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"Acknowledging the good that you have in your life is a foundation for all abundance." -Eckhart Tolle
This quote stopped me in my tracks the first time I came across it. On the surface, it sounds simple -- even obvious. But the more I sit with it, the more I realize how easy it is to skip this step entirely.
We're so focused on what's next. The next goals, the next level, the next version of ourselves. And in doing that, we miss the most important starting point: where we actually are right now.
Abundance Starts With Acknowledgement
We all want an abundance mindset. But here's the thing -- it doesn't just appear overnight, especially if it's not something you've practiced before. That kind of shift takes time, and it has to start from somewhere real.
That somewhere is the present moment.
So I want to ask you something: when you think about your goals, your dreams, the life you're working toward -- do they feel realistic to you right now?
If the answer is no, that's okay. If the answer is yes, that's amazing! Both are valid starting points. The most important thing is understanding that those thoughts can change -- and acknowledgment is how you begin to change them.
Everyone Is On A Different Part Of Their Journey
One of the traps I see people fall into (and I've been there too) is comparing their Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 10.
Not every path to success looks the same. Someone who grew up with more financial resources will generally be able to move faster than someone who didn't -- and that's just reality. Comparing yourself to that person from where you're standing right now isn't fair to you.
What is helpful is finding a mentor or role model whose background and starting point actually resemble yours. Someone who has built the kind of success you're working toward, from a place that's similar to where you are now. That kind of alignment makes their path genuinely useful -- not just aspirational.
On Mentors: You Don't Have To Pay To Learn
When most people hear "mentor," they immediately think of high-ticket programs, masterminds, and expensive coaching packages. And yes, that kind of one-on-one guidance can absolutely accelerate your growth -- but it's not the only path, and it's not accessible to everyone right now.
I'll be the first to acknowledge that. It's something I've been thinking through myself.
If you're not in a place to invest in a program right now, books and podcasts and genuinely powerful starting points -- if you use them strategically. Here's what I mean by that:
Don't just consume. Vet your sources.
Research the backgrounds of the authors and hosts you're learning from. Make sure their story and yours share some common ground. And make sure the goals they've achieved are actually aligned with the goals you have.
For example: If you're building a product-based retail brand, learning from someone who grew a photography business or a podcast might give you some foundational overlap, but their specific-path won't map directly onto yours. Be intentional about who you're learning from.
The Problem With Too Many Voices
Here's something I've been working on in my own life: giving myself too many resources.
I used to bounce between a huge variety of podcasts and books -- so many different perspectives, so many different frameworks. And while that can be useful in the early exploration phase, there comes a point where it creates more confusion than clarity.
Once you're ready to build a real foundation, you need to narrow it down. Find one or two people whose approach and values resonate with you, and go deep with them. That's how you actually build momentum.
The Simple Path Forward
At the end of the day, it comes back to this:
Acknowledge where you are and what you have in this present moment.
From there, you have two paths depending on your current situation:
- If you have the finances to invest in a mentor or program -- great. That direct guidance can move you faster. But it still requires you to do the work and actually apply what you're learning.
- If you're working with a smaller budget -- start with books, podcasts, and lower-cost programs. Find people whose background and goals align with yours. Be selective and go deep rather than wide.
Neither path is better than the other. It really comes down to timing and where you are right now.
What I know for sure is this: if you're avoiding that honest look at your present moment -- where you are, what you have, what's actually in front of you -- it's going to be really hard to move forward with any clarity. I've experienced that firsthand. The neglect, the avoidance, the looking everywhere but here.
The moment you stop avoiding and start acknowledging? That's when things start to shift.
That's when abundance becomes powerful!
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