The "Bag of Bags" Mindset: Why Most People Fail Before They Even Start

was sitting in my "Bed-Office" today (yes, my bed is still my headquarters, don't judge!) and I caught myself doing something that made me laugh. I was folding my plastic grocery bags into perfect little triangles to put inside my "big bag of bags" under the sink.

In that moment, it hit me: We are programmed for survival, not for scale.

I realized that so many of us join Wealthy Affiliate with a "Bag of Bags" mindset. We’re so used to hoarding the "small stuff"—the free tools, the $5 commissions, the tiny wins—that we’re actually terrified of the big harvest.

The "Poverty Thermostat" is Real

Have you ever noticed that as soon as your site starts getting traction, or you make that first decent commission, your brain starts panicking? You find a reason to take a week off. You get distracted by a new "shiny object." Or you suddenly feel like you don't know what you're doing.

That’s your internal thermostat trying to turn the heat down because it’s not used to "comfortable." We’ve been conditioned to believe that the "struggle" is where we belong.

3 Things I Had to Audit to Level Up in WA:

1. The "Treat Yourself" Delusion: I used to think a small win meant I could go spend. Now I know a win means it’s time to reinvest in my content and my SEO.
2. The "Black Tax" & Guilt: For my brothers and sisters in here, you know the feeling. You feel like if you get ahead, you're leaving people behind. I had to learn that I can’t pull my community up if I’m still standing at the bottom with them.
3. The Fear of the "Big Office": I was scared of "doing it wrong." But in WA, there is no "wrong" if you’re moving forward. The only mistake is staying small because you're afraid of being noticed.

Let’s Break the Chain Today

Wealthy Affiliate gives us the tools, the hosting, and the training. But it can’t give us the capacity to be wealthy. We have to build that ourselves.

We have to be okay with a bank account that stays full. We have to be okay with being the CEO of a brand that actually matters.

So, I want to hear from you in the comments: What is one "broke habit" or "struggle mindset" you are leaving under the sink today? Let’s hold each other accountable and grow for real this year.

Stay cozy, stay focused, and let's get this harvest! 🥂