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Author Insight
I Fell for It—And You Might Too!
I was manipulated and I succumbed. I recently shopped at one of my favorite chain clothing stores. I had seen some wide leg jeans I wanted in an online advertisement and wanted to check the quality and fit. Besides, I had two different coupons I wanted to use before they expired. The jeans were in stock. They fit and were exactly what I was looking for. During the check-out process, the clerk informed me that the new company policy was to only allow the use of a single coupon per transaction. This was a change I didn’t expect. I used the highest value coupon and completed my purchase. Then I asked the clerk if I could use the second coupon if I bought something else. “Yes, as long as it’s a different transaction.” I found a nice top on the sale rack and using my second coupon, bought that too. I did not need the top; I wasn’t looking for it. I intended to buy only one item but bought two instead. I like the top and could easily afford it, but I would not have even looked at it if the store had not changed its policy. What do you think? Was my anger at the company for changing their policy without informing me worth the small additional profit they got from my additional purchase? What would you have done? Embrace Prosperity helps you recognize manipulation and make decisions that fit your own needs and values. Read it now!
Book Excerpt
Embrace Prosperity
Enough Pleasure
Willem: On a recent trip to Copenhagen, I noticed a repetitive pattern that won’t surprise you. My wife and I like art and design, so we tend to visit museums and beautiful shops. Because I’ve been focusing on abundance for a while now, I noticed something interesting: Every time we entered a shop and I saw something beautiful, I immediately looked at the price, before even exploring the object.
That was a useful habit in the past because it helped me to avoid frustration: It didn’t make sense to look at things I couldn’t afford.
I started to practice looking at things without checking the price ticket first. That gave me an opportunity to look closer and to decide if this was really something I wanted to take with me. It usually wasn’t, but the price didn’t decide from the beginning anymore. Finally, I found a beautiful, horribly expensive shirt—for half the price.
Too Much Isn’t Abundance Either
In order to experience abundance, you need to be able to experience enough.
When a group of workshop participants were asked what they experienced as scarce in their lives, answers included money, savings for retirement, time, space, help, education, appreciation, etc. In trying to define what enough would be, a new question arose—enough for what?
In the same workshop, answers to the question “What do you have too much of in your life?” focused on stuff. Paper, email, clutter, and collections of all kinds of things, were reported as detracting, not adding to anyone’s experience of joy and satisfaction.
Accumulating too much is one way of trying to compensate for an experience of or a belief in scarcity.
I am realizing more & more that my happiness is tied to my money, so I try to soothe unhappiness with things. I am realizing that spending is bringing me no joy, in fact it's making me more aware of unhappiness in my life. I don't feel like I have enough even though I make a solid mid-range salary. I just feel really disconnected. And that can lead to further destruction. I am hoping this search will lead me to abundance. PL
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