When money is tight, it’s easy to look at all the things you want and simply state, “I can’t afford it.” By turning that statement into a question, however, you can change the way you think about your personal finances for the better.
Saying “I can’t afford it” can get you stuck in a loop of never being able to afford anything you want. That’s why Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, suggests you turn that “I can’t afford it” into “How can I afford it?” Kiyosaki explains:
One lets you off the hook, and the other forces you to think. By automatically saying the words ‘I can’t afford it,’ your brain stops working. By asking the question ‘How can I afford it?’ your brain is put to work.
Kiyosaki also notes that saying “I can’t afford it” creates negative feelings like sadness and helplessness. When you change that into a question, however, it creates possibility and that allows positive feelings like excitement. Everything that you want is now a call to action, not an unattainable goal. Essentially, it’s the basis for a total shift in thought. Stop thinking of your current financial state as permanent, and start thinking of ways you can alter your current methods and afford the things you’re after. You have to start somewhere, right?
Rich Dad Poor Dad | Amazon via Business Insider
Photo by Greg Dunlap.