Hi Cath.
Paying taxes certainly doesn’t improve our relationship with money. I don’t know anyone who lovingly gives THAT money away.
Hi Stacey.
Money magic rocks!
Hi Natural.
I think you have a “relationship” with your laptop rather than an attachment to it
October 16, 2008 at 10:20 am
Kathy @ Virtual Impax
I too have experienced the blessings of getting more by giving more. (Speaking of giving – I’m still working on that thing I promised you! I’m sorry, it’s a bigger job than I expected!)
I also believe you get what you focus upon. When you focus on “not having enough” – guess what you get?
Unfortunately, when I’m in that mindset, one of the “exercises” I perform to get me “out” is to ask myself, “What is enough?” That helps me to quickly realize that there is no such thing as “enough”.
Personally, I think a poverty of values is much more tragic than a poverty of money.
October 16, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Evelyn Lim
I applaud you for intending to go beyond your fears. I’m look forward to reading about your experience in buying a stranger a meal at a restaurant! Do keep us posted!
October 16, 2008 at 3:32 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Kathy.
Wow, you just blew the lid off the box with that! There is no such thing as enough — right on!
Re that “project”; I had a feeling. Was thinking about emailing you yesterday and I thought, “Nope”, cause it sounded like more of a project than a weekend could cover. And anyway, I’ve got my hands full right now with some ebook called the 8-Week Power Blog Launch
Hi Evelyn. I will keep you “posted”!
October 16, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Tom / Delightful Work
Hi Davina – Just wanted to stop by and say it’s good to meet another Eric Butterworth fan. For 10 years I did the rounds speaking in Unity and Religious Science churches and I truly enjoyed the company.
One more thing. I looked at your coaching website and I vote that you put your own beautiful mug up here and ditch the caricature!
October 16, 2008 at 10:22 pm
davinahaisell
Hi Tom. Well, um… honestly, until the other day I’d never heard of Eric Butterworth. I saw his quote, liked it and thought it would be perfect to start the post with
My beautiful mug is smiling and says thank you!
October 16, 2008 at 10:26 pm
davinahaisell
@ Tom, Ok so I just read the first paragraph of Eric’s biography and I’m a fan of his work now! Thanks for the nudge. And he’s even Canadian. Go Canada!
October 18, 2008 at 7:31 am
Liara Covert
To me, the soul expands through expressions of kindness, empthy, love, service and altruistic initiatives. Any thoughts of situations and mindsets or behaviours you would not desire for yourself, simply perpetuate and invite what you do not want. If you harbour unkind thoughts or visualize whatever evokes discomfort, it does not help but rather hinders enriching the physical world. This world changes one thought nd one initiative at a time.
October 18, 2008 at 8:11 am
davinahaisell
Hi Liara.
It sounds like you are speaking about the principles of the Law of Attraction or The Secret. I think I know what you are talking about when you say the soul expands through various kinds of expressions. I can remember times when I’ve acted out of compassion or genuine kindness and I’ve felt larger than life because of it. I guess that’s what it feels like when the aura expands?