Your Brain is Wired to See What's Missing. This Prosperity Practice Changes That
I got life…
Your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do: scanning for problems, threats, and what's not working. This negativity bias kept our ancestors alive by staying alert to real dangers, including systemic oppression and injustice that we still face today.
But here's what happens: sometimes our brains stay locked in survival mode even when we have more choice than we realize. We become so focused on what's missing that we lose sight of what's actually here.
The good news? Just like our brains naturally build neural pathways toward negativity and scarcity, we can learn to interrupt that process and build something different - pathways toward prosperity and possibility.
What is a Prosperity Practice?
A practice is something we return to again and again, rewiring our brain's default programming through repetition. Prosperity practices are designed to remind us that prosperity isn't something external we chase. It's something that lives within us, something we have to cultivate and grow.
Think of it as training your attention. Instead of defaulting to lack, you're learning to recognize abundance - not the kind that ignores real struggles, but the kind that sees what's actually present alongside those challenges.
The Practice: Stop Looking at What's Missing
Here's how this works in real life: When Connection Feels Lacking
We're often looking at what's not there...
"That person didn't call today"...but who did reach out?
"I'm not where I want to be in life"...but where are you right now? What have you built so far? What small victory happened today that you almost missed?
When Money Feels Scarce
"I don't have the bank account I want."
Financial stress is real and heavy, especially in these times. And in this moment, what support do you have? In what ways are your needs being met? What resources do you actually have access to?
This isn't about dismissing financial pressure - it's about recognizing that even in difficult circumstances, we're rarely starting from absolute zero.
Learning from Nina Simone
Or you may find yourself saying "I have nothing." One of my favorite Nina Simone songs is a masterclass in how to shift from scarcity into prosperity.
In "I Ain't Got No/I Got Life," she starts where many of us live - cataloging everything missing, everything we lack. But then something shifts. She takes you on a journey from that familiar place of "not enough" to discovering what's been there all along: life itself. The life flowing through her body. She captures that transformation perfectly - I ain't got no, but I got life.
Returning to Your Senses
When was the last time...
You paused to notice the breath in your body?
The sun kissing your skin?
The scent of something beautiful?
The sound of laughter nearby?
When was the last time you sensed your existence, the fact that you have life?
These aren't just nice thoughts - they're doorways back to recognizing what's present. Your body, your breath, your capacity to experience beauty - these are forms of wealth that exist independent of your circumstances.
Reframing Common Struggles
"I don't have the relationship I want." What moments of connection have you experienced recently? What relationships, however small, bring you comfort?
"I'm not where I want to be in my career." What skills are you building right now? What are you learning in this season?
"I feel like I'm behind in life." What small steps have you taken that you're not giving yourself credit for?
The Shift
This is how we shift out of scarcity consciousness. Stop looking at what's missing and start asking different questions. The prosperity practice isn't about getting more - it's about seeing what's already here. It's not about pretending everything is perfect or ignoring real challenges. It's about training your brain to notice the full picture: both what you're working toward and what you already have access to.Every time you ask these different questions, you're literally rewiring your neural pathways. You're teaching your brain that there's more than one way to look at any situation.
Ready to Reimagine Prosperity?
If this practice resonates with you, you're going to love what's coming. The Whole with Joy relaunch is approaching, and we're completely reimagining what prosperity means - moving beyond traditional abundance thinking into something more grounded, more real, and more accessible.
Want to be the first to know when it launches? Join our community here and get exclusive access to prosperity practices, early content, and a supportive space to explore what wholeness means for you.
Because prosperity isn't something you chase. It's something you cultivate, one practice at a time.