The Art of Having

In the world of small business, we are always concerned about GETTING: Getting more leads Getting more clients Getting more money

Action is important in making our entrepreneurial dreams happen, but we lose something when we focus ONLY on GETTING.

We lose the Art of HAVING.

HAVING involves a confidence, grace, and poise that GETTING doesn’t include.

HAVING can be infinitely more attractive than GETTING.

Don’t you love being around someone who HAS an easy self-assurance, who is friendly but not graspy, who is kind because she knows that she HAS enough to share?

Sense the difference in these phrases:

“I need to GET more clients.”

“I HAVE what it takes to get more clients.”

The second sentence has a subtle but noticeable self-assurance, doesn’t it?

The state of GETTING keeps you striving, but never arriving.  The state of HAVING lets you appreciate where you are while acknowledging that you will continue to evolve and grow.

So while action and striving is a critical part of the entrepreneurial journey, the art of HAVING gives you fulfillment and reassurance along the way.

Let’s do an exercise to introduce you to the Art of HAVING:

Imagine that

YOU HAVE enough money in the bank

YOU HAVE enough clients

YOU HAVE enough leads

YOU HAVE enough charisma

YOU HAVE enough business savvy

YOU HAVE enough confidence

YOU HAVE enough contacts

YOU HAVE enough faith

YOU HAVE enough talent

YOU HAVE enough energy

YOU HAVE enough direction

YOU HAVE enough focus

YOU HAVE enough follow-through

YOU HAVE enough information

YOU HAVE enough answers

What difference would imagining that you HAVE all this make for you today?

How would it change the way you do things today?

How would it make a difference in how you relate to prospective clients today?

Of course your Critical Voice is probably coming up to say, “No you don’t!” to each and every one of those statements above.

So let’s go to the next step in developing the Art of Having and that’s the Practice of Gratitude.  I know that you hear about Gratitude all the time, and it may seem like a good idea to you.  But you may not actively practice Gratitude very often.

The active practice of gratitude works miracles. It opens your heart, allows you to receive, and puts you in harmony with the creative Universe that wants to play with you, give you gifts, and make you happy.

It’s time to practice gratitude actively.  Say these statements to yourself or aloud:

I give thanks for what I already have.

I give thanks that I have talents and gifts.

I give thanks that I have compassion for my weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

I give thanks that I have faith in the future.

I give thanks that I have trust that change can be good.

I give thanks that I have forgiveness for past hurts and wounds.

I give thanks that I have space for connection with others and the Divine.

I give thanks that I have time to dream and plan and execute.

I give thanks that I have love for life.

I give thanks that I have the knowledge that all is well.

If your Critical Mind is talking again as you say these sentences, say to it, “Thanks for sharing”, and keep saying them.

Practice active gratitude with these statements for a week and notice what positive changes happen in your business and how much more confident you feel that you do have what it takes to succeed!