Do you reflect Abundance or Scarcity Mindset ?
“The mind is everything, what you think, you become” ~ Buddha
Each of us have different mindsets. That’s one of the major reasons for everyone to make different decisions and choices in life. That’s why people have different tastes, opinions, agendas, and in result come across different opportunities, events and people in their respective lives.
To understand the abundance mindset, let’s first try to understand its contradictory part, the Scarcity Mindset.
What is the Scarcity Mindset ?
The Scarcity mindset makes us believe and follow the concept of limitation. It keeps us reminding about all sorts of limited resources and how we should seize all that is possible at a time. This mindset applies not only to materialistic objects but even to relationships, power, competency, compassion and time.
Few examples of this type of mindset could be “There will never be enough.” , “Time is running out so I need to multitask.” , “I don’t have enough money.” , “This is the best way to do this task.” , “I will share information and relationships when I can trust others with them.” , “I will never be as good as this person who is succeeding.” , “I always have to perform at a certain level of perfection to seem worthy.”
Can you relate to these running dialogues? The truth is that many of us can.
With this mindset, we focus more on our shortcomings and failures. This type of mindset becomes a thought process rather than a single occurrence. It dwells upon our consciousness and keeps us stuck in a loop with negative thoughts and adverse thinking patterns which soon becomes a habit. It’s effect is so profound that we put a halt on our ability to see and celebrate the good and true in ourselves and situations. We resist to celebrate more of our successes and accomplishments of others.
Ways to check if you have a Scarcity Mindset
It’s sometimes hard to know about ourselves when it’s deeply within us and has become our second nature. So truly and honestly check these three areas for self-assessment to uncover if you have the Scarcity Mindset.
1. Self-loathing
As a human, we always keep our aim high, very high. Our happiness, satisfaction and success quotient mostly depends upon reaching the top of it and often even further ahead of it. Self-doubts arise with the impression of lack. Lack of resources, funds and inspirations. In the process, we tend to be harsh, restless and miserable to ourselves. This doesn’t help. We can’t pass with flying colors, keeping pace with such attitudes to our own selves.
A quote by Denis Waitley states “It is not who you are that holds you back, It is who you think you are not. ”
You talk the most to yourself so talk in the best, passionate, positive way you could. Be gentle to yourself especially when you encounter failures, heart-breaks and any negative circumstances.
2. Fear of failure
We fear the most of the committed failures and many times, this fear is so overpowering that we quit even before starting. Failure is part and parcel of life and goes hand-in-hand with success. A small failure like a bad exam result or a job loss encourages people to take extreme measures to overcome them. All the while, we forget that this is all a tiny part of a vast journey. These small blockers are only to test our mental agility and to help us set and achieve bigger milestones in life.
Do not fear to undertake any work. As per one of my favorite authors Robin Sharma, “The Fear we don’t face becomes our limits. ” Always challenge yourself to attempt a task and accept failures with grace as you do when you taste success. Failure is not a final outcome until you stop trying anymore.
3. Assuming everyone lucky to have all
When we don’t succeed and get our desires fulfilled often we blame our luck. Isn’t it ? We start doing comparison with everyone and console ourselves by thinking “I don’t have what it takes” , “Oh ! I am not that talented” , “I ain’t attractive”, “This is way beyond my league!” , “This is a super cool phone but I simply can’t afford it.” , “I am raised in a middle-class family”, “I had limited resources and exposure while growing” and so on.
The Scarcity Mindset stops us from giving due credit and recognition to successful people and keeps a blind eye to all of the victories of others. We should know everyone works hard to earn anything in life. Giving credit and praising other people’s work will never make you small or insignificant rather it will raise you higher and inspire you to achieve bigger breakthrough in life.
If you find yourself being one of the people with the scarcity mindset, you can use few of the ways mentioned below to overcome them.
How to overcome Scarcity Mindset ?
1. Practice Gratitude and Grace
Use all your will to focus only on all the good, this life has offered you with and still bestowing every single moment. It certainly needs execution on a daily basis to improve scores on those scales. Nevertheless, it is an on-going process and you get only better with time. This activity beyond doubt will do marvelous change in you and bring abundance of the highest degrees. Take one day at a time and treat yourself with grace whenever you have self-doubt and feel to be slipping into the Scarcity mindset.
2. Speak only Positive and Optimistic words
We unknowingly speak more negative words than the positive ones in a day. For instance, “I am so busy all day, I don’t get time for myself” , “I feel tired” , “I hate this weather”, “I hate the traffic”, “I am so exhausted waiting” etc.
All these sentences are laced with negativity and detestation which you should avoid at any cost. I understand it’s irritable sometimes when you have a tiresome routine and a really long day ! But instead take a deep breath and try saying “My days are so productive. I am thankful to be able to do all by myself” , “Ample work done today” , “The weather isn’t too bad, could have been worse” , “I like days when I reach my office on time” , “Waiting is good once in a while”. You will observe the difference soon.
3. Stop Perpetual Comparison
Comparison is toxic and draws away all that is good and beautiful in your life. If you are constantly comparing and measuring your financial, physical and mental capabilities with the other, you will not be enjoying your life to the fullest.
Theodore Roosevelt said aptly “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Everyone has their own set of struggles and evolves overcoming them over time. Thus excuse the comparison habit and develop the pattern to anchor on to all the small & amazing moments of life.
What is an Abundance Mindset ?
Abundance Mindset is about expansion and freedom. It never binds you with any kind of limitation. It throws light on the productive advancements in life. Exuberance, Happiness, Inner Peace, Trust, Love and Prosperity are some of the core areas of focus in such a mindset. A person with an abundance mindset is characterized by being enough and having enough in life. People with an abundance mindset appreciate who they are and what they have in life.
How to own an Abundance Mindset ?
Fear, Jealousy, lack, and anxiety are all emotional abundance blocks, and they fuel the scarcity mindset. Evicting a scarcity mindset and adopting an abundance mindset is within our reach.
Few of the ways to welcome an abundance mindset are mentioned below.
- Pay attention to how you speak
Speak more kind, optimistic, encouraging words to yourself and others. By paying close attention to your words, you will be surrounded by more positive, jovial and calming thoughts for most part of the day.
2. Give credit to the people for their victories
You can enrich the quality of your life and manifest abundance by a simple genuine praise for all the hard work someone puts on his/her work. It has a real and lasting effect on your relationships and your social circle. Paying due credit for all the small and big endeavors helps to uplift morale and encourage people to do better and act better.
3. Embrace Change
“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” -Albert Einstein
Incorporate the habit to accept change and you would not be limited ever. You will discover infinite opportunities to grow and numerous reasons to be happy and fulfilled. Have an open mind to receive and learn from all that flow your way.
4. Forgive Others
By holding onto grudges and hard feelings for others will only sink you down. So leave all the resentment behind and you would fly high. As anyone can commit a mistake, have a bigger heart and move on. Learn to forgive and you will save a lot of your time and energy-absorbing unproductive conversations.
5. Continuously Learn
Never stop learning something new everyday. It should be one the prime centerpieces in your life. It will help to keep you updated about the world and areas of your interest and work. Be open to learn from everyone around, from a child, from a stranger, from an old and from a young.
I hope this article will bring some perspective and sense about the two mindsets to observe and apply it to your life. Expand your abundance mindset to gain more happiness, positivity and joy everyday !
