By Dr. Ari Bernstein
Recently, I took the time to reread T. Harv Eker’s “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind.” Just in case you are not familiar with the book, it was a #1 bestseller on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today’s book lists. While it was published in 2005, it remains truly relevant now, when so many of us are thinking about our financial futures and how we can reset the direction of our personal finances.
Here are some of the lessons I learned from the “17 Wealth Files” section from this phenomenal book that I would like to share with you.
Get in the Right Mindset with Your Money Blueprint
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to acquire wealth easily, while others seem to struggle financially throughout their entire lives? It has a lot to do with their mindsets, namely their personal money blueprint. A lot of how we think about and handle our finances is a result of patterns ingrained in us from childhood that remain in our subconscious minds. However, it is never too late to change your mindset. According to Eker, it is simple as this: If you start thinking like a rich person and do what rich people do, you are more likely to get rich, too. Therefore, we must come up with a better plan to be able to break from the patterns we have inherited.
You Need to Be Brave Enough to Control Your Fate
If you want to change your direction and become rich, you also need to be brave enough to control your fate. This means not blaming others or situations you have experienced as the reasons why you are not wealthy. Rich people “own” their successes and failures, build upon them, and remain positive. Rich people believe that they create their lives. This is the Law of Attraction at hand, where “like attracts like.” If you stop focusing on the negatives and start focusing on the positives, you will stop attracting the negative energy and begin to realize how amazing your life can be.
You Need to Be in the Game to Win
There is an old saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Eker says that rich people play to win in the money game (offense). Meanwhile, poor people play with a defensive mindset of trying not to lose. When that happens, their main concern is surviving and being comfortable enough to pay their bills. Unless they are willing to play the game to win, they will never be able to break out and achieve wealth and abundance. As Eker says, “If your goal is to be comfortable, chances are you’ll never get rich. But if your goal is to be rich, chances are you’ll end up mighty comfortable.
There Is Always Something More to Learn
As I tell you about what I learned from Eker, I am supporting his 17th and final wealth file: Rich people are willing to continually learn and grow to discover new opportunities that will benefit their wealth. This is in contrast to what many people do when they are struggling to get by. Those who may be trying one get-rich-quick scheme after another only are disappointed again and again. And it could be because they think they already know everything and are unwilling to put in the work needed to change their financial futures.
I encourage you to read “Secrets of the Millionaire Mind” yourself. Like me, you might also find the secrets and vital lessons it holds to be life changing. This is one book that is deserving of a spot on your bookshelf.
