REVISION DE LA LITERATURA

Have you ever seen a coin on the sidewalk and decided not to bother picking it up because, well, it’s just a penny (or a dime, or quarter)?

I used to do that. “I’m doing all right,” I would think. “I don’t need to pick up a dime. I’ll leave it for someone less fortunate than me to find.” I thought I was making a small gesture of generosity and affirming my own prosperity. But what I was really doing was rejecting a small gift of abundance from the Universe, and sending a message not to bother putting more money my way.

Now that I have a better understanding of how prosperity really works, I make a point of noticing any kind of money that comes to me. A penny in the parking lot, great! An email telling me I’ve earned a 25-cent commission on a website referral, wonderful! A $5 gift certificate to Amazon.com, fabulous! My favorite brand of toothpaste on sale this week, terrific!

No matter how small the amount, whenever any kind of money comes to me, expected or not, I take a moment to appreciate it and to say “thank you!”

The more you notice and appreciate all the different ways money comes to you, from a dime on the sidewalk, to your regular paycheck, to free time left on a parking meter or winning $2 on a lottery ticket, the more prosperous you will feel. And the more prosperous you feel, the more you encourage more abundance to come your way.

grocery store

Your credit card balance

The meager size of your bank account

available at your local supermarkets.

All the wonderful things and services you have been able to enjoy on credit.

The dollars that do flow into your life, in the form of your paycheck, discounts, gifts, and rebates on items you purchase.

day you’ll have good luck.” This little bit of folk wisdom explains the truth that when you gladly receive even the smallest of gifts, you position yourself to expe- rience more and greater lucky moments. People who choose to view the world as abundant and supportive are more open to luck and opportunities, because they have no resistance to good things coming to them in unexpected ways. When you see events and people with pessimism and low expectation you will see and expe- rience more reasons to feel the world is a hostile and difficult place.

Choose to perceive yourself as someone to whom money flows and to whom lucky things happen, and you will see and experience more and more reasons to feel happy and prosperous.

Acting As If

When you see someone on the street, or in a restaurant, or on TV or in a movie, and you know that person is rich, how do you know that? What are the visual clues that to you mean someone is wealthy? Your list will probably includes:

 Drives an expensive car

 Wears designer clothes

 Eats in fine restaurants

 Lives in a fancy house

 Take expensive vacations and so on.

Can you to think of at least three ways that rich people live that you can emu- late in a small way—without spending money you don’t have? Note your ideas in your Prosperity Journal. Here are a few examples to get you started:

maintained.

Emulation: If you have a car, keep it clean, polished and well-maintained. Don’t wait until you have a fancy car to act like you have a fancy car. By taking excellent care of your budget-mobile, you show the Universe that you can take care of a luxury car.

 Observation: Rich people are well-groomed and nicely attired.

Emulation: We may joke about Donald Trump’s hair style, but at least it is always neatly brushed. Pay attention to grooming, and dress as well as you can within the limits of your budget. Hot young actors may get away with looking grubby and unshaven for their appearances on the Late Show, but I suggest you model your style after Jay Leno or David Letterman instead: they always look “like a million bucks.” Even if you wear jeans and T-shirts every day, you can wear clean, unwrinkled, jeans and T-shirts that are in good condition.

 Observation: Wealthy, successful people tend to be slim and fit.

Emulation: So what if you can’t afford a personal trainer and a private chef? Do what you can to look as good as you can with what you’ve got. If you’ve been thinking about losing a few pounds or getting into better physical shape, why not start now? Think of it as your “I ‘m gonna look like a

millionnaire” plan, rather than ”going on a diet” or “working out.” Looking better will help you feel good physically and feel better about yourself. And feeling good—about how you look, about how you feel, about anything— helps you succeed in life.

 Observation: Rich people live in expensive homes—clean, tidy, uncluttered expensive homes.

Emulation: You may not be able to afford a maid, but that’s no reason to live in an untidy or unclean house. Show the Universe that you can keep the Formica™ in your tiny kitchen sparkling, and you’re one step closer to hav- ing a marble countertop in a fancier house someday. If you absolutely hate to clean house, see if you can find room in your budget for a few hours of maid

lunch instead of eating out, and cutting back on DVD rentals.