My father always told me that a full life had nothing to do with money or possessions.
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And that when we die, we cannot take any of it with us. The currency of life is not created in a mint, stored in a vault, or measured by a three-digit acronym score.
Men of abundance demonstrate a different perspective on life.
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True abundance is not a tangible thing–it cannot be won or awarded. Abundant is something we become. It is a lifestyle we create for ourselves, regardless of our job or social standing. Abundance defies geographically and socio-economically accepted boundaries on men.
Men of abundance demonstrate a different perspective on life. They seem to not be influenced heavily by negativity. They tend to attract success in their work. They do make mistakes; however, they take responsibility for their actions and are sure to praise copiously. They are not perfect.
Whether he knows it or not, an abundant man will have a set of principles that guide his life. Sometimes they’re conscious, other times instinctual, but they are always a compass for his day-to-day actions.
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1. A man of abundance is not selfish.
A mindset of abundance tends to attract a certain level of success all on its own. A man of abundance will give of his time, talents, and energy to guide others toward success. He recognizes that helping others become successful will not diminish his success. Genuine service and generosity will fulfill a man of abundance more than he thought possible.
2. A man of abundance handles negative situations with grace.
There will always be circumstances where men of abundance are faced with adversity despite their best intentions. These men, instead of reacting poorly, proactively turn the situation into a learning experience. True skill in this teaches both the man and others how to handle future negative situations gracefully.
3. A man of abundance recognizes the fragility of life.
Men of abundance recognize, understand and respect the fact that life is short. They won’t let petty grievances interfere with their relationships. They always value time spent together with family and friends making sure to be present at the moment. Knowing that any day could be his last, a man of abundance lives each day to it’s fullest and goes to bed with anticipation for tomorrow. He will not miss an opportunity to say “Thank You, I Love You or Let’s Talk” because he knows that there’s no guarantee he’ll get the opportunity again.
4. A man of abundance is humbled by the journey.
He knows that a life of abundance is a journey that is always teaching lessons. Men of abundance do not wake up having “arrived” at abundance. They recognize that abundance is a trait that can be lost with bad decisions. A man of abundance may fall off the wagon but is aware enough to get back on. He trusts the people around him to tell him that he’s gone wrong.
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The journey of becoming a man of abundance is never finished. Personally, I find myself challenged each day by the very ideas I’ve written above. It’s part of life, it’s part of growth, and it’s part of being mature. I want to challenge you to be the better man and embrace a mindset of abundance in each choice you make every day.
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Photo: Flickr/ MIitrabhanu Panda
Abundance don’t pay the rent, greenbacks do. Affluence affords the resources to ponder these supposed weighty things. Just Having a job is more important than attracting success. A pay day loan to make it through the week isn’t a learning experience. Putting food on the family table is a lesson in the fragility of life. A yoga mat is a spare bed, not a place for the corpse pose and being in the moment. Sometimes the moment just sucks and maybe it’s not a moment you own in all your abundance.