“The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream” - Harry Hemp

I bumped into an acquaintance two weeks ago. I like this kind of surprise so we decided to have tea together and catch up on the South Bank in central London.

She is at a job that she doesn't really like, she feels under-appreciated and under-paid. Office politics annoys her. I can relate to all of that myself- I've been there before.

She said the biggest challenge for her right now is a lack of money. The company she works for has a huge reputation for providing the minimum for its staff. And she told me that she would definitely struggle without her family's support.

Throughout the conversation, she kept a genuine smile on her face.

"A strong girl", I thought, but deep down she doesn't believe that she has the power to make any positive changes. Right at that moment, another surprise came through. I heard her Spirit Guide talking: "She will have a payrise soon. You can tell her and give her more encouragement."

OK, that was new to me.

When I do my job professionally as an intuitive coach and spirit guide, I do it from home, quiet, no interruption or disruption.

While I'm out, I deliberately "unplug" myself, otherwise there is too much to pick up. But clearly that was a message, despite the noise around us.

Initially I hesitated. She didn't invite me to help her "free her light and live a fabulous life", nor ask my opinion on anything. And I don't like giving unsolicited advice or information.

Well, actually I do like giving advice. That's why I left the corporate world to be an intuitive coach.

But giving unsolicited advice is interfering and intrusive. It's not a great feeling for the recipient, what's more, they are more likely to dismiss the information.

I've been working hard on a balance between being available for people and not giving information unless asked. I didn't want to come across too strong, so I said: "Well, you never know. Perhaps you will get a payrise soon!"

She laughed out loud: "That can only happen in my dream. The company have had a pay freeze for a couple of years. Payrise? Soon? In this economy? No way!!"

I eased it further: "In case you do get one, don't forget to tell me."

.....

Last week, I got a message from her:"Thank you. You asked me to tell you when I get a payrise. Guess what? I just did! I think you'll laugh at me but it's only 3% - this is such a joke. This company is a joke. My salary is forever a joke!"

Wow! I'm impressed with how fast she got a payrise, although I expected it. What surprised me even more was her reaction to the 3%.

3% might not seem a lot, but it is A GOOD START. Why on earth would I laugh at her?!

The mindset she has is a typical "lack mindset", which is not her fault due to the current social conditions:

"The economy is depressing, so I need a lot of money to feel safe. 3% is too little. The company is always this stingy. I'm just a foreigner here, I don't think I'm good enough to find another job which pays me well. I'm stuck here forever!"

I was really happy for her 3% raise - a lot happier than herself.

It opens up more possibilities:

"Great, I've got 3% more- it's well enough to book a ticket to Brazil which I've always been dreaming of! In fact, I'll look into it right now! And my company has finally changed - they are starting to treat us like humans. Of course there is more room to improve, but 3% is better than nothing.

It also gives me encouragement to be really good at my job, and I'll learn everything I can about negotiation. In 12 months time, I'll ask for a 10% raise. If they don't give this to me, I'll then find another job which rewards me more fairly. I might not have the confidence right now, but in 12 months’ time, I will."

This scenario can be as real as the previous one.

This is how abundance works: an upward spiral.

Mindset first + consistent actions = desired reality.

My first part-time job, while I was studying at the University, paid me £4.20 per hour.

I really appreciated it. I tried so hard to find any job to support myself, because international students weren't allowed to take up loans. But no one even trusted me to mop the floor or clean their toilets, as my English wasn't good enough.

Eventually, a restaurant was happy for me to be a waitress. I was over the moon. From that day onward, I have become financially independent.

No matter how little I earned, I didn't let myself go hungry while studying a challenging subject Physics at the University.

And I brought a lot of enthusiasm into my job, as a result customers always gave me more than average tips.

Years later, I launched my spirit coaching business which provides me financially as well as feeding my spirit and soul.

But without recognizing and feeling the joy £4.20 gave to me, I couldn't get to where I am now.

The £4.20 showed me that there is hope.

Hope opens up opportunities.

So I whole-heartedly celebrated it.

3% is not a lot, but it's a gesture, a starting point to get unstuck.

Here are the 3 steps to get out of a rut.

Step 1: Expand your awareness

No matter how much self-doubt you might have right now, learn to appreciate what you have currently.

Count your blessings and have faith that you can and will turn things around. You can’t get to where you want to be until you start to enjoy where you are now.

Step 2: Set a realistic timeline

Instead of dreaming about overnight success, which might seem too good to be true anyway, you can give yourself a realistic timeline.

For example, “In one year’s time, I will find myself a better job/leave this city/increase my income by 20%...”

This way, you’ll have a clear picture to work towards to, which will ease your anxiety and stress.

Step 3: Take one action every day

People talk about quantum leaps a lot these days, but underneath each leap there is years of accumulation of passion and ground work. It is what you do daily that brings your dream into reality.

You daily action doesn’t need to be dramatic or grand. As long as they are in line with your intention, you’ll start to see fruition before you even expect it.

There might be some days when you will feel confused and lost. That’s why it’s so important to connect with people who are supportive, especially those who have been through a similar challenge before.

Their understanding and guidance can make your transformation journey a lot more fun and enjoyable.

"Wherever you are is the entry point!" - Kabir

Start here, start now.

I invite you today, to shift your mindset from lack to abundance.

If you are held back by those limited beliefs that society has imposed upon you, such as:"I'll never be happy and rich, no matter how hard I try", "I don't deserve to be financially free", or "I am not a chosen one..." It is time to reprogram your subconscious-self + move forward to your ideal life. 

You are welcome to use this Subliminal Audio that I've made for you to assist you on your journey. 

You’ll be able to reprogram your subconscious self to get on board with your desire such as heal your self-worth, raise your rate, manifest your dream house…

Love & Abundance,

Yiye Zhang (Intuitive & Abundance Guide). Yiye was “made in China” and “shipped” to the UK at 17. After achieving a First-class science degree and eight years of corporate experience, Yiye followed her deepest calling and launched her virtual lighthouse. She decodes the mysteries of your soul and brings more abundance into your reality. Get her FREE eCourse: Intuitive Money.